Richard Sugarman, founding president of the Connecticut Forum, said he has been hired as the first executive director of a new scholarship fund set to begin distributing $3.8 million to Hartford students next year.
Sugarman starts Monday at Hartford Promise, which was founded in 2012 and seeded with $3.8 million from Travelers, Hartford Hospital and money manager George Weiss. An official announcement is expected shortly.
Any student who lives in the city, has attended public schools since ninth grade, has a 93 percent attendance record and a 3.0 grade point average is eligible for up to $20,000 over four years for tuition, fees and expenses at a Connecticut college or university.
The first scholarships will be awarded in 2016.
“Hartford Promise offers a transformative opportunity to make the dream of higher education a reality for every Hartford student,” Sugarman said.
Hartford Promise has also received donations from Newman’s Own Foundation and entrepreneur Bob Patricelli.
