Campus News

Representatives from Rockford Promise, Rockford University, Rock Valley College, The United Way of Rock River Valley, and Rockford Public Schools District 205 gathered at Rockford University on March 24 to announce the receipts of the first four neighborhood-based full-scholarships; two who will attend Rockford University and two who will attend Rock Valley College and all with inspiring personal stories.

The students, from the Midtown and Ellis Heights neighborhoods, will receive scholarships enabling them to attend college without debt. They are the first of what will, eventually, be a generation of Rockford Public School graduates who will be guaranteed the funds to attend college. Rockford Promise, modeled after Promise programs in Kalamazoo, Mich., and other cities across the country, has the potential to transform our community. In other promise communities, families have moved into the city and public schools, raising the economic growth of the city; while also raising the college attainment rate of the population. Most importantly, it tells every child that, if they can graduate and get in, money will not keep them from their dreams.

The Rockford Universtiy shchoarlship recipients are Jennifer Rosales and Alondra Torres, both from Jefferson High School. East High School Students Victoria Zwicky-Reed and Erica Bibalou were awarded scholarships to Rock Valley College.

Read more about Rockford Promise and the four scholarship recipients in the Rockford Register Star article, “Rockford Promise delivers life-changing college scholarships.”

Pictured above: Provost Dr. Belinda Wholeben and President Robert L. Head with Rockford Promise scholarship recipients Alondra Torres and Jennifer Rosales, who will both attend RU in the fall.