First-generation scholarships are scholarships for students who are among the first in their families to attend a four-year college or university. Scroll down to read in details.
About First Generation Scholarships
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Some first-generation scholarships are funded by private sources; others by the public. All are designed to assist provide access to higher education for a family that has not experienced it before. See more information below.
A lot of families that are in the lower-income bracket or who have suffered years of social persecution have no members with a college education.
This means that young members of these families have no one to guide them through the process of finding student aid, mainly financial assistance.
Luckily, many programs are in place to accomplish this task. In this article, I have provided you with the programs designed to accomplish the task. But first I will define a college student.
Below are the typical definitions of a first-generation college student. Remember, these definitions differ depending on the school and scholarship:
➢ Neither parent has obtained a Bachelor’s nor more advanced degree.
➢ Neither parent has obtained an Associate’s nor a more advanced degree.
➢ Neither parent nor sibling has ever enrolled in or attended college.
1. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
This Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Amount: $5,000
2. Benjamin and Patricia Allen Scholarship at Iowa State University
Preference is given to first-generation students attending Iowa State University (defined as a student whose parents have not graduated from an institute of higher education with a four-year degree).
3. Colorado Christian University First Generation Minority Scholarship
The First Generation Minority Student Scholarship is available for students enrolled in the College of Undergraduate Studies at CCU.
4. Cynthia E. Morgan Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established in the year 2005 in the name of Cynthia E. Morgan, who passed away in October 2004.
It has been established in an attempt to aid select college students in paying for their post-secondary education.
This scholarship was also established in order to foster and instill the belief that Cindy always carried education and learning important.
This scholarship is intended to help a student defray some small portion of the ever-increasing costs of a college education.
As well, this scholarship is being awarded only to a person who is a “first-generation” college student.
Cindy’s son John was in the first generation of his family to attend and graduate college.
Many first-generation college students are not prepared for the intensity and lifestyle associated with pursuing a college degree in the way that children are in families where previous generations have completed the rigours of a college education.
This scholarship is intended to help alleviate some of the frustration and costs associated with college expenses.
5. Odyssey Scholarships: First Generation Scholarships
The Odyssey Scholarship program provides enhanced academic, social, and career support to students from lower-income families or who are the first in their families to attend college.
Odyssey Scholars are selected on the basis of financial need and family circumstances and will be eligible for additional funding for study abroad and other costs such as health insurance.
Students must apply for need-based financial aid in order to be considered for this need-based university-funded scholarship; students selected as Odyssey Scholars usually have family incomes under $90,000.
6. HEEF Architecture and Engineering Scholarships
HEEF scholarships are based on a combination of low-income family background, academic achievement, and also involvement in extracurricular activities, community volunteer work, church service or work-employment.
Graduating high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA, who have been accepted into an accredited four- or five-year program in architecture or engineering may apply.
7. Gates Millennium Scholars Program
Award Amount: Based on financial need the Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) is the nation’s largest private scholarship program.
Also, works to eliminate financial barriers for African Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, American Indian/Alaskan Natives.
Also, Hispanic American students to further their education especially in the fields of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, and the sciences subjects in which these groups are severely underrepresented.
Each year GMS selects 1,000 students to receive a four-year scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice, along with academic support and professional guidance throughout their collegiate career.
8. Dell Scholars Program: First Generation Scholarships
The Dell Scholars Program provides students with $20,000 to put towards their college education over six years and support including technology, mentoring, and a network of previous Dell Scholars to assist them through their collegiate career.
In order to be eligible, students must have participated in a Michael & Susan Dell Foundation approved college access or college readiness program for at least two years of high school and have demonstrated need.
Award Amount: $20,000.
9. United Negro College Fund
Award Amount: The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) works to help under-represented, low-income students attend and graduate from college through scholarship opportunities, active support of HBCUs, and promotion of higher education opportunities for African Americans throughout the community.
UNCF awards over 10,000 scholarships to African American students through more than 400 scholarship, internship, fellowships, and grants.
10. Hispanic Scholarship Fund: First Generation Scholarships
Award Amount: The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) works to make higher education more accessible to Hispanic Americans.
HSF awards scholarships to Hispanic American high school students and community college graduates with plans of attending a full-time undergraduate degree program at an accredited U.S. college or university.
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