For DonorsFor Applicants

First-Gen Futures Scholarship

Funded by
$1,000
1 winner$1,000
Open
Application Deadline
Jun 1, 2025
Winners Announced
Jul 1, 2025
Education Level
Any
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student
Citizenship Status:
U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Background:
First-generation college student

Being the first in your family to attend college is an inspiring feat, often coming with its own unique challenges. First-generation students may not have the same guidance in navigating parts of the higher education system as other students, such as the application process, obtaining financial aid, and even what to expect in college itself.

Financial constraints can also be a significant roadblock for such students, which may limit their choices, force them to balance jobs, family responsibilities, and school work all at once, and make the college experience much more stressful.

Despite these struggles, first-generation college students have proven time and again to be extremely resilient, determined, and hard-working. They embody a spirit of ambition and perseverance as they work toward creating the future they want for themselves and their families.

This scholarship aims to recognize and support exceptional students who are overcoming the barriers of being the first in their families to attend college.

Any first-generation high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident may apply for this scholarship. 

To apply, tell us why you’ve decided to pursue higher education and how you have prepared for this journey as a first-generation college student.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Published October 1, 2024
Essay Topic

Why have you chosen to pursue higher education? How have you prepared yourself for college as a first-generation student?

400–600 words

Winning Application

Eric Granger
University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL
As weird as it may sound, being a first-generation college student has the opposite impact on what you may think. By having two parents that did not attend college, it may be common that either parent does not want care for you to attend either. If they had a high priority or view of college, it would be very apparent and they would attend themselves, right? Well, it is very apparent that they both do think of attending college as important, but still, neither did attend it themselves. This is not even due to financials or capabilities. They simply lacked the work ethic in school. They made that very clear to me. What makes the difference is that they do not want to see me go down the same path that they did. At the end of the day, my household has a strong influence on me to attend. I have received the most unconditional support from my entire family for going to college. To say that it impacted me in amazing ways is a huge understatement. I am in a little different situation that most, but I believe this under-dog mentality is going to help me in the long run. My parents have been a major help distorting the mentality that I can’t do it, and because of them, I think they made it true! It is honestly a good thing. Both parents help me in any way possible. Though it is not good to help because neither knows anything about college, it is honest to help. They both try their best, and honestly, that is the best kind of help I can ask for. Since I earned my associate degree a year ahead of my class due to dual enrollment. I continued with community college for cost reasons. However, now that degree majors and colleges start to matter, I am continuing my journey at a major university. Not only that, I am continuing this journey with amazing and full support of my entire family. Of course, I am looking to my future with caution. I know that I will have a bright future in my career choice if I try my hardest in college right now. However, I am not going to stretch the truth. Having supporting parents like so helps so much in the college process. Even though being a first-generation student is hard, a lot of the time, you have plenty of support. I am lucky enough to say that I do.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Jun 1, 2025. Winners will be announced on Jul 1, 2025.