A college education can provide a path out of poverty for low-income minority students, but acceptance to a college does not help students who cannot afford to attend. Too often, economically disadvantaged minority students do not apply or attend college because of the cost. Brooks Penny Scholarship wants to fill the void for this high-need community by providing financial aid to minority students at Bremerton High Schools.
The steady decrease in need-based financial aid and the increase in merit aid have put many of these bright students at a disadvantage. The creators of this fund understand that a child should not be required to score high on tests or have a high G.P.A. in high school to receive funding. This upfront requirement to receive financial aid has widened the education gap between low-income and wealthy students. In our aim to close this gap, Brooks Penny does not require test scores or high school academic scores as a condition of funding.
We provide the opportunity for low-income college-bound students to receive financial aid without competing for funding based on academic achievement in high school. Our goal is to equalize educational opportunities for average minority students in our society.