GRASP awards scholarships to 26 Henrico students

GRASP (Great Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc.), a non-profit, college and career access organization headquartered in Glen Allen, recently awarded 107 Last Dollar scholarships totaling $115,900 and 57 Community College Pathway scholarships totaling $57,000 to Virginia high school students graduating in 2021.

Among the Henrico students honored with GRASP Community College Pathway Scholarships were Joshua Santos from ACE Center at Hermitage, Belma Hasic of Freeman H.S.,  Samara Campbell of Henrico H.S., Leyia Williams of Hermitage H.S., and Zarangiz Akhgar and Hadia Rahmaty of Tucker H.S., who received GRASP Community College Pathway Scholarships.

GRASP Last Dollar Scholarships were awarded to Kishawn Roberts and Ramiza Rustemovic from Academy at Virginia Randolph; Emiah Washington of ACE Center at Hermitage; Fadekemi Adeleye and Ai-Zane' Mason of ACE Center at Highland Springs; Safa Eissa, See'Voun Mullings and Thang Pham of Freeman H.S.; Atieh Zanganeh of Glen Allen H.S.; Aidan Gravitt of Godwin H.S.; Keniyah Archie and Xavier Medero of Henrico H.S.; MyAisia Green and Abdulwahab Qaderi of Hermitage H.S.; Mikel Hudson and Kristopher Jean-Louis of Highland Springs H.S.; Bailey Fisher-Lindell of Northstar Academy; Amina Khan of Tucker H.S.; and Kevin Brooks and Kennedy McDaniel of Varina H.S.

Co-founded in 1983 by Senator Walter Stosch and Dr. Ray Gargiulo, GRASP was designed to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity for continuing education after high school, regardless of financial or social circumstances. During the 2020-2021 academic year, GRASP implemented its programs via advisors who worked one day per week at each school, providing free, confidential, one-on-one counseling in 87 Virginia high schools to students seeking financial aid and scholarships for technical school, community college or four-year universities.

The GRASP advising program and scholarships are made possible by donor support. Last Dollar scholarships are awarded to at least one student at each school GRASP serves.  The Community College Pathway scholarships are awarded to students who plan to attend community college to receive a career certificate or transfer to a four-year college.

Many of this year’s scholarship recipients will be the first members of their families to attend post-secondary education. Due to limitations imposed by COVID-19, GRASP is presenting “GRASP Scholarship Recipient” yard signs to students at their homes in lieu of the traditional celebratory luncheons.

For details about GRASP, visit http://www.grasp4va.org.