The Alfredo Santiago and Gloria Bonilla-Santiago Endowed Scholarship Fund is a vital investment in the success of LEAP Academy University Charter School graduates as they transition from high school into higher education. The fund provides sustained financial assistance to students who enroll full-time at any of Rutgers University’s three campuses, helping to ensure that the promise of college access is matched with the support needed for college completion.

This scholarship is deeply connected to LEAP Academy’s Early College Program, a defining feature of the school’s academic model. Through this program, all LEAP Academy seniors participate in college-level coursework while still in high school, earning approximately 30 college credits prior to graduation. This experience gives students a meaningful head start toward a college degree while allowing them to acclimate early to the rigor, expectations, and independence of postsecondary education. By the time LEAP students graduate from high school, they are not only college-eligible—they are college-experienced.

The Alfredo Santiago and Gloria Bonilla-Santiago Endowed Scholarship Fund builds on this foundation by supporting students at the critical moment when they move from dual enrollment to full-time college matriculation. While Early College reduces time to degree and overall college costs, financial barriers remain a significant challenge for many LEAP graduates, particularly first-generation college students and students from low- and moderate-income families. This scholarship helps bridge that gap, allowing students to maintain full-time enrollment, focus on their academic goals, and take advantage of the opportunities available on a major research university campus.

Named in honor of Alfredo Santiago and Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, the fund reflects a lifelong commitment to education, community leadership, and opportunity creation. Their legacy is rooted in the belief that talent is universal, but access to opportunity is not—and that intentional investments can change the trajectory of students, families, and communities. The scholarship supports students who have already demonstrated resilience, academic readiness, and commitment through their participation in LEAP’s rigorous Early College pathway.

Beyond financial assistance, the fund strengthens the long-standing partnership between LEAP Academy and Rutgers University. It reinforces a shared vision of creating seamless pipelines from Infancy to higher education and into meaningful careers. Students supported by the scholarship enter Rutgers with a strong academic foundation, familiarity with college expectations, and a sense of belonging fostered through years of exposure to college environments. As they progress toward graduation, they are well positioned to become leaders, professionals, and engaged citizens who contribute to their communities and the broader workforce.

The Alfredo Santiago and Gloria Bonilla-Santiago Endowed Scholarship Fund is not simply a financial award—it is a strategic investment in student persistence, degree attainment, and long-term impact. By aligning with LEAP Academy’s Early College model, the scholarship helps ensure that students who begin their college journey ahead of the curve are able to stay on course, complete their degrees, and realize the full return on their early academic achievements. Through sustained support, the fund advances educational equity and affirms the shared commitment of LEAP Academy and Rutgers University to transforming access into lasting success.