Hope for the Future: Governor McKee Calls for Making RI College Hope Scholarship Permanent in FY 27 Budget
PROVIDENCE, RI — On Tuesday, Rhode Island College’s (RIC) Donovan Dining Center served as the stage for a rally to make the Hope Scholarship permanent, a key element of Governor Dan McKee’s Affordability for All agenda.
The Hope Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship that ensures free tuition for full-time juniors and seniors who live in the state and have earned a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Since Governor McKee and the General Assembly created the Hope Scholarship pilot program in 2023, it has helped 568 RIC students with tuition bills. This academic year alone, it has saved in-state students approximately $4.8 million.
“Students should not be saddled with debt in order to gain the skills to earn a living in Rhode Island,” Governor McKee said. “The Hope Scholarship rewards hard-working, Rhode Island students by making a college degree more affordable—or for some students, by making a college degree attainable.”
Tuesday’s event was emceed by RIC alumnus and WPRI Rhode Show co-host Brendan Kirby (’04) and included remarks from RIC student Dante DiGregorio (’26) and recent RIC alumna Victoria Adu-Gyamfi (’25), both of whom received Hope Scholarships. The performer at the event, singer Brianna Callahan (’26), is also a Hope Scholarship recipient.
RIC President Jack Warner said, “The powerful stories of the students who spoke today – Dante DiGregorio, Victoria Adu-Gyamfi, and Brianna Callahan – are the most powerful argument in favor of continuing this scholarship. We are profoundly grateful to Governor McKee and the General Assembly for investing in these students, which we believe is a long-term investment in the economic health of Rhode Island. The Hope Scholarship is truly a win-win-win for students, our college, and our state.”
“My mom taught me that you show up. You show up even when it’s hard. Even when you’re tired. Even when no one’s watching. Rhode Island showed up for me,” said Dante DiGregorio. “Now I’m asking you, I’m asking all of us, to show up for the next kid. The one working in their parent’s shop. The one who’s two hundred dollars away from dropping out. The one who just needs a little breathing room to become who they’re meant to be. Make the Hope Scholarship permanent. The return is real. I am proof.”
“The Hope Scholarship truly became my saving grace. It eased a significant portion of my financial burden and allowed me to shift my focus back to where it needed to be, on my education and my clinical growth,” said Victoria Adu-Gyamfi, who now works as a nurse at Rhode Island Hospital. “Instead of constantly worrying about how I would afford to get to clinical or pay for essential materials, I was able to be more present, more prepared, and more confident in my role as a student nurse. That support made a lasting difference in my ability to succeed and complete my program.”
Adult students who have earned at least 60 credits within a four-year period at Rhode Island College are also eligible. For more information, visit: https://www.ric.edu/
