Education Grant WinnerBettina Bonsu

As a teacher, the number one priority is their students—ask any educator and that will be their response. Being able to support them in any way they can, whether that’s helping them acquire knowledge in the classroom, buying them basic necessities like a toothbrush, or waiting with them after school until their ride home arrives, the responsibility teachers know they have for their students is remarkably sound.

Bettina Bonsu, educator at George Gervin Academy, is an embodiment of this, and she wanted to give her students the opportunity to experience support systems that can help them with the college application process, as well as enhancing their academic readiness. Thanks to Power of the Dollar® members, she was awarded a $1,000 grant in December 2025 for her “First Step Scholars” project idea, which she then used the grant funds to purchase essential resources, such as caps and gowns, tutoring opportunities, college prep books, online resources, and more!

“My students needed help,” said Bonsu. “I wanted to identify the students that needed help. I would ask them, ‘Hey, why are you not coming to school? What’s going on?’ Some of my kids said they were not going to walk [for graduation] ‘cause they couldn’t afford cap and gowns. There are kids who said they couldn’t go to college because they didn’t have insurance.”

A leap into the collegiate atmosphere is what most students look forward to doing following high school; however, there are a handful of kids who lack the means to continue their education. Not only did Ms. Bonsu seek to equip her students with the tools they need, but she wanted to make college more accessible for them through a curated program of hers. Ultimately, through organized workshops, tutoring services, resource materials, and interactive sessions designed to put them on the right track, she’s found a positive impact in her students, unafraid to showcase their confidence.

“We’ve really seen a positive change in their self-esteem,” she said. “The barriers: they are not afraid to come to school, they can come and ask me anything, and I have a binder where they can sign up to let me know they need help. The grant has helped a lot.”