As we wrap up the 2024-2025 programming year, we’re feeling deeply grateful – for the milestones we’ve hit, the moments we’ve shared, and the momentum we’re taking into next school year.
This year was all about growth, connection, and purpose. Together with our partners, advisers, donors, and students, Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRDFS) made real strides in helping students turn their goals into a reality.
Next Level Scholars in Action
Our Next Level Scholars™ program continues to be the heartbeat of our work. This year alone, it reached 450 high school students and nearly 700 post-secondary scholars. From 10th grade to college graduation, we walked alongside our students, providing tools, coaching, and confidence every step of the way.
This year, our programming was full of impactful moments for our scholars:
- 11 field trips and large-scale workshops, with visits to EMU, MSU, Wayne State, and The University of Toledo.
- 50+ small group workshops bringing resources right into classrooms.
- 14 campus reconnect visits to support and check in with our college scholars.
- 600+ one-on-one coaching sessions covering everything from financial aid to class schedules.
We’re also proud to share that more than 200 DRDFS alumni have now earned a college degree since 2015. This is a powerful testament to persistence, partnership, and the impact of long-term support.
Mission Moments
We leaned into student leadership this year, with scholars emceeing events and leading icebreakers. It’s been inspiring to watch them grow in confidence and build community through these moments. A few standouts: at Suited for Success, alumna Kamaria brought energy and poise as emcee; and at Project Runway, De’Mera, a current sophomore, led a spirited Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament with students she’d just met.
These small but powerful acts reminded us that when students feel seen and empowered, their confidence grows – and so does their sense of belonging. We can’t wait to build on this momentum next year.
Scholarships That Open Doors
This year, we hit a big milestone: $536,000 in scholarships awarded to the Class of 2025! But not only that – this year marked the second year of the DRDFS Opportunity Scholarship. This is a last-dollar award designed to close financial gaps for college-enrolled scholars. In its second year, 24 DRDFS post-secondary scholars were awarded $80,000 to keep them moving forward.
Small Investments. Big Impact.
Since January, we’ve fulfilled 41 Scholar Success Fund grant requests, helping students cover everything from textbooks to transportation. With consistent support and real-life solutions, our scholars are staying the course.
Looking Ahead
We’re gearing up for the 2025–26 school year and we plan on continuing to build on this year’s momentum – with deeper partnerships, expanded programming, and continued focus on connection and belonging. We’re also celebrating growing our team and enhancing career access through initiatives like our new CareerSpring partnership.
To everyone who played a role in this year’s success: thank you. Your belief in our scholars’ fuels everything we do.
“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.