More than 30 years ago, Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRDFS) began helping local students at just one partner high school. We coordinated college campus visits for students at Willow Run High School because we knew how important it was for their futures. Over the decades, the organization has developed a full academic support program and has expanded into communities across the Southeast Michigan region.
I’m proud to announce that this fall, DRDFS gained a 14th partner high school. We welcomed Communications and Media Arts (CMA) High School of Detroit Public Schools Community District to our list of outstanding partners. This year’s new cohort of sophomores from CMA will join nearly 400 of their peers in the Next Level Scholars (NLS) program. They will have access to additional resources and tools like Tutor.com, and will attend events like Project Runway and various campus tours. We are excited to work closely with Principal Donya Odom, school leadership, and the CMA program advisers to help students realize all their opportunities on their path to post-secondary success. The addition of CMA to our high school partner list reflects our dedication to bringing extra resources and support to as many students in the Detroit Region as possible.
Each new school year brings new opportunities for growth and learning. Here at DRDFS, we keep that in mind while working toward our mission to help local students succeed in life after high school. This organization will continue to grow and welcome new partner high schools for years to come. We look optimistically at the future of our region, as our students move from high school, to post-secondary, and into their careers.
William C. Young
President
Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars
“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.