RaiseMe
At Virginia high schools where more than half of the student body is enrolled in free or reduced lunch, a new type of financial aid called a micro-scholarship is now available.
Students at these schools who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a 3.2 or higher GPA, $3000 per year can be earned toward college, starting with the freshman year in high school. Money is given in small increments throughout the high school years for things like good grades, community service, leadership roles, honors, and more. A 3.2 GPA must be maintained, and the student must fill out the FAFSA when applying to college.
What is RaiseMe?
RaiseMe is a free platform that helps students in 9th-12th grades earn micro-scholarships for academic and extracurricular achievements. When students add achievements (such as good grades, extracurricular activities and sports, and perfect attendance) to their RaiseMe portfolio, they could be eligible to earn micro-scholarships to Virginia Tech or RaiseMe's other partner colleges.
How do I earn?
Eligible students can earn micro-scholarships to Virginia Tech for achievements such as:
- Earning good grades, maintaining a high GPA, or taking AP and Honors courses
- Perfect attendance
- Participating in extracurricular activities or sports
- Volunteering in the community
- Scoring well on the SAT or ACT
- Visiting the Virginia Tech campus, attending a college fair, or completing the FAFSA
- Holding a part-time job or internship
To receive these scholarships, students must apply, be admitted, and enroll at Virginia Tech. More at the Virginia Tech RaiseMe page.
Am I eligible?
As part of our commitment to college access, the Virginia Tech RaiseMe program is only open to students residing in Virginia who attend a Virginia high school where 50+% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.2 to be eligible. Students must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 and demonstrate eligibility for need-based aid.
- Alleghany High, Covington, VA
- Altavista High, Altavista, VA
- Amelia County High, Amelia Court House, VA
- Amherst County High, Amherst, VA
- An Achievable Dream Middle High School, Newport News, VA
- Annandale High, Annandale, VA
- Appomattox County High, Appomattox, VA
- Arcadia High, Oak Hall, VA
- Arlington Career Center, Arlington, VA
- Armstrong High School, Richmond, VA
- Auburn High, Riner, VA
- Bassett High, Bassett, VA
- Bath County High, Hot Springs, VA
- Bayside High, Virginia Beach, VA
- Bland County High, Rocky Gap, VA
- Bluestone High, Skipwith, VA
- Booker T. Washington High School, Norfolk, VA
- Brookville High, Lynchburg, VA
- Brunswick Academy, Lawrenceville, VA
- Brunswick High, Lawrenceville, VA
- Buckingham County High, Buckingham, VA
- Caroline High, Milford, VA
- Carroll County High, Hillsville, VA
- Carver College and Career Academy, Chester, VA
- Castlewood High, Castlewood, VA
- Central High School, King and Queen County, VA
- Central High School, Victoria, VA
- Central High, Norton, VA
- Charles City High, Charles City, VA
- Chatham High, Chatham, VA
- Chilhowie High, Chilhowie, VA
- Chincoteague High, Chincoteague, VA
- Christiansburg High, Christiansburg, VA
- Colonial Beach High, Colonial Beach, VA
- Council High, Honaker, VA
- Covington High, Covington, VA
- Craig County High, New Castle, VA
- Cumberland High, Cumberland, VA
- Dan River High, Ringgold, VA
- Denbigh High, Newport News, VA
- Dinwiddie High, Dinwiddie, VA
- E. C. Glass High School, Lynchburg, VA
- Eastern Montgomery High, Elliston, VA
- Eastside High, Coeburn, VA
- Essex High, Tappahannock, VA
- Falls Church High, Falls Church, VA
- Floyd County High, Floyd, VA
- Franklin High School, Franklin, VA
- Franklin Military Academy, Richmond, VA
- Freedom High, Woodbridge, VA
- Galax High, Galax, VA
- Galileo Magnet High, Danville, VA
- Gar-Field High School, Woodbridge, VA
- Gate City High, Gate City, VA
- George Washington High, Danville, VA
- George Wythe High, Richmond, VA
- Giles High, Pearisburg, VA
- Glenvar High, Salem, VA
- Graham High, Bluefield, VA
- Granby High, Norfolk, VA
- Grayson County High, Independence, VA
- Green Run High, Virginia Beach, VA
- Greensville County High, Emporia, VA
- Gretna High, Gretna, VA
- Grundy High, Grundy, VA
- Halifax County High, South Boston, VA
- Hampton High, Hampton, VA
- Harrisonburg High, Harrisonburg, VA
- Henrico High, Richmond, VA
- Heritage High School, Newport News, VA
- Heritage High, Lynchburg, VA
- Hermitage High, Richmond, VA
- Highland High, Monterey, VA
- Highland Springs High, Highland Springs, VA
- Holston High, Damascus, VA
- Honaker High, Honaker, VA
- Hopewell High School, Hopewell, VA
- Huguenot High, Richmond, VA
- Hurley High, Hurley, VA
- I. C. Norcom High, Portsmouth, VA
- Independence Nontraditional School
- John Handley High, Winchester, VA
- John I. Burton High, Norton, VA
- John Marshall High, Richmond, VA
- John R. Lewis High School, Springfield, VA
- Justice High School, Falls Church, VA
- Lake Taylor High, Norfolk, VA
- Lakeland High, Suffolk, VA
- Lancaster High, Lancaster, VA
- Lebanon High, Lebanon, VA
- Lee High, Jonesville, VA
- Liberty High, Bedford, VA
- Lloyd C Bird High, Chesterfield, VA
- Louisa County High, Mineral, VA
- Luray High, Luray, VA
- Magna Vista High School, Ridgeway, VA
- Manassas Park High, Manassas Park, VA
- Martinsville High, Martinsville, VA
- Mathews High, Mathews, VA
- Meadowbrook High, North Chesterfield, VA
- Mecklenburg High, Skipwith, VA
- Middlesex High, Saluda, VA
- Mount Vernon High, Alexandria, VA
- Nandua High, Onley, VA
- Narrows High, Narrows, VA
- Nelson County High, Lovingston, VA
- Northampton High, Eastville, VA
- Northumberland High, Heathsville, VA
- Northwood High, Saltville, VA
- Norview High School, Norfolk, VA
- Nottoway High, Crewe, VA
- Open High, Richmond, VA
- Oscar F Smith High, Chesapeake, VA
- Pace West, Gainesville, VA
- Page County High, Shenandoah, VA
- Park View High, Sterling, VA
- Patrick County High, Stuart, VA
- Patrick Henry High, Roanoke, VA
- Petersburg High, Petersburg, VA
- Phoebus High School, Hampton, VA
- Prince Edward County High, Farmville, VA
- Pulaski County Senior High, Dublin, VA
- Randolph Henry High, Charlotte Court House, VA
- Rappahannock High, Warsaw, VA
- Richlands High, Richlands, VA
- Richmond Community High, Richmond, VA
- Ridgeview High School, Clintwood, VA
- Rockbridge County High, Lexington, VA
- Rustburg High, Rustburg, VA
- Rye Cove High, Duffield, VA
- Staunton River High, Moneta, VA
- Strasburg High, Strasburg, VA
- Surry County High, Dendron, VA
- Sussex Central High, Sussex, VA
- T. C. Williams High School, Alexandria, VA
- Tazewell High, Tazewell, VA
- Thomas Jefferson High, Richmond, VA
- Thomas Walker High, Ewing, VA
- John Randolph Tucker High, Richmond, VA
- Tunstall High, Dry Fork, VA
- Twin Springs High, Nickelsville, VA
- Twin Valley High, Pilgrim Knob, VA
- Union High, Big Stone Gap, VA
- Unity Reed High School , Manassas, VA
- Varina High School, Richmond, VA
- Virginia High, Bristol, VA
- Wakefield High School, Arlington, VA
- Warwick High, Newport News, VA
- Washington & Lee High, Montross, VA
- Waynesboro High, Waynesboro, VA
- William Byrd High, Vinton, VA
- William Campbell High, Naruna, VA
- William Fleming High, Roanoke, VA
- William Monroe High, Stanardsville, VA
- Woodrow Wilson High, Portsmouth, VA
When and how do I receive my earnings?
You must follow Virginia Tech on RaiseMe, have a complete portfolio, and apply to Virginia Tech by January 22. Only achievements added to your portfolio by our earning deadline - December 1 of your senior year - will be included in your scholarship. You must complete the FAFSA and scholarship application by January 22 and demonstrate eligibility for need-based aid. Earnings represent the minimum guaranteed aid you will receive if you are admitted to and enroll at Virginia Tech. Once admitted, your micro-scholarship earnings will automatically be included in your financial aid package.
Does this affect my total financial aid package?
Your micro-scholarships represent a minimum amount of scholarship and grant aid you will receive from Virginia Tech if you apply, are admitted, and enroll. You may be eligible for more aid based on your formal application for admission and financial aid forms. If you receive a higher amount of scholarship and grant aid in your comprehensive award letter from Virginia Tech, note that this includes the amount you earned on RaiseMe and is not in addition to your earnings on RaiseMe.
Is this money renewable? Meaning, is it just for my freshman year?
RaiseMe money is renewable for four years.
Questions?
Contact Fisher McInville | fisherk39@flcoastline.com | (540) 231-6267
Funded by Virginia Tech, the RaiseMe Grant provides financial assistance to full-time undergraduate students. This grant is renewable for up to 3 years if students maintain a 3.0 grade point average (GPA), maintain full-time enrollment, and Satisfactory Academic Progress. The student must also complete 30 credits per academic year. Changes to your FAFSA calculated expected family contribution in future aid years could affect the amount of this grant and, in some cases, might result in cancellation. Additionally, this grant will be cancelled if you do not maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Changes in funding may cause VT to replace this grant with another award for the same amount.