Thanks to a $5,000 grant from Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, and, more specifically, the Jamin Fund, GReat Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc. (GRASP), a college access organization, can continue to provide its financial aid services to high school students in the Central Blue Ridge area of Virginia during the 2016-2017 school year.
“GRASP is delighted to be providing its financial aid services to students in the Central Blue Ridge region,” said Bettsy Heggie, GRASP CEO. “This grant, in particular, shows community support not only for the GRASP program but also for the region’s students as they take their next steps toward education after high school and the opportunity for a better future as a result of that education.”
GRASP, a Virginia non-profit, implements its services via advisors who provide free, confidential, one-on-one counseling to students seeking financial aid and scholarships for continuing education after high school – whether that is technical school, community college or a four-year university.
GRASP advisors now serve students and families in 76 Virginia schools, from the greater Richmond area, to the Central Blue Ridge region, to Lancaster County in the east, and to Sussex County in the south. The highly trained, GRASP advisors are adept at navigating the complexities of the college and post-secondary education financial aid process. They also have a passion for helping today’s youth grasp infinite opportunities.
During the 2014-2015 academic year, GRASP advisors overall met with more than 6,800 students individually, helping them with a game plan for education after high school. Additionally, GRASP awarded 124 Last Dollar scholarships totaling $125,000 to students, providing additional financial assistance toward their educational goals.
GRASP was co-founded in 1983 by Senator Walter Stosch and Dr. Ray Gargiulo. GRASP advisors work one day per week at each school. Appointments, which are free of charge, can be made through the schools’ counseling offices. More information about GRASP is available at the website,www.grasp4va.org.
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