Our Thanks to the 2021 Dream Award Selection Committee
Every year, Scholarship America’s Dream Award Scholars are selected by a prestigious committee from across the country, chaired by Dr. Martha Kanter, Ed.D, CEO of College Promise.
“Once again, we were challenged to select 22 recipients from thousands of applicants,” said Kanter. “This year’s Dream Award Scholars are exceptional, talented students who have a passion for education and who have overcome great challenges such as homelessness, serious illness, family loss, abuse and financial hardships. Many of these students work while going to school, serve as caregivers, help their community and are active in college. They represent incredible ethnic, racial, geographic and cultural diversity.”
2021 Dream Award selection committee members include Robert C. Ballard, president and CEO, Scholarship America; Gabriella Gomez, Deputy Director of U.S. Policy, Advocacy and Communications, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Kristin Hultquist, renowned national education expert and founding partner of HCM Strategists; and Jim Larimore, Chief Officer for Equity in Learning, Riiid Labs.
The Dream Award is a renewable national scholarship program for students with financial need who have overcome significant barriers to make it to college. Since the program was created in 2014, 130 students have received $2.4 million in scholarships, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The 2021 Dream Award Scholars come from 13 states across the country, from California to New York.
Scholarship America will be celebrating the 2021 Scholarship America Dream Award Scholars at our annual Dreams to Success event on May 13, 2021. We invite you to join us virtually, get to know them and hear their inspiring stories – learn more and register at scholarshipamerica.org/dreamstosuccess.