First-Ever College Students to Get New Scholarships

The Helios Education Foundation today presented the endowment gifts to the State University System and Florida's community colleges.

The private gifts will be combined with state matching funds to create the state's largest source of scholarship money. It's aimed at helping students who are the first in their family to go to college.

Mark Rosenberg is chancellor of Florida's state university system.

ROSENBERG: The national trend in higher ed is to find more resources for first-generation students. There's a recognition throughout the country that while public education should be accessible to all, that the rising costs are putting up barriers. So as a consequence, you will see the national debate is focusing increasingly on finding resources for in particular, first generation.

Rosenberg says first-generation students face more challenges completing their education than other students.