The Ohio State University of Lima raising money to help students that would be the first in their family to go to college.
For the past 14 years, the university used a spring event to raise money for scholarships, but this year they changed things up by putting the focus on first-generation college students. The Generation One Learning Community has grown from 25 students a couple of years ago to 96. While these students are determined to be the first in their family to graduate from college, the program helps along that path to see that they do.
"Both of my parents were in manufacturing and they both had to work really long hours to support my sister and I. To see them and understand as a kid they had to work those long hours, I knew they wanted it for me. but I wanted it for myself, build a career where I was able to work normal hours and not have to struggle," said Kayla Brown, Sr. OSU Lima First Gen Student.
Thursday night's fundraiser will go along way to help those first-generation students deal with one of their biggest challenges, financial aid.
"College tuition is expensive, it's a great value but it’s expensive. Along with the other expenses that go along with college, book, supplies. So we want to make sure that we have financial resources in place to make sure we can help all of our first-generation students," said Don Stenta, OSU Alumni Association.
The money raised will help provide book scholarship and support peer mentors to help the students navigate their first college experience.
