UC Riverside has received a $1.1 million grant from the Judy and Fred Wilpon Family Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies to continue its participation in the Kessler Scholars Collaborative, a national initiative supporting students who are the first in their families to attend college.

UCR joined the collaborative in 2022 with an initial $1 million grant from the Wilpon Family Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Kessler Scholars Program provides comprehensive support to first-generation, limited income students through wrap-around, multi-tiered services that ensure their success from admissions through graduation. The first cohort of 25 first-year students began in the program in fall 2023.

Students in the program each receive a $500 quarterly scholarship, totaling $1,500 per year, for up to four years. The program also includes academic advising, peer mentorship, career development opportunities, and funding for high-impact learning experiences. The renewal grant ensures the program’s continuation, expansion, and assessment through 2030.

“As a proud first-generation college graduate from this region, I’m honored to see UC Riverside serve as a national model for first-generation student success," said Louie Rodriguez, UCR vice provost and dean of the Division of Undergraduate Education. “The $1.1 million grant renewal from the Kessler Scholars Collaborative is more than just an investment in education; it’s an investment in lives, families, and future generations. We are deeply grateful for this continued partnership, which is helping to transform communities by opening doors, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that our students not only succeed, but thrive.”

Jewel Mize, a rising 3rd-year, was among the first cohort of Kessler Scholars and serves on the Kessler Scholars Student Advisory Board. She said she applied to the program after her experience with Upward Bound, a similar initiative designed to help low-income and first-generation high school students prepare for college.

“Being a first-generation college student affects every aspect of your college journey. There’s no roadmap, no one who’s done it before you, and that fear of ‘am I doing it right’ was daunting,” Mize said. “As a Kessler Scholar, I’ve received support in so many ways. From professional development, informational workshops, financial literacy sessions, and guidance on how to get involved with campus research. On top of that, the yearly scholarship has helped ease financial stress, allowing me to focus more on my academic, personal, and social goals.”

Launched in 2020 with six partner institutions, the Kessler Scholars Collaborative expanded to 10 additional sites in 2023 through a partnership with the American Talent Initiative. The renewal grant to UCR is a part of a new $16.5 million investment by the collaborative to support more than 1,600 students at the 16 sites nationwide.

According to recent data from the Collaborative:

• 76% of students who began as Kessler Scholars in fall 2020 earned a four-year degree, compared to a 59% average among all first-generation students at the same institutions.
• In spring 2025, 97% of graduating Kessler Scholars reported participating in at least one high-impact practice, such as undergraduate research, internships, or study abroad.

“We are thrilled about this exciting next chapter for the important student success work of the Kessler Scholars Program,” said Gail Gibson, executive director of the Kessler Scholars Collaborative. “We are demonstrating how a comprehensive, cohort-based approach can help close outcome gaps and promote a sense of belonging for first-generation students. We are so excited to be able to extend this effort and continue to amplify its work to provide guidance to colleagues and institutions across higher education.”

UCR’s Kessler Scholars Program is in the Division of Undergraduate Education and supported by a range of campus partners, including the Academic Resource Center, Career Services, and Undergraduate Research. It also collaborates with UCR’s First-Gen Initiative and is contributing to renewed campus-wide efforts focused on supporting first-generation students.

For more information, visit the Kessler Scholars Collaborative website or the UCR Kessler Scholars Program website.