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MPS scholarships, grants set record for 2023 class
Milwaukee Public Schools graduates received a record-breaking $121 millions in scholarships and grants at the district's annual Scholarship Reveal Thursday.
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Public Schools graduates received a record-breaking $121 millions in scholarships and grants at the district's annual Scholarship Reveal Thursday, June 15.
The total was a $14 million increase over 2022 – representing the largest year-over-year increase in scholarships and grants since 2012, when MPS began tracking the total.
Except for one year, the MPS scholarship and grant total for graduates has climbed steadily since 2012, when it was $18 million, the district said. The totals increased even early in the pandemic:
- 2013: $24 million
- 2014: $31 million
- 2015: $39 million
- 2016: $51 million
- 2017: $62 million
- 2018: $83 million
- 2020: $85 million
- 2021: $96 million
- 2022: $107 million
Among the 2023 class, more than 900 MPS graduates were awarded scholarships. Fourteen MPS high schools tallied over $1 million in scholarship offers to its graduates.
Several of the more than 900 scholarship and grant awardees in attendance during Thursday's ceremony. One of them was Chianang Xiong, salutatorian and senior class president at James Madison Academic Campus – who received over $200,000 in scholarship offers.
MPS students and faculty pose after scholarship award (Courtesy: MPS)
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"I never would have expected it honestly, and I'm just so proud of myself, and I'm happy because my family – they're watching me, my younger siblings – and they're sure they can do it now, because I'm doing it now and showing them greatness," said Bradley Tech graduate Kearra Hartz, who earned a full ride to Marquette University.
MPS graduates plan to continue their education at over 30 institutions in Wisconsin, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College and Marquette University.