ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — Winthrop University will partner with Raise.me to offer a new scholarship program aimed at motivating students to do better in high school and to prepare for college.
Using Raise.me, high school students will be eligible to earn up to $4,000 for out-of-state and
$5,000 for in-state "micro-scholarships" to attend Winthrop by meeting certain criteria,
such as achieving an A in classes or being involved in arts, community service, athletics
or other extra-curricular programs, such as Model United Nations.
The goal of the program is to encourage students to take rigorous courses and get
involved in school activities, all while saving for future college expenses. Winthrop
is the only S.C. public university participating in this new program.
Raise.me is a social enterprise focused on expanding access to higher education, especially
among low-income and first-generation students. Raise.me was developed in response
to the fact that most scholarships and grants today are awarded by colleges at the
very end of high school - after a student has already done well or not, applied to
a college or not, and been accepted or not - which is often too late to impact a student's
college ambitions or choices.
"We are excited to partner with Raise.me in an effort to extend our reach and connection
to as many all-around talented students as possible," said Eduardo Prieto, Winthrop's vice president for access and enrollment management. "We feel this new
initiative also aligns well with our commitment to access and overall institutional
mission."
Raise.me has partnered with a diverse set of more than 180 schools, including Carnegie
Mellon, Colby, Georgia Tech, Penn State, the University of Rochester and Tulane.
Raise.me is free for students and also provides a free portal for high school counselors
to help students track their progress.
Students, educators and parents can learn more at www.raise.me or by contacting Megan Rolf, Winthrop Office of Admissions, at rolfm@winthrop.com.