From Deals to Degrees: Transforming Black Friday into a Scholarship Opportunity for Detroit Students

The Friday after Thanksgiving is often synonymous with shopping bags, packed parking lots, and doorbuster deals. But what if this year, instead of chasing sales, families chased opportunities for their college-bound students? That’s the vision behind Fresh Perspectives’ 11th Annual Black Friday Scholarship Bootcamp, a transformative event designed to empower students and families to secure higher education without drowning in debt. Set to take place on Friday, November 29, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the newly renovated Michigan Central Station & New Lab in Detroit, this year’s event challenges families to rethink how they spend Black Friday. Gwen Thomas, founder of Fresh Perspectives, sees the Bootcamp as a chance to redefine priorities. “Affordability is a huge concern for families today,” Thomas says. “We want students to understand how to pay for college with scholarships, not loans, and we’re here to demystify financial aid for parents, setting students up for lifelong success.” Over the past 11 years, the Bootcamp has helped students secure more than $30 million in scholarships. The program extends beyond tuition, unlocking opportunities for study abroad, graduate programs, and even advanced professional degrees in law and medicine. It’s a proven pathway to reducing student debt, a...