For many first-generation college students, the transition from community college to a four-year university brings both opportunity and pressure. Financial strain, limited professional networks, and the need to balance work and family responsibilities can make staying on track especially challenging.
The First Generation Scholarship Fund was created to address those barriers head-on. Founded by Jamil Momand, professor emeritus of biochemistry at Cal State LA, the fund supports first-generation transfer students pursuing STEM degrees by eliminating the need for student loans while also providing mentorship and access to paid summer internships.
Momand said the program was shaped by what he observed in his years working with students.
“Many of the students I met were trying to do everything at once,” Momand said. “They’re working. They are taking care of families. They are sometimes caretakers, plus are going to school full time.”
That support has had a direct impact on students like Daniel Uhl, a psychology major at Cal State LA, who said receiving the scholarship fundamentally changed his college experience.
“I spent so much of my time worrying about work and creating money just to stay alive,” Uhl said. “The scholarship gives me the freedom to actually be able to learn without the restraints of financial worries.”
Beyond financial assistance, the program emphasizes long-term success by pairing students with mentors and helping them secure paid internships between their junior and senior years. For psychology student Bianca Nava, the mentorship component has been just as meaningful as the financial support.
“Knowing that I have mentors and faculty members who believe in me really feeds my drive,” Nava said.
“People like Jamil always give me words of advice,” she added. “They give me that encouragement. They give me that boost that, you know, as big as an obstacle could be, I’ll be able to overcome it.”
Nava, who hopes to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, says the sense of belonging created through the program has helped her overcome imposter syndrome and stay focused on her goals.
As the First Generation Scholarship Fund continues to grow, Momand says community participation remains essential to sustaining and expanding the program. There are several ways individuals and organizations can support the fund’s mission. Community members can contribute financially, knowing that donations go directly toward helping students avoid student loans. Others can participate by serving as mentors or by offering paid summer internship opportunities, particularly in STEM-related fields.