NEWARK, DE — Sallie Mae has named the newest recipients of its Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program, awarding forty high school students and ten graduate students from across the United States $10,000 scholarships to support their academic journeys. The initiative, delivered through The Sallie Mae Fund in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, targets students who excel academically, demonstrate leadership, and face financial barriers to higher education.
Since 2021, nearly $4 million in scholarships have been distributed to more than 1,100 students through the Bridging the Dream and Completing the Dream programs—part of Sallie Mae’s broader effort to expand access and improve college completion rates for underserved students.
Nic Jafarieh, executive vice president at Sallie Mae, said the program reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to reducing financial obstacles for students. He noted that scholarship support can help recipients focus on their studies, complete their degrees, and ultimately contribute to their communities.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund President and CEO Dr. Harry L. Williams said the long-standing partnership continues to open opportunities for deserving students nationwide, helping them turn ambition into achievement.
This year’s awardees represent a wide range of institutions, from historically Black colleges and universities to major public and private universities across the country. Graduate recipients include students pursuing advanced degrees in fields such as education, the arts, and the sciences.
Kendrick Claxton, one of the graduate student honorees, described the scholarship as “life-changing,” saying it allows him to focus on his studies rather than financial stress.
The Bridging the Dream program is part of a broader suite of resources Sallie Mae offers to help students plan and pay for college, including scholarship-matching tools, monthly no-essay scholarship opportunities, and guidance for completing the FAFSA.
More information about the program is available at salliemae.com.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.