First Generation Week

First to Forge the Way

Scholarships open doors for Fordham’s first-generation students, helping them turn determination into discovery, and ambition into opportunity.

At Fordham, we are teachers, leaders, researchers, achievers, and doers—all connected by our commitment to what matters most: making lives better through education and service. Our first-generation students embody this mission.

More than 26% of the incoming class and 18% of the student body are first-generation students.

Powered by determination, they step on campus as first-generation students and go on to make an impact in every field from media and law to social service and STEM. 

But, to thrive in and beyond the classroom, our students must be empowered with the financial resources they need to pursue their dreams. 

Scholarships make this possible. They provide access and opportunity—removing financial barriers and allowing students to focus on learning, discovery, and leadership. Scholarships don’t just open doors, they keep them open, ensuring that every student who earns a place at Fordham can make the most of it.

Your gift to scholarships can change the trajectory of a student’s life and open the doors to opportunity.

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Lori Cruz Doty standing at a podium
“As a first-generation college graduate, I know what it feels like to want something that feels out of reach—to work hard, take classes at night, and hold on to the belief that education can change everything. That experience shaped why I give back today—we support Fordham students because we have seen firsthand how access to education transforms lives. It’s about opening doors for students who have the drive and determination but need the opportunity. I see them, I believe in them, and their dreams are worth investing in.” — Lori Cruz Doty, Trustee, Fordham University

Celebrate First-Generation Voices

Meet two First-Generation Rams Whose Scholarship are Opening Doors—from the Bronx to London

Yharelis Ribic, FCLC | Computer Science

Thanks to a scholarship for international study, Yharelis Ribic, a computer science major from the Bronx, is heading to Fordham London next year.

“I was really excited,” she said. “Everyone was congratulating me. Sometimes it’s hard to congratulate yourself, so it felt really great.”

As the first in her family to attend college, this moment is part of a much bigger dream.

“Just getting into college is already really big for my family,” she said. “I want to take advantage of all the opportunities college has.”

Jennifer Dominguez | Psychology

For Jennifer Dominguez, a psychology major in the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), this will be her second time in London. After traveling there with Fordham’s Global Outreach program, she’s returning to volunteer with Jesuit organizations that serve refugee communities.

“I’ve been volunteering through my parish ever since I was little,” she said. “My parents, even though we might not have a lavish house or anything, always said, do what you can to help. It might not be giving a million dollars, but at least you’re making the world a little nicer.”

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