uAspire First One Awards
The uAspire First One Awards are given to leaders in our community who are first-generation college graduates. Spanning across business, government, education and nonprofits, uAspire First One Award Winners have made a meaningful impact on the lives of others. What brings uAspire First Ones together is their common experience as being part of the first generation of their families to earn a college degree. They represent the power of higher education to propel individuals and families out of poverty and toward lives of opportunity.
Young people today face many challenges in finding an affordable path to postsecondary education. Yet we – as a community, as a country – can’t afford to lose their talent and potential. By sharing the stories of influential “First Ones,” the uAspire First One Awards show how important it is that higher education remains an affordable option for all.
uAspire First One Massachusetts Award Winners
Each week, uAspire will be sharing a story of a “First One” – someone who was the first in their family to graduate from college. We will include stories from our current class of winners, included below. Visit the uAspire First One Massachusetts page for details, and follow us on our blog for updates.
- Erica Brown – Executive Director, City on a Hill
- Wayne Budd – Senior Counsel, Goodwin Procter
- Magnolia Contreras – Director of Community Benefits, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
- Bob Karam – Principal, Karam Financial Group
- Victor Lee – Vice President, Hasbro
- Honorable Deval Patrick – Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Get Involved
Become part of the uAspire First One campaign! You can give in honor of our uAspire First Ones, so that future first-generation college students have a path to their degree. Or you can nominate someone for a uAspire First One Award. To learn more, contact Gaby King Morse, Chief External Affairs Officer, at (617) 778-7195 x102 or by e-mail at gaby@uaspire.org.