Published 4:47 pm Friday, September 5, 2025
By Staff Report
 Great Aspirations Scholarship Program Inc., a non-profit, college and career access organization, headquartered in Richmond, recently awarded 69 College Success scholarships totaling $80,000 to college students participating in GRASP’s College Success program. This included Malaysia Johnson who is from Buckingham and attends Norfolk State University and Malaysia Maxey who is also from Buckingham and attends Roanoke College.
The GRASP College Success Program seeks to increase the college graduation rate for GRASP students and scholarship recipients by helping them re-file financial aid and scholarship forms each year, providing valuable tips regarding internships and summer jobs, acting as a liaison between the college financial aid offices and the students, should a problem arise and awarding scholarships for those students with unmet financial need who attend Virginia colleges or technical programs.
GRASP’s goal is to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity for continuing education after high school, regardless of financial or social circumstances. Students begin working with GRASP advisors in high school regarding the financial aid process for postsecondary education whether that is technical school, community college or a four-year university. High school GRASP advisors now serve students and families in 114 Virginia high schools, from the greater Richmond area to Highland County in the west, to Lancaster County in the east, and Greensville County in the south. 
The highly trained GRASP advisors are adept at navigating the maze of the postsecondary education financial aid process. They also have a passion for expanding students’ opportunities to learn. High school GRASP advisors typically assist more than 8,000 students and their families, individually, in developing postsecondary education game plans each year. 
After high school, students may opt to participate in the GRASP College Success program throughout their college years. GRASP programs and scholarships are made possible by generous donor support. The GRASP College Success scholarships are awarded to students who are participating in the GRASP College Success program which provides support for GRASP students currently attending college.
GRASP salutes the 2025 scholarship recipients. All have learned about the importance of continuing their education as the next step for their future successes. More information about GRASP is available at grasp4va.org.

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