The Year in Review: reaching more students, building new partnerships, and deepening our impact

As a nonprofit whose mission is to help students find and fund their future pathways, we tend to keep our eyes on the road ahead here at Granite Edvance. As we close out 2024, however, we’re pausing to cast a look backward on a year of growth and opportunity – a year of listening and responding to the needs of students and families through partnerships, creative solutions, and a clear vision for the future. Here are 10 highlights from a truly memorable year:  

• Recognizing food insecurity as a barrier to success for some college students, Granite Edvance made donations totaling $6,000 to food pantries at the three schools in the University System of New Hampshire last January. We also held a food drive for our staff and delivered our donations to the schools.  
  

• For some college students whose finances are stretched thin, one unexpected expense may be all it takes to derail their goals. In February, we partnered with the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges to create an emergency grant fund program, providing $80,000 in seed funds.  “If it wasn’t for [assistance] like this, I would lose out on college,” said Shylene Winship a recipient who shared her story.  
  

• In April, more than 600 people joined us at Saint Anselm College for Destination College, our annual college planning event for high school juniors and their families. The free event offered students a chance to learn about key topics, attend a college fair, and get to know our team and what we offer.  
  
   

• It was a turbulent year in financial aid, as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) underwent a major overhaul. As a trusted partner to families navigating the financial aid process, we made every effort to ensure families had the information and support they needed. In June, we received federal funding to help close the gap in FAFSA completions.  
  

• As part of an ongoing effort to expand access to our services and resources, we forged new partnerships with financial institutions around the state in 2024. By working together with these institutions, we can help students and families make informed decisions about planning and paying for college. 
  
  

• In July, we awarded $500,000 in scholarships to 107 NH college students – our largest award yet. Our winners included 37 first-generation students and 12 community college students. “This scholarship took a lot of weight off my shoulders,” said Heather McCurdy, a scholarship winner who shared her story.  
  

• Recognizing that the healthcare worker shortage in New Hampshire will require collaborative, creative solutions, we established a new scholarship fund to support students in the state who are completing prerequisite courses needed for a nursing degree. The fund is offered to students who are being supported by Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S., a federally funded program led by Elliot Health Systems.  
  

• To assist our employees in saving toward future education expenses for their families, we launched a new 529 education savings plan contribution benefit in the fall of 2024. The $100 monthly contribution is just one of the benefits we offer to support the education goals and overall financial wellness of our employees.  
  

• In the fall of 2024, we provided funding for a tool that will complement the direct support we provide to NH students and families. Through a new partnership between the New Hampshire Department of Education and Xello, a leading provider of college and career readiness solutions, NH students and families will have access to a suite of resources that will help them explore and map out their future career goals.  
  

• More than 2,500 students in 79 schools across the state participated in the annual ApplyNH campaign in 2024, receiving in-school support and guidance with their applications to college and/or career preparation programs. This year, we added more than 15 new schools to the program, which wrapped up in December.