Rockford Promise Executive Director Kaylene Grow told the Rockford Public Schools Committee of the Whole that the nonprofit will add 200 incoming Rockford Public Schools (RPS 205) students to its scholarship program this fall and has awarded 931 full tuition scholarships since 2016.

Why it matters: Rockford Promise pairs full‑tuition awards with advising and mentoring intended to boost college completion. Board members pressed the group for details about academic supports, mentoring capacity and a funding gap that leaves some potential community college students without guaranteed scholarships.

Grow said Rockford Promise began in 2006 with a goal of giving every graduate “the encouragement, mentorship, and financial support necessary to earn a college degree” and noted the program’s track record: “With our 200 students joining us this fall, that means Rockford Promise has extended 931 full tuition scholarships since 2016.”

Grow gave a short profile of the incoming cohort: 62% are first in their family to attend college, 71% are students of color, and top majors of interest include healthcare, engineering, business and education. She said the program pairs financial awards with academic advising and mentoring and reported 52 events and 12,267 students and families reached during the 2024–25 school year, producing 4,628 direct connections and 403 scholarship applications.

Board members and attendees asked about capacity and equity. Grow clarified scholarship availability by campus: "Any student who qualifies for NIU and Rockford University will receive the scholarship as long as they meet all the criteria," she said, and identified Rock Valley College as the campus with remaining gaps. "Our next big piece that we're working towards is having Rock Valley College be what we call fully funded," Grow said, calling for broader community financial support to fill that gap.

On academic supports, Grow said Rockford Promise and partner colleges monitor scholars and provide "academic recovery" supports when students fall below the required GPA and that many students on academic recovery have been able to return to good standing. In response to a board question about mentoring, Grow described a group mentoring model for freshmen (one or two mentors for 10–12 students) and said the program is expanding professional mentoring for upper‑level students.

Three guests spoke in support of Rockford Promise: parent Mike Foreman, incoming scholar Justice Wright and graduate Julissa Gutierrez. Wright described the scholarship as removing a financial barrier and motivating students to keep grades up: "For my family, the Rockford Promise Scholar means relief, opportunity, and hope." Gutierrez, a Rockford Promise alumna and recent graduate, said the program provided financial and mentoring support that let her graduate from Rockford University and pursue a master’s degree while she returns to teach in the district.

Board members also asked operational questions that Grow said are being tracked: how many students are on academic recovery (Grow offered to provide specific percentages from partner campuses), and whether there are enough mentors for a growing scholar cohort (Grow said more mentors are needed and welcomed board and community recruitment). She noted Rockford Promise holds fundraising events, accepts payroll deductions from RPS employees and seeks broader employer partnerships to expand fully funded options for Rock Valley College and new nursing partnerships with Saint Anthony’s College of Nursing.

The presentation did not include a board vote; Grow and supporters left materials and a one‑page attachment with additional data. The board encouraged Rockford Promise to provide detailed outcome metrics and to notify members of contract signings or scholar events so trustees can attend.

Ending: Rockford Promise framed the program as both a student support and a local workforce investment; the nonprofit said continued community and employer funding will be needed to extend guaranteed scholarships to Rock Valley College and to expand mentoring capacity.