PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Temple University has launched a new scholarship, the Broad Street Finish Line Scholarship, to help more first-generation college students succeed.
"We are just trying to do more for them in helping them cross that finish line to graduation," said vice provost for admissions, financial aid, and enrollment management Shawn Abbott.
Abbott says about 30 percent of first-year students at Temple will be the first to graduate from college in their families. So they've designated $1.5 million to helping ease some of the financial burden for those students, with Philadelphians being the priority.
"Being Philadelphia's public four-year university, we wanted to prioritize the graduation of students from Philly," Abbott said.
He says with so many students in need, the money is just a seed the university is planting.
"Opportunity for alumni and corporations and foundation to help us grow that seed. We're hoping our alums see the value in helping our first-generation kids get to the finish line, and were hoping that they support it," Abbott added.
