DPS College Scholarships Application Launches as DPS Foundation and DPS Scholarship Foundation Announce Historic Merger
Durham Public Schools Foundation and Durham Public Schools Scholarship Foundation have merged, a move that strengthens two organizations whose missions align and whose programs reach across Durham Public Schools. The work of the DPS Scholarship Foundation, including college scholarships and the annual Evening of Entertainment, will continue as programs of DPS Foundation; the 2021 Scholarship Application has just launched on their website.
“This is a historic merger for Durham and great news for all DPS students,” said Durham Public Schools superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga. “I’m grateful for the history and work of DPS Scholarship Foundation and DPS Foundation, and I’m thrilled to think about their combined strength, streamlining the support the community provides to our students, and the investments they make in them.”
Since 1980 DPS Scholarship Foundation has awarded over 350 college scholarships to DPS seniors, and has showcased the talent of Durham Public Schools students through its annual event, An Evening of Entertainment. "Our work has been a labor of love by dedicated volunteers for forty years. We are proud to have awarded more than 350 scholarships and thrilled for this work to continue and grow together with DPS Foundation,” said Bryan Galloway, outgoing DPS Scholarship Foundation President.
DPS Foundation began in 2018 when a group of Durham leaders saw a need for increased private investment in public schools. In addition to providing direct support for needs identified by schools, educators, students, and families, DPS Foundation partners across the community to develop, pilot and scale strategies that will accelerate the transformation of public education.
“After years of conversations with the DPS Scholarship Foundation about how to best collaborate, we’re so thrilled to be taking this step,” said Magan Gonzales-Smith, Executive Director of DPS Foundation. “What an incredible opportunity we have now, working together to harness the strength of our community and make college more and more accessible for DPS graduating seniors.”
Scholarships will be awarded to graduating DPS seniors this spring, the application is available online at www.bullcityschools.org/college-scholarships and the deadline is midnight April 9, 2021.
The DPS Scholarship General Fund is now the Durham Promise Fund, a community funded scholarship program receiving memorial and honorarium gifts, donor gifts, and alumni contributions. DPS Foundation will also continue to offer named scholarships. Individuals and businesses wishing to support college scholarships can also visit the webpage to make a donation to the Durham Promise Fund or inquire about named scholarships.
More About DPS Scholarship Foundation
DPS Scholarship Foundation has a 40 year history of providing scholarships to DPS students. DPSSF originated from the ideas and work of Eula Miller, Nezzie Carter-Moore, Joyce Wasdell, Cindy Gardiner, Linda Chandler and Doug Biddy, who identified a great need to support higher education funding for students of middle income families. DPSSF began awarding scholarships to DPS students in 1980. Since then, DPSSF scholarship awards have increased from $500 to $3,000, with over 350 awards given to date. Over its 40 year history, DPSSF has been a labor of love by community members; up until this merger it has been entirely volunteer-run. Other key members who have served the Foundation over the past four decades include founding member and retired DPS Volunteer Services Coordinator Rachel Lawrence, former DPS Arts Director Ronnie Lillie, and Past President Joyce McGriff. In 2019 the organization worked with a consultant to advise on a strategy for sustainability and the board decided to merge with a non-profit that had staff and structure to support the work.
More About DPS Foundation
DPSF was formed in 2018 by a group of community leaders including Mayor Steve Schewel, Superintendent Dr. Mubenga, retired DPS Principal and Assistant Superintendent Jim Key, Rep. Zack Hawkins, Magan Gonzales-Smith, Larry Hearst and many other business and community leaders who saw the need for increased private investment in our schools. In its first two years, DPSF focused on areas of high-need within DPS while building its capacity for galvanizing community support for public schools in Durham. In March 2020 through February 20201, DPSF raised over $1.2 million for emergency COVID needs (including Durham FEAST meal relief) and $1.5 million for digital equity, garnering incredible support from individuals and businesses. DPSF currently has three full time and four part-time staff members and works in close partnership with the school district, educators, and youth-serving nonprofits to advance its strategic priorities on behalf of the 33,000+ Durham Public Schools students.