Support Our First-Gens
Support Our First-Gens
Supporting Our First-Gen Students
First-generation college students are driven, passionate, and inspirational to their families and friends. Did you know that the median parental income for first-generation students is less than HALF of that of their continuing-generation peers? You can help Rowan first-generation students by giving to the Flying First Fund.
Flying First Annual Report, 2020-2021
National statistics show that, without support, first-generation students are more likely to have difficulty finding their place in college and in navigating higher education culture. According to Dr. Penny Myers, cochair of the First-Generation Task Force, national statistics show that first-gen students drop out of college at four times the rate of their peers whose parents have completed post-secondary education. Flying First works to counteract that by providing vast resources to first-generation students, their families, and to the faculty members and staff who teach and mentor them.
Review key highlights for the Flying First program, including:
- Earning the First-Gen Forward Designation
- Raising over $14,000
- Receiving a grant from the NASPA Center for First Generation Student Success
- Book awards for first-gen students
- Establishing the first-gen honor society
- First-gen statistics at Rowan University
- And more!
The Martyn & Cheryl Gallus Flying First Scholarship
"Stay the course and the reward is huge." For Rowan University class of 1986 alumnus, Martyn Gallus, this has been a lifelong mantra and a message he wants to share with future first-generation students.
Martyn and his wife, Cheryl, recently developed the Martyn & Cheryl Gallus Flying First Scholarship, a fund that helps first-generation college students "stay the course" at Rowan.
"Recipients can spend more time focused on the college experience and less time worrying about how to fund it," Martyn explains. As a first-generation college student himself, Martyn understands the importance of having a great college experience.
"It’s not just about the future financial rewards of having a degree. College is also about who you become and the people you meet."
Martyn’s experience as a first-generation college student was robust. He learned how to study, leaned on his professors for mentorship and guidance, and made connections through networking and friendships. He was fortunate to have a stable home life and a steady part-time job, which helped him see his degree through to completion. But Martyn also witnessed many first-generation classmates fall off course because of finances.
"We were all the same - smart, motivated, capable students. Some of us made it through and some had to drop out, mostly for financial reasons."
Martyn sees his past observations of the first-generation college student experience persisting today. Many students, who are the first in their family to attend college, struggle to balance academic and financial obligations. This is what gave Martyn the idea to establish the Martyn & Cheryl Gallus Flying First Scholarship.
"I’ve been fortunate during this pandemic because I was able to pivot my company to remote operations quickly, but I know that many others have been less fortunate. I can imagine that families of first-generation students may be feeling an extra burden at this time."
It was the thought of first-generation college students working on the front lines to fund their education that moved Martyn to prefund the Scholarship.
"I’ve always been a small donor to Rowan, but I really wanted to do something that would help the students at my alma mater stay the course, even during this difficult time."
The Martyn & Cheryl Gallus Flying First Scholarship was established in connection with the work being done by Rowan University’s Flying First Task Force, which provides first-generation college students direct access to mentorship, programming, services, scholarships, and social support.
The Ric Edelman College of Communications & Creative Arts Flying First Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Edelman CCCA Flying First Endowed Scholarship Fund shall be used for the benefit of students enrolled in the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts. The fund shall be used to provide financial support in the form of scholarship awards to first-generation students with demonstrated financial need who are overcoming substantial educational or economic obstacles. First preference shall be given to students whose academic and professional goals promote diversity, equity and inclusion through communication and/or creative arts. Selection of scholarship recipients shall be determined by the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management pursuant to its eligibility and selection criteria.
