The future is bright for Flint Promise graduates

Four years ago, Percivierre Whitmore was in his final year at Mott Middle College. He was graduating with both a high school diploma and an associate degree but wasn’t sure what his next step should be. And then he heard about Flint Promise.

The scholarship program had just launched, offering students like Whitmore – who lived in and attended high school in the City of Flint – the opportunity to attend a local college or university at little to no cost.

“If it wasn’t for Flint Promise paying and paving the way, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” says Whitmore, who walked in April and is in the process of completing a seven-week exit course required through University of Michigan-Flint’s School of Management. “It opened the door to where I am now.”

Presently, Whitmore is focused on expanding his workplace experience. He’s also growing the business that he launched in 2020 – Share the Keys – which partners with local schools to teach students about goal setting. And he’s planning a wedding with Jeshawna Jones, his fiancé and fellow Flint Promise scholar.

Whitmore isn’t the only Flint Promise scholar looking forward to great things.

Darius Collins, who graduated from UM-Flint with a degree in biochemistry, just took the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, last month. The first-generation college student recently interned at the Insight Institute of Neurosurgery & Neuroscience and plans to attend medical school next year.

Anna Delgado walked in April and will officially graduate with bachelor’s degree in biology this August. She plans on pursuing a career related in some way to nutrition. “I want to focus on at-risk populations and communities. I’d love to work in public health and advocacy.”

Then there’s Alexa Stringer, who currently works for the Flint Urban Safety and Health Corp AmeriCorps. She says her experience interning with the Flint Police Department sparked her interest in combatting digital criminal activity. This fall, she plans to attend Michigan State University, where she will work toward earning a master’s degree in cybercrime and digital investigation.

In total, 10 Flint Promise scholars graduated during the 2021-22 school year. Each benefited from the scholarship’s financial assistance as well as wrap-around support services provided in the form of success coaches. As Whitmore notes, “I texted my success coach all the time. Sometimes you just need a plan and a blueprint, and my coach provided me the guide that I needed.”

The Flint Promise Scholarship Fund is housed at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and administered by Flint & Genesee Education & Talent, a division of the Flint & Genesee Group. Partnering schools include Kettering University, Mott Community College and the University of Michigan-Flint.

“Now that Flint Promise has existed for a few years, it’s exciting to see students graduate through the program,” says James Avery, director of Talent Development for Flint & Genesee Education & Talent. “These are our future entrepreneurs, doctors, public health advocates and law enforcement officials. And our future is brighter because of them.”

The complete list of this year’s graduates include:

• Sierra Calhoun, UM-Flint
• Darius Collins, UM-Flint
• Lanique Collins, Mott Community College
• Anna Delgado, UM-Flint
• Taylor Johnson, UM-Flint
• Ja’shawna Jones, UM-Flint
• Alexis Speaight, Mott Community College
• Alexa Stringer, UM-Flint
• Mirajh Williams, UM-Flint
• Percivierre Whitmore, UM-Flint

To learn more about Flint Promise, visit theflintpromise.org.