Dollars for Scholars

DRDFS scholarship recipients are invited to a Celebration Luncheon each year.

By Sarah Kittle

In this land of opportunity, you accept all help that comes your way. Scholarships are the path many immigrant students take to find their way to that ‘Holy Grail’ of a higher education degree. Scholarships, in varying shapes and sizes, are available to everyone, but students at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights may have a leg up when it comes to applying, thanks to the Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars Program.

Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars
Christa Funk, the Executive Director of the non-profit, has been with the organization since 2014. She says what they look for in students is a “spark.” Stevenson is one of 15 partner schools the organization works with to identify scholarship recipients. 20% of the awardees come from ESL households, and the majority are Chaldean, although “8 out of 9 hit the ‘white’ button” when it comes to identifying themselves.

Amira Hakim is a scholarship recipient who graduated from Stevenson in June 2022. She is currently at Oakland University studying pre-law, although she’s considering a change to major in medicine. Amira is the oldest daughter and was gently “pushed” by her parents to do well in academics, and to always remember that she is a role model for her younger siblings. Her leadership skills made her the perfect pick to be a tour guide for Chaldean students at University of Detroit Mercy, where they have a partnership with Wayne State University for a Doctor of Pharmacy program.

Amira said she was “surprised” when she was chosen as a scholarship recipient. By her own definition, she was often “paralyzed by perfection” in high school. But the scholarship committee, including Kelli McCloud, an advisor for Stevenson High School, saw potential in her and she received the financial aid that opened new doors for her, allowing Amira to pick her own path. She is the first in her family to attend college.

Yousif Salim is a junior at Stevenson and he is enrolled in the Next Level Scholars Program there. He recently wrote a paper on ‘The American Dream.’ Yousif knows about dreaming and aspiring. His generation is the first in his family to seek higher education – his older brother went to college and his sister is a sophomore and biochemistry major at Wayne State University. In Yousif’s class, 8 out of 10 students identify as Chaldean.

Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars started out “as grassroots as you can get,” according to founder William (Bill) Young, owner of Plastipak Packaging and Absopure Bottled Water.

Founded in 1990, the Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRSFD) program provides both academic support and renewable scholarships with the goal of helping more students overcome the barriers between them and higher education, such as low income or the lack of knowledge about how to apply for college. The volunteer-driven organization’s mission is to help local students prepare for life after high school through scholarships and academic support, to enable post-secondary success.

The program provides high school students with a variety of extracurricular educational opportunities. Whether they’re coordinating campus tours, taking students on a field trip to some of Detroit’s most successful companies or participating in philanthropic initiatives, students in this program are exposed to a wealth of knowledge and valuable experiences.

Starting in 10th grade, DRSFD students participate in a full schedule of trips and activities to learn how to prepare for post-secondary education. In 11th and 12th grades, students tour college campuses and talk with admissions staff and academic advisors and learn about declaring majors and acceptance letters, post-secondary application assistance, etiquette and networking workshops, FAFSA completion, leadership development, and SAT preparation. For many, this is their first introduction to the possibility of attending college.

Statistics showcase Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars’ impact on the region, with 100% of Stevenson’s DRDFS alumni graduating high school on time and 87% enrolling in college within 12 months of graduation, compared to the national average of 67%. When you break those numbers down further to include only low-income students, that national number falls to 49%.

“Each day, we’re reminded of the difference the efforts of Dollars for Scholars makes in the lives of local students,” said Board President William Young in a letter to the program participants. “We’re grateful for the support of our sponsors and thrilled with our recent and ongoing expansion. The more students and schools we partner with, the stronger the results for our community.”

2022 CCF Scholarship students receive their “big checks.”

Chaldean Community Foundation Scholarships
The CCF has its own scholarship program, which includes several funds with different criteria. It is open to Chaldean students with legal status as an immigrant, refugee, asylee, permanent resident or U.S. Citizen who can demonstrate financial need.

This scholarship grant money is intended to help subsidize the financial burden of education-related costs and is paid directly to the school.

Scholarship programs at the CCF include w3r Consulting’s two $5,000 scholarships for students pursuing a S.T.E.M. degree focused on IT and computers. This fund requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 and is designed to give candidates a boost in a technology-filled future.

The Yvonne Nona Memorial Fund, established in the memory of Yvonne by her family, provides financial assistance to Chaldean women pursuing a community college or university education. The Drs. Nathima and Peter Atchoo Family Foundation Fund is a legacy fund committed to assisting Chaldean students continue their education beyond high school or undergraduate studies. The Abdul Karim and Jameela Sesi Memorial Scholarship, established in their memory, assists students seeking higher education in the form of community college, university, or trade or technical school.

The DA Advisory Group Scholarship Fund financially helps students going into the field of accounting, and the Karim and Bernadette Sarafa General Scholarship Fund allows donors to combine funds for a greater impact.

The newest scholarship offering (five scholarships of $5,000 each) comes from Derek Dickow, who owns his own executive coaching business. The Derek J. Dickow Children’s Health Fund held at the Children’s Foundation is designed specifically for students attending Oakland University. “This gift represents my belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams, regardless of their financial situation,” said Dickow. “My hope is that others will be inspired to pay it forward and support the next generation of leaders and scholars.

“As a former student leader at Oakland University and the inaugural president of the Chaldean American Student Association, I understand the challenges students from financially struggling backgrounds face in pursuing higher education,” Dickow explains. “That’s why I am honored to give back to my alma mater and community by providing scholarships to deserving students through the Chaldean Community Foundation.”

The 2023 CCF Scholarship Program is expected to open on June 7, 2023, and close on July 7, 2023. Interested individuals should follow the CCF on social media or visit their website chaldeanfoundation.org for the announcement in early August.