Challenge Scholars, funded by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, guarantees tuition-free college or technical training for Grand Rapids Public Schools students who entered the program in 6th grade at Harrison Park or Westwood Middle School and stayed continuously enrolled through Union High School with good attendance and behavior. It's a last-dollar scholarship covering tuition and fees beyond a Pell Grant for up to four years: Grand Rapids Community College only for students with at least a 2.0 GPA, or any of 46+ eligible Michigan schools for students with at least a 2.5 GPA. Families above about twice the area median income (roughly $90,000) instead receive a flat $1,500 per year, renewable for up to four years. There's no separate application - eligibility is automatic based on continuous enrollment, and the program stopped accepting new students after fall 2021.
Eligibility
DemographicsLimited to Grand Rapids Public Schools students in the Harrison Park/Westwood Middle to Union High School pipeline who enrolled in the program by fall 2021 (graduating classes 2020-2028); no new students can join. As of the 2026-27 school year this currently covers only the classes of 2027 (seniors) and 2028 (juniors) who have stayed continuously enrolled.
Applying
Covers tuition/fees beyond a Pell Grant, up to 4 years: Grand Rapids Community College only with a 2.0+ GPA, or 46+ Michigan schools with a 2.5+ GPA. Families above ~2x area median income (~$90,000) get a flat $1,500/yr instead, renewable up to 4 years.