I find myself reflecting on what was an eventful year for Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRDFS). 2024 was a year marked by growth, innovation, and meaningful connections that have strengthened our foundation and set the stage for even greater impact in the years to come.
Celebrating 2024’s Key Moments
One of the most significant milestones this year was securing national funding from the Education Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) through the FAFSA Student Support Strategy Award. This grant enabled us to launch initiatives like the FAFSA Ambassador Program, which encouraged peer-to-peer mentorship to boost FAFSA completion rates in Southeast Michigan. This initiative aligned with the U.S. Department of Education’s goal to increase FAFSA submissions, especially among first-time applicants.
This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the expertise of Lauren Geiger, our Development and Grants Specialist. Lauren’s efforts have been instrumental in securing significant funding opportunities, allowing us to expand our impact and continue supporting students on their educational journeys.
We saw impressive outcomes last year, with 93% of the Class of 2024 enrolled in the Fall semester of college, the highest enrollment rate in recent years, despite a national decline in first-year enrollment. Additionally, 92% of the Class of 2023 persisted from their first to second year, surpassing DRDFS’ average of 86%. What do these numbers tell us? They demonstrate the hard work, perseverance, and dedication of our students, staff, and partners—reflecting the commitment to get our scholars to college, as well as through it successfully. Along with the FAFSA Ambassador Program, we rolled out the Campus Ambassador Program at several colleges to continue to foster engagement and strengthen our alumni’s connection to our mission.
Building a Stronger Future
Strategic investment in our team was a key priority last year. In addition to Lauren Geiger joining DRDFS, we continued to build our team by welcoming Megan LaCross as Development Manager. Megan brings a wealth of talent and expertise and is already helping us enhance the ways we serve our students.
Through funding from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, we partnered with Kiylise Lowe from The DreamBuilding Consultancy to conduct a comprehensive review of our curriculum. This project involved conversations with 16 key stakeholders, including board members, staff, alumni, and others, to identify areas for improvement and ensure our programs continue to meet the evolving needs of our scholars. The insights we’ve gathered will inform our strategy in 2025, with a strong focus on increasing student engagement and meaningful interactions.
We launched the Opportunity Scholarship in 2024, a new initiative aimed at addressing the financial gaps faced by students. We allocated $50,000 to fund the program, which resulted in ten, one-time scholarships being awarded to students. The response was incredible, with more than 50 students applying for the scholarship. Erin Talbot, our Awards and Alumni Manager, worked closely with the recipients and financial aid offices to ensure the awards were used effectively to advance our scholars’ post-secondary goals.
We’re also increasing the Opportunity Scholarship fund to $75,000 in 2025 and refining the program based on feedback from its first year to provide support to even more students.
The Power of Alumni Engagement
One of the most heartening aspects of the past year was the increased engagement of our alumni. It’s been a true privilege to see former scholars like Mike Zlonkevicz join the DRDFS Executive Advisory Board, Elijah Daniel contribute to our P&R Committee, and Marketea Abbott and Justin Anagonye-Bahn lead the FAFSA Ambassador campaign.
These are just a few of the many alumni whose involvement speaks volumes about the lasting impact of DRDFS and the power of paying it forward. As we continue to grow and evolve, I’m inspired by the commitment of our alumni to empower the next generation of students.
Looking Forward: 2025 and Beyond
The lessons we learned in 2024—particularly the importance of embracing new approaches based on direct feedback from our students—will guide us as we continue to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of our scholars.
We’ll focus on fostering even stronger connections with our students and alumni, refining our programs to increase engagement, and continuing to provide the support and resources our scholars need to achieve their goals. We’ll also continue to grow our scholarship programs and expand our outreach to ensure that more students have access to the opportunities that will shape their futures.
2025 promises to be an exciting year of growth, impact, and opportunity for DRDFS. I look forward to working alongside our dedicated team, incredible scholars, and supportive community as we expand access to post-secondary success.
“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.