Memphis Rise Academy's Pre-College Travel Fund

It's that time of year: college admissions decisions are rolling in which means that our seniors, almost all the first in their families to attend college, will soon be making their post-secondary plans for the fall semester!

Our previous classes had much to celebrate around this time of year, and the Class of 2024 will be no exception.

Check out some of our previous acceptances on the list below!

(* = MRA alumni at this institution)

Out-of-State:

Carleton College, Clark Atlanta University, Dartmouth College, DePauw University, Duke University, Emory University, Harvard College*, Jackson State University, Johns Hopkins University*, Middlebury College*, Millsaps College*, Rice University*, Spelman College*, University of Chicago*, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, University of Virginia, Washington University in St. Louis*

In-State:

Belmont University*, Fisk University*, Middle Tennessee State University*, Rhodes College*, Southwest Tennessee Community College*, Tennessee College of Applied Technology*, Tennessee State University*, Tennessee Tech University, University of Memphis*, University of Tennessee - Chattanooga*, University of Tennessee - Knoxville*, University of Tennessee - Martin*, Vanderbilt University*

How Can You Help?

While many of our former students elected to attend local post-secondary institutions, the truth is that, due to a combination of Covid restrictions and lack of financial resources, our alumni did not have an opportunity to make fully informed decisions regarding their out-of-state options.

Very few students had a chance to visit these out-of-state institutions, including those that offered full cost-of-attendance financial aid packages, before the May 1st deadline which may have influenced their decisions to enroll locally.

In general, we know how important it is for both students and their families to visit institutions to make well-informed decisions about their plans.

With tons of new acceptances to celebrate, members of the Class of 2024 are eager to visit their accepted institutions outside of Memphis including, but not limited to, Harvard, Saint Louis University, Alabama A&M University, Tennessee Tech University, the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga, and the University of Tennessee - Martin. With your assistance, we can help provide students and families with funding to make these trips happen! Between weekend events for admitted students and upcoming preview days, our seniors and their families will have ample opportunities to explore the institutions that their students may soon call home.

And it doesn't stop here.

While Memphis Rise Academy supports students in pursuing all post-secondary pathways, the majority of our students plan to attend a four-year college in-state or out-of-state. In last year's graduating class, approximately 83% of our seniors have chosen to apply to at least one in-state or out-of-state four-year college. Looking at the current college lists for the Class of 2024, approximately 43% of seniors are interested in attending an institution outside of Memphis.

Your contributions will make a profound impact on our school community's access to post-secondary exploration.

How will your contributions make a difference?

From preview days and family college visits to pre-college enrichment programs, these funds will allow our students and their families to feel at ease as they consider college options far from home. Students will have an opportunity to submit an application indicating the nature of the visit, financial need, and funds requested. Though the actual cost of a family trip for a college visit varies widely based on numerous factors, students will have an opportunity to request funding for travel (i.e., airfare, gas reimbursement), lodging, ground transportation, and meal expenses for up to two additional family members ranging from $500 to $2,000. In the first year of this program, we are hoping to support at least 5 of our students with trips of this nature.

Once we reach our initial goal, we will keep this fundraising page open to support future classes of Memphis Rise Academy students in their search for an ideal college match.

Thank you, and we cannot wait to update you on the Class of 2024's Decision Day this May 1st!

Check out our Decision Day videos from the Class of 2021, Class of 2022, and Class of 2023!