Hartford Promise motivates kids to stay in school

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Hartford Schools are making a promise to students to inspire them to keep their grades up and stay in school.

For some high school freshmen, college just got a lot more affordable because, "We have raised $4.1 million."

That money is for a program called Hartford Promise. To be eligible, students have to live in Hartford, and spend all four years in a Hartford public high school with good attendance.
  
Jessie Rivera plans to do just that. His parents were worried about paying for college.

"You know, like the economy and stuff like that. I don't know," Rivera said.

"It sounds like your parents would have to make a lot of sacrifices to send you to college," asked News 8's Kent Pierce.

"Yes they would," Rivera replied.

"And perhaps now they won't after all," Kent asked.

"No they won't," Rivera said.

If Rivera keeps his grade point average above 3.0 he could be eligible for $2,500 a year towards a two-year school, or $5,000 a year towards a four-year college.

Of course, providing all that tuition money is not going to be cheap. They've raised $4.1 million so far, some of it from the Say Yes to Education Foundation, Hartford Hospital, and about half of it coming from Travelers.

"I think the scholarship piece is something to compete for and everybody's better when they compete and they work hard towards a goal," said Andy Bessette, Travelers CAO.

New Haven started practically the same thing a couple years ago, funded largely by Yale. They found too many students couldn't keep their grades up in the first year of college and lost their scholarships. That's why Hartford Promise involves preparing for college, not just funding it.

Rivera plans on doing his part.

"I think if I keep my grades up I will accomplish and succeed," Rivera said, "and I'm going to work to the best of my ability to earn this scholarship."

And Hartford Schools hope to raise a total of $12 million to fund the scholarships for the next 10 years.