SOUTH BEND, Ind -- Saint Mary’s College was awarded a $1.1 million grant that will go towards the Kessler Scholars Collaborative. This grant will help support first-generation low-income students on their undergraduate journey.

The Kessler Scholars program works to assure a good outcome for these students, helping to prepare them to find a job after graduation. Some of the requirements of this four-year plan include experience like performing an internship.

Christin Kloski, the director of the office of student equity explains, "we notice that many of our first gen students when they come on to campus they are a little confused and anxious more than other students so we want to make sure they are consoled and supported while at Saint Mary’s college.”

The program launched in 2020, and the grant is a four-year plan, causing them to receive another this year. This grant impacts over 1600 Kessler Scholar students across 16 of the partner campus locations.

Only students from Indiana are eligible for the Kessler Scholars program. Currently there are over 50 Kessler Scholars, and 18 students will begin the program this academic year.

Christin Kloski tells ABC 57’s Sidney Moore, "having that Kessler Scholars grant really ties that closer to our institution and our promises for students to make them feel like this is their community.”

Students in the Kessler Scholars also get the chance to move in early to get adjusted ahead of the school year.

Christin Kloski, Director of the office of student equity knows what it's like to be a first-generation student.

She says, “I'm first gen and I was limited income and I'm an alum from here so seeing that additional support that Saint Mary’s has really put into the institution overall in their strategic plan its really serve our first-generation limited income students that support is here.”