Indy Achieves Promise Scholarships help Marion County residents complete their postsecondary education through gap-closing scholarships and individualized support

INDIANAPOLIS – 14 May 2022  –  On Saturday afternoon, 124 Indy Achieves scholars, including the very first two Promise Scholars, received their diploma as a part of the Spring 2022 graduating class at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. Indy Achieves, housed at EmployIndy, is an initiative launched by Mayor Joe Hogsett in 2018 that aims to ensure that every Indianapolis resident has the ability to pursue and complete a postsecondary credential or degree program.

Shaune Sterling and Shyne Liwanag, Indy Achieves Promise Scholars, received ongoing help throughout their time as students with gap-closing scholarships. On Saturday, they became the first two Promise Scholars to graduate from IUPUI since the inception of Indy Achieves in 2018. In addition to financial aid, Promise Scholars receive proactive and individualized support from Indy Achieves Student Success Coaches. The Student Success Coaches provide support with financial literacy, academic planning, accessing campus and community resources, and providing career opportunities.

“Indy Achieves was launched in an effort to make it possible for any Marion County resident, regardless of background, to get a degree or certificate after high school,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “These students are the realization of that effort. Through their education, they have a strong foundation from which to build a successful career and livelihood, and I can’t wait to see how they shape our city in the years to come.”

By 2025, 60% of Indiana jobs will require some form of postsecondary credentials, yet currently just 40% of Marion County residents hold credentials beyond high school. Indy Achieves is committed to increasing the proportion of Indianapolis adults with high-quality postsecondary credentials to 65% of residents by 2027, and to eliminating attainment gaps that currently exist for minority residents.

“The support that I received from my Student Success Coach was very helpful, especially during the pandemic,” said Shaune Sterling, Indy Achieves Promise Scholar. “It was great to know that I had the financial support as well, from my Promise Scholarship.”

To accomplish the goals of increasing opportunities for postsecondary credentials, Indy Achieves works to increase the number of individuals who apply for existing financial aid programs such as 21st Century Scholars and FAFSA as well as provide Promise Scholarships, Completion Grants, and wraparound support services for Marion County students who attend IUPUI as well as Ivy Tech – Indianapolis.

“Since its launch, Indy Achieves has helped over 3,000 Marion County residents complete their postsecondary credential or degree. This goes a long way to meeting the demands of our city’s rapidly evolving employment market,” said Angela Carr Klitzsch, EmployIndy president and CEO. “Indy Achieves remove barriers to completion, making a postsecondary education obtainable for all. Good and promising jobs in our city require education beyond high school and these scholars have become competitive candidates in a growing pipeline of talent.”

This graduating group will also include completion grant recipients which receive one-time awards to cover unpaid bursar bills or other substantial debts that would have prevented them from continuing their postsecondary education. Marion County residents who are interested in applying for promise scholarships or completion grants can learn more at indyachieves.org.