By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Promise marked its 10th Annual Scholar Celebration this week at the Richmond Art Center, honoring 450 local students as they prepare to enter college and continue their educational journeys.
The event—unique this year in that it was designed to feel more like a social mixer than a formal ceremony—featured a festive blend of games, food, and community connection. A “selfie tent” gave scholars the chance to capture memories, and each left with a personalized certificate welcoming them into the Richmond Promise family.
Unlike past years, the 2025 celebration put a greater emphasis on student interaction than on speeches. Richmond Promise Director of Programs & Partnerships Miguel Molina kicked off the event with an explanation of a special BINGO game, encouraging students to engage with city leaders and Richmond Promise staff members featured on the card. Scholars who completed their cards were entered into raffles for prizes like gift cards and Apple AirPods.
The Richmond Promise program launched in 2016 with a $35 million investment from Chevron Richmond.
Alum and featured speaker Chandani Battle energized the crowd with personal reflections and advice for the new cohort. Her presence underscored the event’s message: higher education is not only possible—it’s a shared journey supported by the entire community. Community leaders including elected officials also attended the event.
The Richmond Promise program was launched in 2016 with a $35 million investment from Chevron Richmond as part of a community benefits agreement with the City of Richmond. To date, the program has supported more than 3,700 students. Currently, over 1,300 Promise scholars are pursuing degrees. The program offers up to $1,500 annually in scholarships for eligible graduates in Richmond and North Richmond, in addition to year-round mentoring and support services.

“Our investment in this scholarship program reflects our deep and ongoing commitment to local education,” said Brian Hubinger, senior manager of Public and Government Affairs at Chevron Richmond, which targets a large portion of its charitable donations toward local education, investing $700,000 in 2022 alone.
Hubinger, who also serves as a Richmond Promise board member, added, “We’re proud to help thousands of students from underserved neighborhoods pursue their education, unlock their potential, and shape a brighter future for us all.”
Christopher Whitmore, Richmond Promise executive director, said it has been a “privilege to be able to see the growth of this organization and the growth of support that we’ve been able to provide to the community.”

“This event is really just a show of that support… to celebrate these young people and celebrate their families and acknowledge the journey that these students are going to embark on,” he said.
Whitmore emphasized that building a “college-going and college-graduating culture” in Richmond starts with meaningful connections—between students, community leaders, and educational institutions. “Even just little games like BINGO,” he added, “help students get to know each other… and get to learn a little bit about the adults’ journeys and what their educational experiences were like.”
This year’s class of 450 scholars is one of the largest since the pandemic, and the Richmond Promise team sees their success as a sign of momentum.
For more information on the scholarship program, visit its website here.










