New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) has launched a new scholarship program aimed at motivating students to achieve academic excellence while in high school and to better prepare them for college. Through “Raise.me,” students can now earn “micro-scholarships” from NEIT starting in the 9th grade for a wide range of individual achievements. New England Tech is the first university/college in Rhode Island to offer the Raise.me program to high school students.

Raise.me is an online social enterprise focused on expanding access to higher education, especially amongst low-income and first-generation students. Raise.me was developed to prepare high school students for the college application process. Most colleges award scholarships and grants towards the end of a student’s senior year in high school. This process may prove to be difficult for some students who not have achieved all of their academic goals or who have applied to college later in the process. Raise.me encourages students to achieve higher grades, serve their community and work towards earning various awards all of which will impact a student’s college ambitions or choices.

In addition to improving clarity and access to financial aid options, the new program allows students to track specific goals they seek to accomplish throughout high school, helping them become more competitive college applicants and more successful college students. For example, New England Tech’s micro-scholarships will focus on the following three classifications: science, technology, engineering and math courses; community service hours; and honors and awards.

“Students in the Northeast have continued to express interest in having Rhode Island college options on Raise.me,” said Katie Mooney, Raise.me’s Director of Partnerships in the Northeast. “New England Institute of Technology was a natural place to start given their focus on access, affordability and student success.”

Raise.me has partnered with a diverse set of more than 200 colleges and universities including Carnegie Mellon, Colby College, Georgia Tech, Penn State, the University of Rochester and Tulane University. Raise.me is free for students and also provides a free portal for high school counselors to help students track their progress.

Kathleen Ehlers, NEIT’s Vice President of Enrollment Management, said, “New England Institute of Technology is proud to be the first Rhode Island university or college to partner with Raise.me. We’re enthusiastic about using micro-scholarships to engage and encourage high school students to continue their education.”

Students, educators and parents can learn more at www.raise.me, by visiting the New England Tech Admissions website at www.raise.me/join/neit or contact NEIT’s Director of Admissions, Michael Caruso, at 800-736-7744 ext. 3411 or mcaruso@neit.edu.