This year, GRASP—Great Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc.—initiated a new program for students who attend Armstrong, Huguenot, John Marshall, Richmond High School for the Arts and Thomas Jefferson high schools. The program, Richmond Pathways Scholarship & Stipend, helps students bridge the gap and overcome barriers to higher education.

GRASP, a nonprofit college and career access organization in Richmond, awarded 37 scholarships totaling $74,000 and 32 stipends worth $400 per month. The City of Richmond’s Office of the Mayor, corporate donors and community partners of GRASP helped make these scholarships and stipends possible.

Many of the scholarship recipients will be first generation collegiate members of their families. This year, GRASP will host regional scholarship luncheons in seven GRASP service areas of the state, including Richmond, to recognize GRASP scholarship recipients and high school seniors who participated in the early commitment scholarship program, SOAR Virginia.

GRASP strives to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of financial or social barriers, according to a press release.

This year, GRASP advisers provided financial aid advising students with completion of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the VASA (Virginia Alternative State Aid) applications.

GRASP advisers work one day per week at each school. Free appointments can be made through school counseling offices. For more information, visit grasp4va.org.