
In an effort to provide DREAMers with more opportunities to attend four-year colleges in places that do not allow in-state tuition for undocumented students, philanthropy group TheDream.US has partnered with Eastern Connecticut State University and Delaware State University to offer a new four-year scholarship to attend these two schools.
According to a media release, TheDream.US Opportunity Scholarship “will provide a pathway to higher education for 500 highly-motivated immigrant students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protective Status (TPS) who live in states where they are ‘locked out’ of access to a college education because they are required to pay out-of-state tuition or prohibited from enrolling in the state’s colleges and universities altogether.”
Eligible students have until June 9 to go online and apply. According to TheDream.US, both Eastern Connecticut State University and Delaware State University “have the capacity to admit DREAMer Scholars without depriving any Connecticut or Delaware state students of the opportunity to attend these colleges.” Funding for the scholarship will come from private donors.
The announcement of this new program earned the praise of both Connecticut governor Dannel P. Malloy (D) and Delaware governor Delaware governor Jack Markell (D).
“We’re pleased to take part in this program and do what we can to give hardworking students the chance to succeed,” Malloy said. “Our state stands to benefit from welcoming them —along with their talents and potential— to our communities and to our schools.”
“This partnership will add to Delaware State’s incredible legacy of creating new opportunities for students to get a great education and pursue their dreams,” said Delaware Governor Jack Markell. “I’m grateful to [TheDream.US co-founder] Don Graham, [Delaware State President Dr. Harry Lee Williams] and their teams for their hard work to make this program possible for the deserving scholarship recipients. These students will make Delaware State a stronger institution for everyone, and I am thrilled that we are welcoming these talented young people to Delaware.”
In addition, TheDream.US said that it will provide 100 scholarships of up to $7,250 each to in-state DREAMers attending Eastern Connecticut State University or Delaware State University.