Temple University has been awarded $100,000 from The Coca-Cola Foundation to establish the First Generation Scholarship program, which will provide financial assistance for students who are the first in their immediate families to attend college.

“The Coca-Cola Foundation recognizes the importance of aiding students in reaching their dreams and aspirations,” said Helen Smith Price, president of The Coca-Cola Foundation. “Our investment is designed to support students on their path to educational excellence, leadership, and service to their school and community.”

The grant will benefit five incoming Temple students with $5,000 annually, renewable for four years. Temple will select students beginning in fall 2018. Last year, approximately 15 percent of Temple's incoming freshmen were first-generation college students. This is the first time Temple has received this grant.

“Temple is honored and excited to receive this award from The Coca-Cola Foundation, as it will have a lasting impact on our first-generation college students,” said Jim Cawley, vice president of Institutional Advancement. “Temple is well known for its historic mission of providing access to an excellent education as well as affordability, and this grant enhances those efforts.”

Introduced by The Coca-Cola Foundation in 1993, The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship program has provided more than $37.5 million in scholarships to more than 3,200 students across the globe.

Temple joins other universities that have received this award, including Villanova University, the University of Illinois, University of Alabama and University of Georgia, among others. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be the first in their immediate family to attend college, have a minimum 2.9 GPA and demonstrate financial need.