Villanova Receives Funds For First Generation College Students

The Coca-Cola Foundation recently awarded $500,000 to to provide financial assistance to students who are the first members of their immediate families to go college. The university was the first in the area to receive the funds.

"Villanova is honored to be the first school in the Northeast selected to receive First Generation Scholarship funding from Coca-Cola," Rev. Peter Donohue, the school's president said in a release. "The development of the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship Program at Villanova builds upon our longstanding commitment to attract and increasingly diverse applicant pool, educate underserved students and serve first generation college students."

According to a statement from the school, Villanova is one of 85 community organizations to receive a portion of the $26 million in grants from the foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company.

Five students will be selected to receive funds in 2012-2013 and five additional students will be selected each year for the next three years, the release stated, adding that in order to be considered, a student must complete a first generation application. 

Students who are selected will receive $6,250 each year for four years, the release stated, adding that students who receive support from the scholarship are still eligible to receive state, federal, private and university funding.

"We're thrilled to support Villanova Univeristy as it continues to grow the talents and minds of our future leaders," Lori George Billingsley, vice president of community relations for Coca-Cola said in a release.