The University of Iowa has created a program that partners with the Raise.me scholarship platform the school’s president says will encourage and improve college readiness among Iowa high school students in all 99 counties. The Clinton School District is the Clinton County district to be involved in the program. (links included for more information)
U-I president Bruce Harreld made the announcement stating “The program provides microscholarships to students grade in through 12 for academic and extracurricular achievements throughout their high school career,” Harreld explains.
Each school was chosen based on the number of free and reduced priced lunch participants they have in the district.
Students can then use the scholarship money raised to attend the University of Iowa.
Harreld says the students start by going on-line to register. “As they enter their achievements into the portfolio, they can watch the scholarship earnings start to stack up. Students can earn microscholarships for taking advanced math and science courses, participating in extracurricular activities and doing community service,” according to Harreld.
He gave examples of how the students might build their scholarship. “Students can a hundred dollars for every four years of taking the same foreign language,” Harreld says, “or 75 dollars for each year of perfect attendance. The maximum scholarship award for each student who participates is $1,200.” Any student in the designated districts can sign up to participate in the program.
Harreld says the goal is to get the students to take tougher courses and get involved early in the process of planning for higher education. “It is our hope that these microscholarships make a difference in student behavior, and that after an evaluation period with feedback from schools and counselors, that we will be able to expand this program throughout the entire state,” Harreld says. “There are about 100 colleges on the Raise.Me platform, so students can also choose to follow other participating colleges , and also earn microscholarships for those institutions.”
Harreld says students can attend any community college and then use their microscholarships at the U-I.
Clinton Superintendent Deb Olson said, she believes this unique program has the ability to motivate students to take advanced courses, a step toward post-secondary education and success after college.
She said the Clinton Community School District is thankful for every opportunity that can be awarded to our graduates as they set a path towards success in the future.”
Research points out that a two- or four-year degree is required for 70 percent of new jobs in the state, but only 42 percent of Iowans have such a degree.
The Maquoketa School District is the Jackson County District involved in the program.
For more information about the micro-scholarships or Raise.me, go to: admissions.uiowa.edu/all99 or to www.raise.me.
