Post-secondary education has become increasingly expensive over the years. According to an article from CNBC by Abigail Hess, the cost of a college education has increased by more than 25% in the last decade. Challenge Scholars provides a way for families on Grand Rapids’ West Side to cover the costs of education after high school. The program, funded by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, partners with Grand Rapids Public Schools and other organizations like Kent School Services Network and WestSide Collaborative.

Challenge Scholars offers an early scholarship promise so students and their families know, beginning in at least 6th grade, that a scholarship for college and career training after high school may be available to them. Challenge Scholars is only available for students at Harrison Park, Westwood Middle School, and Union High School.

Recently, the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority Board of Directors voted to approve the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Development Plan. This plan also provides tuition-free education to Grand Rapids students. “We are exploring how our Challenge Scholars program and the Promise Zone might complement each other,” says Audra Hartges, PR and Marketing Specialist for the Grand Rapids Community Foundation.

Union High School’s class of 2020 will be the first group of Challenge Scholars students to receive a tuition-free education. Challenge Scholars Director Cris Kutzli says the program has been working continuously to improve their goal of “affordable educational attainment.”