RISE Scholars
Advancement through education.
Reaching, Inspiring, Serving, Excelling. A City Help of the Triad initiative that sends academically promising, financially constrained Guilford County students into STEM careers \u2014 and brings them back to fund the next cohort.
RISE Scholars empowers students to pursue STEM education through Christian values, mentorship, and community service — creating a self-sustaining cycle of opportunity and giving.
What scholars receive
- Scholarship
- Partial scholarships covering 25–50% of tuition for STEM degrees, renewable annually, plus funds for books, materials, and technology.
- College preparation
- Application guidance and fee waivers, SAT/ACT prep, FAFSA help, and campus visits — outreach begins in 10th grade.
- Academic support
- Summer bridge before freshman year, study groups and tutoring, and ongoing progress monitoring.
- Professional development
- Resume workshops, interview training, internship placement, and professional networking events.
- Faith and service
- Faith-based mentorship, service learning across Guilford County, and an annual retreat on faith, service, and leadership.
Three-tier mentorship
- Faith mentors
- Church and community members walking alongside each scholar.
- Academic mentors
- College faculty and staff who keep the degree on track.
- Professional mentors
- STEM professionals offering career shadowing and real introductions.
Monthly one-on-one meetings, quarterly group activities, career shadowing, and faith-based guidance throughout.
The giving-back commitment
- During college
- Peer mentoring of younger scholars, a minimum of 20 community service hours per semester, and help with recruitment events.
- After graduation
- A suggested 2–5% of income for five or more years, professional mentorship, guest speaking, advisory service, and internships when possible.