Baltimore City high school graduates are on track to receive more college scholarships this year than any other year, according to Rudy Ruiz, the Executive Director of College and Career Readiness of Baltimore City Public Schools.

Ruiz says 1600 scholarships have been offered to Baltimore city high school seniors – that’s more than any other year on the books.

And, as of Friday June 2, those 1600 scholarships totaled $55 million, on pace to break that record, too.

Applying for scholarships and financial aid is the final step in the college process for students. But it can often be overwhelming, extremely time-intensive, or just confusing. Ruiz says even with last week’s budget cuts, every high school has at least one college and career counselor who helps students navigate the college application process as well as the financial aid process.

"I grew up as a low income student myself, Ruiz said. "Knowing that students can come from a low income background and access any college in the country with the right supports – that’s what drives me in this work."

Ruiz graduated from Stanford University and proudly points out that to two out of the three Baltimore city students who were accepted to his alma mater will attend in the fall.

Education reporting on WYPR is supported in part by the Sylvan-Laureate Foundation.