I became familiar with the Abramson Scholarship Foundation about five years ago and have been impressed with the awesome scholars selected by the foundation and they work they do to help them success in college and beyond
I have been involved with the Abramson Scholarship Foundation for many years as Mentor, Board Member and volunteer with the Mentoring Committee, as we provide comprehensive mentoring and financial support to college-bound DC public school students. The work at ASF is a true labor of love by volunteers who understand the multiple challenges faced by college students from underserved communities, especially first generation students from underrepresented minorities. Our Mentors, Advisors, and Board Members give it their all to listen, encourage, champion, advise, listen, support, connect, and prepare our students as they navigate college and get started in their careers. Many scholarship programs will often rescind their funding if students' GPAs fall below a certain level; colleges will take away merit awards, forcing students to take on more debt as they struggle to adjust to college. Abramson does not give up on its Scholars; we stand by them all the way through.
I have volunteered with Abramson for more than a decade. It’s exciting to watch so many smart, hard-working young people make their way through college and launch their professional lives with the Foundation’s support. The scholarship funds are important, but the mentoring is even more so. Abramson mentors really have an impact on these students’ lives! Mentors don’t jus cheer students on (although that’s important, too) , they provide critical advice during the rough patches. They really care. The Board, mentors and students constitute a circle of community and support very much like a family. As one of the Board members said to me years ago, it’s joyful work!
The Abramson Scholarship Foundation not only provides scholarship moneys to deserving and needy Washington, DC high school graduates each and every year they are enrolled in any college. It also regularly provides personal support and guidance throughout the students' college years including, among other activities, ongoing dedicated mentoring, counseling, advice, educational workshops on financial intelligence and other necessary real world skills, career guidance, emergency funding and many other forms of physical, practical and psychological assistance. ASF takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to its scholars to ensure they have a successful and meaningful educational experience and that they are ready to join the workforce at graduation.
Since the time I first became involved with the Abramson Scholarship Foundation, I have been impressed with both the results it has achieved in opening up opportunities for first-in-their family college students, as well as the deep commitment of its board, funders, and mentors of its scholarship recipients toward fulfilling the foundation's mission.