First-Generation College Students

A generous gift from Robert and Rosemary Baffi P’17 will increase scholarships in Elon’s nationally recognized Odyssey Program. Creating more endowed scholarships is the top priority of the Elon LEADS Campaign.

A Zoom conference on April 16 aimed at creating a new alliance of first-generation law school students, and first-generation undergraduate students with interest in the legal profession, will feature panels of students and legal educators from across the nation.

Ava Rosen ’23 reshaped her future thanks to the Inman Family Odyssey Scholarship, which led her to Elon. Creating new scholarships to produce Graduates the World Needs is the top priority of the $250 million Elon LEADS campaign.

The university was selected for the 2021-22 First-gen Forward cohort and will receive professional development, community-building experiences, research and other resources.

For Samuel Ramirez ’24, Students First removed a burden on his family during the COVID-19 pandemic. The special fundraising effort was created as part of the Elon LEADS Campaign to help new and returning students continue their education at Elon.

The grant will be used to raise awareness and celebrate the accomplishments of first-generation college students, faculty and staff.

Anthony Abraham Jack, author of “The Privileged Poor: How Elite Colleges are Failing Disadvantaged Students,” joined the Elon community for a virtual discussion about obstacles facing first-generation college students nationwide.

The Center for Access and Success honored Elon's first-generation college students and the community that supports them in a special awards gala on Thursday night.

The First-Generation College Celebration, planned for Nov. 5-10, will feature a series of events honoring and recognizing Elon students who are the first in their families to attend college.

Elon is a member of the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty, which offers summer internships to undergraduates across the nation.