111 Members of the Class of 2020 Transitioned from into the Next Level Scholars Alumni Network
At the end of each school year, DRDFS hosts a high-energy college decision celebration for our graduating seniors, their friends, and their family members, called Suited for Success. At Suited for Success, each student walks across the stage and very enthusiastically announces where they will be heading to post-secondary education in the fall. This event is unique because it showcases how proud and accomplished our students feel at the end of the three-year program. Throughout Suited for Success, students can be found clapping and cheering for their classmates for making life-changing college decisions.
For the Class of 2020, however, graduation season turned out to be a very different experience. We couldn’t gather in person this year, but we were still able to celebrate college decisions with our seniors in a meaningful way. With help from the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), we were able to assemble individually tailored Suited for Success kits, and mail one to each of their homes. When seniors received their boxes, they found a t-shirt from their selected school, a guide to surviving and thriving in post-secondary education, a gift card for a family pizza night, and more!
While Suited for Success is a special time for our students, it also is an event that many of our supporters and students’ families enjoy attending as well. To involve everyone in the event, we asked supporters and families to submit well-wishes and notes of congratulations for our students. Below are just a few of the many responses we received in support of the Class of 2020.
- “All of us out here supporting you could not be more proud of each and every one of you. We wish nothing but the best for you in furthering your education. Continue to make us proud!” – DRDFS Supporter, Frank P.
- “I’m so proud of Class of 2020 for the hard work and success. I wish them good luck to more success as they move forward to their future.” – Next Level Scholar Parent, Mario O.
- “Congratulations on achieving a major milestone! Great results come from hard work. Wishing you all the best.” – DRDFS Supporter, Lydia M.
On behalf of the entire DRDFS community, congratulations Class of 2020! We’re looking forward to working with these dedicated students as they transition into our Alumni program, and ultimately earn their post-secondary degrees.
“I grew up without a clue of what I wanted to do, or where I wanted to go in life, until I had the opportunity to join Dollars for Scholars my sophomore year of high school. From visiting campuses, to SAT prep, the guidance I received from the program changed my entire outlook.
“From college tours to financial aid, Dollars for Scholars has greatly impacted my path to higher education. As a first generation college student, deciding where I would want to continue my education and figuring out how I would get there was a difficult process. My family and I lacked the time and transportation necessary to visit schools, and this limited me in figuring out my future.
“When joining Dollars for Scholars, I was eager to visit colleges and earn scholarship money. Being able to look at all the different schools with other students I could relate to was so reassuring. Dollars for Scholars was able to answer my questions about the ins & outs of post-secondary education, as well assist me with applications. This extra help was so motivating.
“Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars is a life-changing program. Before high school, I was going down a path that if most kids took, they’d end up either dropping out of school or going to jail. Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars helped inspire me to get on a better path by showing me how to prepare for college. Hearing other students’ stories made me feel like I could be successful both in high school and post-secondary education.