Twelve First-Generation College Students Awarded Universal Events Scholarships

This spring we welcomed twelve students into the 2026 Universal Events Scholars cohort. Every recipient is the first in their family to attend a four-year college. They come from nine of the cities we operate in, and each brings a story that starts in the same neighborhoods where our teams knock on doors every week.

Each scholar receives a $2,500 tuition award, a paid summer internship with one of our nonprofit partners, and a mentor from our leadership team. The goal is not just financial support — it's a network that stays with them after they graduate.

“I didn't know what to expect from college. Having someone to text when I was overwhelmed — that mattered more than I can explain.”

How We Chose the Cohort

Applications were reviewed blind for financial need and first-generation status, then scored by a panel of nonprofit partners on community involvement and essay response. We received 180 applications this year. Narrowing to twelve was genuinely hard — and a good problem to have.

Growing the Program

The scholarship fund is supported entirely through a percentage of Universal Events revenue set aside each year — not donor dollars, which belong to our partner nonprofits. We've committed to growing the cohort by two students every year through 2030.