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One thousand dollars. It's less than a month's rent for most Rhode Island families. Less than a semester's worth of textbooks at a four-year university. In the world of college costs and student debt, it barely registers.

And yet, for the students served by the David L. Taton Family Vocational/Technical Scholarship Fund, approximately $1,000 is what makes a first chance possible, or a second one. It's the difference between a new chapter and a closed door. Between believing a better path is within reach and suspecting it was never meant for you.

The remarkable truth at the heart of this scholarship program: a relatively small amount of money, placed in the right hands at the right moment, changes lives.  

There is a particular kind of courage in going back to school when life has already handed you a full plate. These are not traditional students. They’re working adults, some juggling jobs and children, some starting over after a layoff, some who just never had the opportunity until now. What they share is a determination to build something more, for themselves and for the people depending on them.

“This is a unique scholarship program," explains Monica Benson, Rhode Island Foundation Scholarship and Special Funds Officer, who oversees the program. "These applicants include people of all ages. Some are making a life change, navigating a new chapter, or seizing an opportunity they never had before. Some are on public assistance, and for them, this scholarship is a path to self-sufficiency and independence. Others are already working in healthcare or the trades and want to grow - a CNA who becomes certified in phlebotomy, for example, can earn more per hour. We want people to take advantage of this scholarship wherever they are on their journey."

The Taton scholarship is designed for Rhode Island residents with financial need who are pursuing a certificate or credential, not a four-year degree. Eligible programs include CNA training, phlebotomy, medical assisting, EMT certification, electrical apprenticeships, HVAC, automotive and manufacturing, teacher's aide programs, cosmetology, culinary arts, and other career training programs across the state. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, and past recipients are encouraged to reapply as they build on their skills.

"Although these are smaller scholarships – most around $1,000 - they can be transformative. They'll pay for most of the costs of the certification courses,” Monica notes.  

Since its launch in 2020, the program has grown steadily. In 2024, 56 scholarships were awarded totaling $64,830. In 2025, as new community partnerships brought the scholarship to more students, that grew to 93 scholarships and $89,152 in support. In 2026, 49 scholarships have already been awarded, with applications continuing to come in. Over the years, the program has put thousands of dollars toward training and professional certification across healthcare, the trades, and education, and the need, both for funding and skilled members of Rhode Island’s workforce, continues to grow.

Through intentional outreach and stewardship, the Foundation has built partnerships with Cranston Adult Education, Newport and Aquidneck Island Community Schools, and the Community College of Rhode Island, institutions that serve adult learners seeking career training that now routinely connect their students to this scholarship opportunity.

The voices of those who have received the scholarship best describe the big difference a small investment makes.

When one recipient lost his job of 22 years, he finally had the chance to pursue the electrical career he had always wanted, but with his wife as the household's sole earner, the cost of books and coursework was simply out of reach. "This journey has been incredible," he wrote, "and your support has made a meaningful difference in my life."

For a medical assistant working at Brown University Health's Cancer Institute, the scholarship was more than financial support. Already in the workforce and the first in his family to pursue higher education, he hadn't been sure he would be considered. "For a while, I had started to believe that it might be too late for me to return to this path in a meaningful way or that someone in my position might not be chosen for support like this," he shared. The scholarship changed that. Enrolled in a phlebotomy program to strengthen his skills, something else shifted too. "I can sit in class and completely focus on what I'm learning instead of mentally tracking what I still owe or what I have to delay taking care of." He is now preparing for his certification, has applied to Rhode Island College, and has his sights set on a nursing degree.

"Not only will this be helping me," another recipient wrote, “it will be helping my son, because it will give me the chance to provide him with a better future." For her, the scholarship is the first step on a longer journey, a certificate to gain experience in the medical field, with the goal of becoming a radiologist.

The impact of a $1,000 scholarship does not stop with the person who receives it.