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“If you had $1 million dollars to improve the lives…” The Transform Rhode Island scholarship
The Papitto Opportunity Connection has announced the deadline for Rhode Island high school students to apply for the Transform Rhode Island Scholarship (TRIS) has been extended to Monday, April 7 at 11:59 p.m.
TRIS offers a unique chance for Rhode Island high school students to win big while making a difference in communities that need it most in our state. Empowering RI high school students to become agents of change in Rhode Island is the vision behind the Transform Rhode Island Scholarship.
To apply, students must simply answer one question:
If you had $1 million to improve the lives of those who need it most in RI, how would you do it?
● Students can submit an essay, video or multimedia presentation. Apply here.
● The winning idea receives $1 million to make it a reality, plus a $25,000 scholarship.
● Nine finalists win scholarships between $5,000 and $15,000.
● POC emphasizes it is NOT looking for how a student would donate to invest in existing organizations. POC is interested in unique ideas on how to improve RI communities most in need.
● The deadline to apply is Monday, April 7, 2025.
Last year’s winner – Sebastian Connolly – won for THIS BIG IDEA:
BIG IDEA:
Sebastian’s big idea would use $1 million to fund the administration, transportation, and compensation costs for an inter-school tutoring program. The program would recruit students from Rhode Island high schools with the most resources/best educational outcomes to tutor at underserved schools in the state.
HOW WILL HE DO IT?
Sebastian believes tutoring enhances important communication skills and deepens a student’s understanding of academic material. He envisions an organization where students benefit from academic support from their peers, who are best equipped to utilize contemporary education technologies and understand the modern high school experience.
26 Scholarships since 2022:
Since TRIS was established in 2022, POC has invested more than $3.5 million in RI high school students. Twenty-six students from RI public, private and charter schools have received Transform RI Scholarships including:
1. Darius Ajakaiye (Moses Brown)
2. Adrian Bautista (Providence)
3. Jaydon Chagnon (The Met School)
4. Keyla Cintron (Classical)
5. Sebastian Connolly (Classical/2024 TRIS winner)
6. Reyan Data (Moses Brown)
7. Naomi Delgado-Pedraza (Central Falls High)
8. Pummukau Harris (The Met School)
9. Daisha Jackson (The Met School)
10. Zachary Jean-Pierre (Cranston West)
11. Mariam Kaba (Woonsocket High/2022 TRIS Winner)
12. Caroline Kanaczet (St. Mary’s-Bay View)
13. Jason Lebrun (LaSalle Academy)
14. Adryonna Lockhart (Rogers High)
15. Mariely Madera (Moses Brown)
16. Izzy Mitchell (The Wheeler School)
17. Ziondre Ogiba (The Met School)
18. Folajami Olagundoye (Blackstone Valley Prep)
19. Zachary Pinto (Shea High School)
20. Jalisa Ramos (The Met School)
21. Krystallyah Ratsabout (Dr. Jorge Alvarez High)
22. Kaitlyn Santilli (La Salle Academy)
23. Siya Singal (The Wheeler School/2023 TRIS Winner)
24. Donovan Turner (Classical)
25. Nico Upegui (North Providence High)
26. Ellie Vest (East Providence High)
For more information or to apply visit https://pocfoundation.com/transformri/scholarship-signup/ or contact Deb Weinreich at dweinreich@perrypublicrelations.com