The Detroit Promise is a last-dollar scholarship that provides a tuition-free opportunity for Detroit students to earn an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or technical certificate. The program launched in 2013 and is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this November.
To kick off the celebration, Detroit Promise hosted Celebration With the Stars, a dinner and networking event, on Thursday, Nov. 2. The event highlighted the impact students, parents, partners, and funders have had on the program, as well as the role the program has played in helping students pursue education, give back, and have a sustainable career in the Detroit Region.
During the event, the Detroit Promise team recognized the funders, K-12 and college institutions, and other partners that have supported the program with awards. Attendees also heard from Detroit Regional Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Sandy K. Baruah, Detroit Regional Chamber Education and Talent Vice President Greg Handel, Detroit Promise Senior Director of Outreach and Partnerships Jade Scott, Detroit Promise Senior Director of College Success and Partnerships Wytrice Harris, City of Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd A. Bettison, and a panel of Detroit Promise students, including Leslie Almanza, Dunamis Archer, and Sarah Nasher.
Detroit for Life
In addition to Celebration With the Stars, Detroit Promise is continuing to amp up its promotions to increase awareness of the scholarship. Part of its ongoing efforts is participating in the the Detroit for Life campaign, which provides information on City of Detroit programs and initiatives that improve how and where Detroiters live. Detroit Promise Social Media Intern Preston Welborne participated in the campaign as a former Detroit Promise student (Cohort 2017), sharing how the program helped him pursue an education at Oakland Community College.
10 Facts About the Detroit Promise
- The Detroit Promise scholarship began in 2013 for community colleges, expanded to include universities in 2016, and currently partners with 32 colleges and universities in Michigan.
- Detroit Promise has helped 6,000+ students pursue a tuition-free path to college since 2013.
- Detroit Promise students come from all 50+ Detroit high schools.
- Detroit Promise has provided over $1.1 million to Detroit Promise Scholars who engage with their campus coaches.
- Detroit Promise has provided over $10 million in direct tuition payments for Promise students and leveraged several times that amount in institutional aid for them.
- Detroit Promise Path has campus coaches at all seven partner community colleges.
- The Detroit Promise Path Back campaign has helped 200+ Detroit students re-enroll in college over the last year.
- Detroit Promise has provided over 530 students with hands-on career exploration and exposure opportunities through partnerships with 42 employers over the last year.
- The six-year college completion rate for Detroit Promise four-year students from the 2016 cohort was 69%, one point higher than the national average for four-year students.
- Sixty-seven percent of Black students from the Detroit Promise 2016 four-year cohort earned a degree in six years, 17 points higher than the national average for Black four-year students.