DJ Khaled Joins Get Schooled and California Student Aid Commission to Launch #Racetosubmit Portal
DJ Khaled joins Get Schooled and the California Student Aid Commission (Csac) to launch the #Racetosubmit portal, a one-stop web page for students to learn more about financial aid in California
Get Schooled launches its sixth college challenge aimed at encouraging students to explore CSAC resources and apply for a Cal Grant; it expects to distribute more than $25,000 in school grants and $5,000 in scholarships as part of the #RacetoSubmit Challenge
As part of its state-wide Race to Submit Campaign, CSAC (California Student Aid Commission) has teamed up with Get Schooled, an award-winning non-profit focused on improving college access and success, and their national spokesperson, mega-producer DJ Khaled, to launch the #RacetoSubmit Challenge. The #RacetoSubmit Challenge encourages students in high schools across the state to ‘get the knowledge to pay for college’ by engaging with Race to Submit CA, a one-stop online resource customized for California students to help them understand the state and federal grants available to help them offset the cost of college and connect with workshops, like Cash for College and the Get Schooled text-line, for guidance.
CSAC and Get Schooled expect tens of thousands of students to take advantage of the resources available on www.racetosubmitca.com and more than 100 high schools across California to participate in the Challenge. In the #RacetoSubmit official PSA, set to release February 8, DJ Khaled will tell students how to “secure the bag” or get the money available to them to pay for college. Get Schooled and DJ Khaled launched the viral Khaled Keys campaign in 2016, aimed at encouraging students to soft skills, like teamwork and collaboration, required for future success. The program has garnered more than one million page views since its launch fifteen months ago.
“As more California students aim to enroll in and graduate from college, it has become increasingly important for our students to have a place designed for them where they can explore financial aid resources available to them as California residents,” said Lupita Cortez Acalá, Executive Director of CSAC. “We are excited to partner with Get Schooled, nationally recognized for its student-centered resources, on this project.”
The site, Race to Submit CA, is a student-oriented complement to CSAC’s Race to Submit leaderboard where schools can measure the number of submitted and completed Cal Grant applications. Race to Submit CA has been custom-designed for students from California and includes information specific to financing college, including information about Cal Grants, how to use a Cal Grant as a transfer student, how to find scholarships, and FAFSA/CADAA completion resources. California students are also able to text “College” to 33-55-77 at any time to reach a credentialed college advisor to answer any specific questions they have.
To encourage students to attend Cash for College workshops in their high school or community, Get Schooled will also award five $1,000 scholarships to students who complete a survey reflecting on their “Cash for College” experience.
Get Schooled and CSAC have partnered on elevating awareness and expanding support for low-income California high school students since 2013. Currently, there are more than 100,000 California students, including more than 25,000 seniors, in the Get Schooled community. Each week, thousands of California students access tips and have their college questions answered through the Get Schooled text line service.
“Get Schooled has a longstanding history of working with CSAC, California educators and students and we are excited to continue to create customized resources for students,” said Marie Groark, Executive Director of the Get Schooled Foundation. “We are excited to continue our partnership with CSAC as and support educators and students alike as they take advantage of the resources available to them to finance a college education.”
The California Race to Submit College Challenge will be powered by Get Schooled’s gamified digital platform. As students complete content on Race to Submit CA and submit Cal Grant applications, they will earn points for themselves and their school. Schools that earn the maximum 1,000 points will have their total doubled and they will earn a $2,000 grant.
Named a “Fast Company – Most Innovative Company” in 2017, Get Schooled has applied gaming elements across its digital platform, including competition, point scoring, and rules. The strategy has enabled Get Schooled to reach millions of young people and drive improvement of student outcomes in schools and communities in need of the greatest boost.
This is the sixth Challenge that Get Schooled has partnered on to boost Cal Grant applications. Results include:
- 2014: 5% average FAFSA increase across participating schools; 66% of participating schools posted an increase.
- 2015: 14% average FAFSA completion increase across participating schools; 69% of participating schools posted an increase.
- 2016: 5% average FAFSA completion increase in participating schools; 57% of participating schools posted an increase.
- Spring 2017: 11% FAFSA completion increase in participating schools; 90% of participating schools posted an increase.
- Fall 2017: 10% FAFSA completion increase in participating schools; 75% of participating schools posted in an increase.
ABOUT GET SCHOOLED
Recognized in 2017 as Fast Company “Most Innovative Company” in the gaming category, Get Schooled is a non-profit organization that directly engages and motivates students to graduate from high school and succeed in college. Get Schooled offers low-income students a range of supports including college advisor text help and digital content. Get Schooled has developed a track record of success because it engages with young Americans using the media, technology, and popular culture that is an integral part of their lives. Two-thirds of Get Schooled alumni cite Get Schooled as being a key support in helping them reach their goals. Get Schooled’s work is boosted by partners like Viacom, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information visit www.getschooled.com.
ABOUT CSAC
The California Student Aid Commission is the principal state agency responsible for administering financial aid programs for students attending public and private universities, colleges, and vocational schools in California. Our mission is to make education beyond high school financially accessible to all Californians. The California Student Aid Commission also provides financial aid policy analysis leadership, in partnership with California’s colleges, universities, financial institutions and financial aid associations.
The California Student Aid Commission works toward a California that invests in educational opportunity, fosters an active, effective citizenry, and provides a higher quality of social and economic life for its citizens.
Featured Image Credit: DJ Khaled (Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Yahoo)
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About the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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