ROCKFORD — Rockford Promise, a nonprofit that works to improve the local economy by awarding college scholarships to students of Rockford Public Schools, handed out a record-breaking 31 full-tuition scholarships Friday afternoon.

The recipients were celebrated at a ceremony at Rock Valley College, where 27 of the students will attend classes in the fall. The other four received scholarships to Rockford University.

Rockford Promise is based on the Kalamazoo Promise in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which promises every student who graduates from Kalamazoo Public Schools a scholarship to attend college. The Rockford ogranization is working to become a fully-funded program that can extend the scholarship to all Rockford public school graduates.

The number of Rockford Promise scholarships has gone up each year since 2016 when it awarded five. Last year, 22 scholarships were given.

Each scholarship to RVC is valued at $8,000. Each scholarship to Rockford University is valued at $90,000. Rockford Promise contributes $16,000 toward each Rockford University scholarship. The remainder of the cost is covered by grants and the university.