Detroit’s Next Chapter isn’t just Development: DPSCD Students Secure $279 Million in Scholarships

Economic and population growth aren’t the only upward mobility trends putting Detroit in the spotlight. An uptick in scholarship dollars secured by Detroit Public Schools Community District students this year showcases the district’s commitment to academic excellence and investment in the city’s greatest asset — Detroit’s youth.

While the latest buzzworthy news centers around the Hudson building’s continued $1.4 billion development in Downtown Detroit, ‘Teen takeovers’ or affordable housing in Brush Park and Corktown, DPSCD students were raking in over $279 million in scholarship awards — up $41.2 million from last school year. College-bound students like Geovonni Dickerson, the first male valedictorian of Crockett Midtown High School of Science and Medicine, earned $3.1 million in scholarship offers, while Cass Technical High School valedictorian Onanna Jacy received $1.5 million in scholarship money and a full ride to Harvard University.

Nicole Carter, DPSCD Senior Director of High School Counseling, attributes the milestone to the tireless work of school counselors shaping students’ academic careers.

“We sit with students and talk about their post-secondary plans, then how their high school experience aligns to that — making sure they’re enrolling in the most rigorous coursework, including AP, IB and dual enrollment,” said Carter. “They’re getting some type of exposure during their high school career that will better prepare them for post-secondary.”

Beyond one-on-one guidance, counselors match students with scholarship opportunities and external programs tailored to their needs. They also use in-house tools like Zello, an educational platform that aligns a student’s interests and strengths to post-graduate fields and career pathways, to build a personalized plan of action.

For some Detroit teens, the district’s hands-on approach — personal check-ins, grade assessments and targeted guidance — has made the difference between a scholarship opportunity and an uncertain future.

In spite of his mother’s post-secondary education, Southeastern High School graduate Justin Bakeman never saw college as an option — until a chance introduction to the College Career & Beyond (CCB)| Midnight Golf Program during his senior year changed his mindset. CCB prepares high school students for college through unique experiences like golfing after dark, an HBCU college tour, mentorship pairing and over 30 weeks of life skills training. The critically acclaimed program boasts a 100% college-bound student completion rate, and Bakeman is one of them.

“I’m so proud of the seniors this year. I see how the graduation rate is so high,” Bakeman’s mother said. “You get to see how much they’ve earned. They really put in the effort.”

More often than not, those high graduation rates require an extensive collective effort between students, parents and school officials.

“First-gen families especially rely on us for FAFSA completion, so all schools held FAFSA nights during the month of October and beyond, where we sat with families to complete the financial aid process,” said Carter. “A lot of hand-holding is done because we know that’s what’s necessary. This process can be very overwhelming, so we provide opportunities to help students and families through their financial aid application.”

Trailblazing scholar-athlete MaKayla Galloway knows a thing or two about firsts. The pioneering teen is the first Division I female soccer player in DPSCD history and in Cass Tech school history, as well as a first-generation student athlete. Her performance on both offense and defense caught the attention of several universities — including Western Michigan, Providence, Mercyhurst, Akron, Mississippi State and Abilene Christian University — some of which have tracked her career since her freshman year.

Galloway credits her father and a supportive family unit for all her success, but she also opened up about an unexpected hardship.

“It’s been hard for me — the racial aspect of it. Getting unfair treatment and players purposely attacking me, it was rough,” said Galloway. “I didn’t notice it until I got into middle school. I was playing for fun, then it got serious.”

Despite that revelation, Galloway can’t contain her appreciation for the leadership skills she’s gained or her excitement for new beginnings at Abilene Christian University, where a top-tier nursing program and competitive, yet welcoming soccer team await. She hopes to build a dual career as a professional soccer player and a nurse — her greatest accomplishment yet.

Meanwhile, Bakeman has his eyes set on a tuition-free ride to Ferris State University this fall. His academic struggles are long behind him. Instead, a bright future as an accounting major studying psychology lies ahead. 

“I have a quote. ‘Never change, just improve,'” said Bakeman. “Just make yourself a better version of yourself as you go on in life, because it only gets better.”