This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
In the darkest of fiscal climates, three Philadelphia high school seniors have received an unexpected dose of good news. Each will receive a $5,000 college scholarship as part of Sun Life Financial’s Rising Star Awards Program.
The surprise ceremony at the Philadelphia Museum of Art honored the college-bound students – Ramean Clowney of Fairhill Community High School, Tiffany Collins of Arise Academy Charter High School, and Jamal Robinson of Abraham Lincoln High School – for their outstanding academic records, community work, and “leadership qualities,” according to an event press release.
Students applied for the award in conjunction with a local nonprofit, and the winning partner organizations each received a $50,000 grant from Sun Life. The organizations are Philadelphia Youth Network, Urban Affairs Coalition, and Philadelphia Futures.
The Rising Star Awards Program also has offshoots in Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, and South Florida. Urban Affairs Coalition and Philadelphia Futures are repeat winners.