First-Generation Professional Development Scholarship

First-Gen Student Support Scholarship will be awarded for the 2024-25 academic year. First-generation students most often select degrees that promise the highest earning potential because completing their degree is not only for their sense of accomplishment but for building of generational wealth and family pride. They may have the competitive GPA but sometimes fall short of those relevant work experiences employees seek in candidates. Completing a rigorous academic program while sometimes working 30-40 hours per week, prevents them from being engaged in co-ops/internships or other key experiences. Missing out on valuable experiential opportunities causes “an important gap in the work experience of first-generation students because interning or working at a job aligned with their field of study improves both academic and career performance and solidifies the value of academic efforts as economic gain and can impact the competitiveness of their resume (Grice and Grice, 2021, p. 248).

The First-Generation Professional Development award will enhance impacts a first-generation student’s ability to be involved in experiences that allow for personal and professional development, such as student organizations, internships, research, and study abroad. Opportunities like internships and research allow the students to test drive their career goals and begin to build professional networks, and study abroad gives students that competitive edge in their global awareness.

First-Generation Student Success (FGSS) will award $500.00 to the scholarship recipient.