The gymnasium didn’t erupt with cheers and tears that came with last year’s surprising announcement, but for the second year in a row, graduates of Jesup W. Scott High School learned Wednesday they won’t have to worry about how to pay for college.
Officials from HOPE Toledo announced that 2021 graduates and one parent will be awarded a scholarship to fund post-secondary education — community college, university, or trade school — and it will include funding for tuition, room and board, books, and fees. The program also includes the assignment of a HOPE Toledo Promise mentor to each family.
During the virtual announcement at the high school in Toledo’s Old West End district on Wednesday, Rev. John C. Jones, HOPE Toledo President, said the organization is “thrilled to support the graduating Class of 2021.”
“We know the future is bright and we have hope for these graduates as that future unfolds, as well as for all of our young people across the Toledo region,” Mr. Jones said.
More than 80 families took advantage of last year’s award, resulting in an 80 percent increase in post-secondary enrollment for Scott graduates.
Currently, there are 66 scholars who enrolled in the fall 2020 semester — 61 graduates of Scott and five parents. The others have enrolled in the spring or will enroll in the fall of 2021.
For valedictorian Rayvon Brazeal and his mother, Aarona Brazeal-Mcmullen, the announcement was the news of a lifetime.
“This is amazing and I wasn’t expecting this. I’ve been working so hard all four years and trying to figure out how I’m going to pay for college, that’s what I’ve been worried about every day for the past couple of days. We’re very fortunate,” the Brazeal youth said.
As for his future, Rayvon said he is unsure where he’s going to attend college but he’s planning to pursue a career in marketing.
Ms. Brazeal-Mcmullen said the news brought tears to her eyes.
“All I could do was cry because it has been a struggle being a single parent with four kids. He’s number three out of the four, but I knew with God all things are possible. This just takes one load off our back for him to achieve his goals,” Ms. Brazeal-Mcmullen said.
Just over a year ago, former Ottawa Hills native Pete Kadens said the Kadens Family Foundation — in partnership with the ProMedica Foundation — pledged to pay for college for 2020 graduating Scott seniors who wanted to attend a university or trade school. During his announcement, he also extended the same offer to one parent or legal guardian of each graduating student.
Mr. Kadens told The Blade he expected the 2020 tuition pledge would cost roughly $3.5 million.
Mr. Kadens’ idea for H.O.P.E., which stands for Helping Our Population Educate, arose from his desire to see all students, regardless of background, receive equitable access to quality education. He believes that education is the pathway out of systemic and generational poverty and leads to economic stability for communities and families, Hope Toledo said.
Scott senior Mer’Kyah Warren said the opportunity is nothing short of a blessing.
“This is exciting because now I can go to Central State and study communications and broadcasting. This makes it all more possible for me to reach that goal. I’m ready to go strong and finish out. Once a bulldog always a bulldog, I’ve been all four years and now I’m closer to where I want to be,” Miss Warren said.
This year’s promise differs from last year’s as it includes a length of residency. During the announcement, Mr. Jones said students who have been enrolled at Scott for four years will receive 100 percent of the promise, students who have been enrolled for three years will get 75 percent, students for two years will receive 50 percent, and students who have been enrolled one year will receive 25 percent.
Mr. Jones said the promise is in place to ensure students are able to pursue their post-secondary goals amid any financial burdens.
“At the end of the day, the ability to make the transition from high school to anything post-secondary education is crucial. Our kids in the community typically end up needing a little bit more assistance or more visibility. For many, visibility is the key because we have students that have it all together but are trying to piece the last bit together,” Mr. Jones said. “I think about our valedictorian Rayvon, who was trying to piece it together at the last minute; he had some scholarships but not enough to cover everything.”
First Published March 10, 2021, 7:06 p.m.
