Ten Students Win First Exploration Scholarships
Next scholarship drawing for 9th and 10th graders is November 30
Sept. 27, 2021
This year, the Coalition launched its first scholarship program – one designed to encourage 9th and 10th graders to start early on their college preparations.
Ten students were selected as winners of the first round of Exploration Scholarships, which provide $500 to students to help cover costs of exploring or preparing for college.
Unlike most college scholarships, which cover tuition, fees, or other expenses related to attending, Exploration Scholarships are aimed at those steps students take much earlier in the process to help prepare for college.
“It’s our motto at the Coalition that students should ‘start early and stress less’ when it comes to college,” says Stacey Kostell, CEO of the Coalition for College. “These scholarships reward students for taking positive steps early in the process – steps that will continue to provide benefits throughout high school and help more students achieve their higher education goals.”
To be eligible for the scholarship drawing, students must create a MyCoalition account, the Coalition’s free, digital platform where students can learn about, prepare for and eventually apply to college. Within their account, they must also complete a few steps that will help them make the most of the tools and begin receiving college guidance provided by the Coalition’s 150+ member colleges and universities.
Maria Bazilevich, one of the Exploration Scholarship winners, says that beyond the $500, which she plans to use to help cover math tutoring and school supplies, she sees value in the tools she now has access to. “By creating a MyCoalition account,” the Brooklyn native says, “I am able to start my college application early and keep track of important successes I want to remember to highlight.”
The 10 winners include five students who are working with a community-based organization that provides free college advising. The Coalition maintains a vetted registry of these organizations, which play a key role in supporting under-served communities in college planning.
The Coalition will continue its Exploration Scholarship program, with the next drawing to take place Nov. 30, 2021. Six winners will be selected, with at least three from community-based organizations.
Read on to learn more about the first scholarship winners, who hail from seven states, and their plans for using their $500 scholarships.
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“By creating a MyCoalition account, I am able to start my college application early and keep track of important successes I want to remember to highlight.”
Meet the Exploration Scholarship winners
Bengina Amponsah, from Tarpon Springs, Florida, plans to use the scholarship for visiting campuses out of state and attending summer programs.
David Araiza, from Moses Lake, Washington, plans to use the scholarship to purchase school supplies.
Akriti Banerjea, from Marietta, Georgia, plans to explore colleges via campus visits and potential areas of study via summer programs.
Maria Bazilevich, from Brooklyn, New York, plans to use the scholarship for math tutoring and school supplies.
Alanis Castillo-Camargo, from Phoenix Arizona, plans to use the scholarship for summer programs, school supplies, and a campus visit to Arizona State University.
Community-based organization: Arizona State University TRiO Upward Bound
Dominic Mercado, from Redwood City, California, plans to use the scholarship to cover the costs of visiting colleges across California.
Community-based organization: AVID
Nishka Patel, from South Chesterfield, Virginia, will cover the costs of summer programs, like coding camps or research-based experiences, as well as campus visits.
Renee Sandberg, from Sierra Madre, California, will use the scholarship to help cover the costs of test preparation and a summer campus visit.
Community-based organization: American Heritage Girls Troop 1212
Nathalie Vazquez, from Redwood City, California, plans to use the scholarship to help cover the costs of school supplies and technology.
Community-based organization: AVID
Kaitlyn Whitaker, from Bristol, Virginia, will use the scholarship toward the cost of visiting and exploring colleges.
Community-based organization: Virginia Highlands Community College Upward Bound