2024 AWARDS TO STUDENTS Scholarships and Challenge Scholars

Grand Rapids Community Foundation is committed to creating opportunities and providing support for students. Through our annual General Scholarships program, the Community Foundation awards more than $1 million each year to students. We also provide scholarships to Challenge Scholars, a program built to support students and families on Grand Rapids’ west side to cover education costs after high school. Below is a summary of our recent support for students through scholarships.

I have always known paying for college was going to be a struggle. Deciding pharmacy was the pathway for me made me worried. It requires a doctorate, which is a very expensive degree to obtain. This scholarship will help me significantly succeed in my future education and help with the financial burden that comes with it. -- Caralyn, student at Ferris State University

$1,685,138 in scholarships to students

• $1,235,751 in general scholarships

• $449,387 to Challenge Scholars

485 Scholarship Recipients

• 397 General Scholarship Fund recipients

• 88 Challenge Scholars recipients

61% of students are the first in their family to attend college

• 296 students of 485 of students are the first in their family to attend college

70% are students of color

Most students are pursing 4-year degrees.

49 are graduate students!

Top institutions students choose to attend:

Michigan State University I Grand Valley State University University of Michigan I Grand Rapids Community College I Western Michigan University

Students can also use scholarship awards to attend trade programs

A scholarship from the Community Foundation is one piece of a complicated financial aid puzzle. Even with federal, state, local or institution-based aid, a majority of recipients report unmet financial need. Scholarships reduce their loan burden.