How Rutgers Future Scholars Empowers New Jersey’s Youth
Since its establishment in 2008, Rutgers Future Scholars (RFS) has transformed the lives of more than 3,500 first-generation and low-income students from Newark, New Brunswick, Camden, Piscataway, and, since 2016, Rahway. By guaranteeing free access to Rutgers for eligible participants and providing comprehensive academic and emotional support, RFS removes one of the biggest hurdles these students face: affordability. Through after-school, weekend, and summer programs, the initiative introduces seventh graders to college culture and continues to guide them through high school, ultimately supporting them through their college graduation.
“Once a Scholar, Always a Scholar”
Kim Williams, director of RFS at Rutgers-New Brunswick, underscores the program’s long-term commitment: “We built more than a program, we built a family.” This sentiment is echoed across the three Rutgers campuses, where RFS participants learn to envision themselves in higher education. Each year, the program welcomes a new cohort of 215 seventh graders, labeled by their future college graduation year—this summer, it was the Class of 2032.
Success Stories in Action
One shining example is Emmanuel Baah, a member of the first RFS cohort. Originally from Ghana, Baah arrived in the U.S. in second grade and discovered RFS in seventh. After earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Rutgers–New Brunswick in 2017, he now works as a software engineer at Google. Baah credits RFS for providing summer course options and a network of mentors who helped him navigate academic challenges—support that he says “100 percent changed my life.”
Another graduate, Angeles Vivanco, had her path shaped by a father who stressed the importance of education. Chosen for the second RFS cohort, Vivanco eventually switched majors from neurobiology to public administration and now works as a personnel technician in Paterson, New Jersey. She continues to give back as a mentor within the program, guiding students who, like herself, need both financial and academic support to reach their full potential.
Building a Legacy in Families
For many participants, RFS becomes a family tradition. Je-Naya Shipley, a junior at Rutgers–Camden studying psychology, was part of RFS’s ninth cohort, the first from Rahway. Her sister now attends Rutgers–New Brunswick, and her brother is preparing for college applications as a senior at Rahway High School. Shipley emphasizes how RFS bridged the gap between high school and college, especially in terms of self-discipline, structure, and time management. “RFS helped me, especially maturity-wise,” she says, noting that the academic environment is far more rigorous at the college level.
Alumni Support and Community Engagement
The spirit of giving back is a hallmark of the program. Many RFS alumni return to run workshops, sponsor career fairs, and mentor younger cohorts. Contributors like Dan and Grace Reinhardt, who met and married at Rutgers before building successful marketing careers, have provided sustained financial support to RFS for over a decade. Their philanthropy extends the program’s reach and ensures that future generations of scholars can thrive.
Additional alumni, such as Yauris Hernandez (now an expert at Ernst & Young) and Jason Gaines Jr. (a business consultant), point to the emotional backing they received from RFS. Both credit the program with showing them that they “deserved the best education” while providing reassurance that financial constraints should not limit their potential.
In celebrating its 15th anniversary, Rutgers Future Scholars continues to embody the promise that every motivated student deserves a clear, supported path to higher education. The program’s family-like atmosphere, combined with robust mentorship and academic enrichment, has opened doors for thousands of students—and, as many alumni attest, it lays the groundwork for them to achieve their goals, realize their ambitions, and, in turn, lift others along the way.
For the original content that this summary stems from, please visit Rutgers Future Scholars: Transforming Lives for 15 Years on the rutgers.edu site.