Grant Fuels DC CAP’s Goal to Achieve an 80% College Graduation Rate for D.C. Students by 2050

The Sallie Mae Fund today announced a $50,000 grant to the DC College Access Program (DC CAP Scholars) to support its annual College Signing Day celebration and its broader mission to increase higher education access and completion rates for students across the District. The grant also supports DC CAP’s 2050 Moonshot Goal—an initiative to achieve an 80% citywide six-year college graduation rate by 2050.

College Signing Day will take place Friday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena and will bring together more than 3,000 high school students from across D.C. to celebrate their commitment to pursuing post-secondary education at four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, certificate programs, military service, or career training programs.

This year’s celebration will include standout student recognitions, remarks from community leaders, and live performances by local talent—including the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Chorus, TOB Go-Go Band, cheer teams from Dunbar and Friendship Collegiate, the Washington Wizards Dancers, and more—all coming together to celebrate D.C. students in style.

“The promise of higher education has always been grounded in opportunity and personal and professional growth, but that promise is only truly realized when students complete their degree,” said Nicolas Jafarieh, executive vice president, Sallie Mae. “Our ongoing partnership with DC CAP underscores our shared commitment to ensuring students in the D.C. community not only start their educational journey but also successfully finish it."

“Partners like The Sallie Mae Fund help us equip students with the confidence and resources they need to stay on track and complete their unique educational journeys,” said DC CAP President and CEO, Eric Waldo. “College Signing Day is more than a celebration; it’s a springboard for students to launch into their next chapter and a powerful reminder of what’s possible. This is the essence of partnerships like ours—empowering students and building a brighter future for our community.”

For more information about this year’s College Signing Day and DC CAP’s 2050 Moonshot Goal, visit dccap.org/csd2025.

For free tools and resources to help plan and pay for college, like Scholly Scholarships and College Search by Sallie—visit Sallie.com.

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Sallie Mae (Nasdaq: SLM) believes education and life-long learning, in all forms, help people achieve great things. As the leader in private student lending, we provide financing and know-how to support access to college and offer products and resources to help customers make new goals and experiences, beyond college, happen. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

About DC-CAP

The DC College Access Program (DC CAP Scholars) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the higher education achievement gap for DC students by helping them access and attain meaningful college degrees with little to no debt. DC CAP believes that a student’s personal circumstances should never determine their ability to succeed. By leveraging dollars, connecting students to better match universities, and providing wraparound support, DC CAP works to ensure students graduate ready to compete in today’s economy. For more info, visit dccap.org.

Category: Community and Philanthropy

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