Emerging Leaders Scholarship

The Emerging Leaders Scholarship financially supports the academic journey of My Pace members as they transition from high school to college, college to professional school, or into terminal degree programs. Created to honor and advance the legacy of educational excellence, this scholarship helps underrepresented students move confidently through every stage of their healthcare career path.

Awards are distributed year round! Applications are processed upon receipt and the full application is completed.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the GRAAHI Scholarship Program, the applicant must meet these initial eligibility criteria:

Be a citizen or resident (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code) of the United States, and a resident of the State of Michigan
Identify as a “Student of Color” (Black, African American, Asian, Hispanic, Latino/a/e, Middle Eastern, Asian, Native American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Alaska or Alaskan Native, or Multiracial)
Be currently enrolled in, or accepted into, an accredited certificate program, college or university, or approved post-secondary school, as a full or part-time, degree-seeking student engaged in healthcare-based studies within the state of Michigan. Students enrolled in a program outside the state of Michigan will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Consideration will only be given to students who are enrolled in our post-secondary career and college access program, My Pace
Demonstrate leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other volunteer or paid activities
Students who graduated from schools outside of Grand Rapids Public Schools and Kentwood Public Schools will be considered on a case-by-case basis
Grade point averages below 2.5/4.0 will be considered on case-by-case basis

$200K

scholarship dollars awarded

20+

scholarship recipients

partner universities

Recipient Selection

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria specific to the GRAAHI Scholarship Program, applicants must provide additional documentation to assist in the selection process. All applicants must follow the program instructions below to be considered for a scholarship

Complete the scholarship application
Provide formal documentation from the institution reflecting outstanding tuition balance to justify scholarship request
Provide the official transcript from the applicant’s school, in order to verify meeting the grade requirements. If no transcript is available, a GED or diploma to verify academic eligibility will be sufficient
Provide two original letters of recommendation from individuals who are not related to the applicant. At least one letter of recommendation must be from a teacher, faculty, or advisor. At least one should reflect the applicant’s interest in pursuing a career in the healthcare industry. All letters of recommendation must be in original form and must be signed
Submit a document specifying the applicant’s involvement, and dates of participation, in community service, extracurricular activities, volunteer service, work history, and any awards and honors the applicant has received. A resume is acceptable

Provide a personal statement, not to exceed 500 words, indicating the applicant’s interest and commitment toward their chosen academic and career path. Applicants are encouraged to include examples of their involvement in their community, career goals, any other information on significant financial difficulties the applicant is experiencing, and why they feel they should be selected to receive a scholarship
Provide copy of driver’s license or other State-Issued ID (copies of both front and back) to verify residence
Provide a letter of acceptance into the applicant’s chosen program

Email correspondence will be sent from [email protected] concerning your application and award. Please email any emergent deadlines to the scholarship if your award disbursement date is beyond your institution’s financial aid deadlines.