As a first-generation college graduate, Luis knows firsthand the impact of ScholarMatch. Born in El Salvador, he moved to East Los Angeles at the age of 13. As a new arrival, he faced many challenges navigating a new culture, language, and education system.
“Thinking about college was terrifying,” recalls Luis. “School was hard. I couldn’t speak English well. I didn’t fit in.”
But everything changed when he was introduced to ScholarMatch in his senior year of high school. Through the ScholarMatch program, Luis received personalized college and career mentoring through graduation, along with a flexible scholarship funded by The Fellowship Initiative through JPMorgan Chase to help alleviate the financial burden of college.
Paying it Forward for Future Generations
While earning his degree in computer and data science at UC Berkeley, Luis found more than academic support at ScholarMatch. This newfound sense of belonging was also a reflection of a community of supporters who met him where he was on his journey and encouraged him every step of the way.
“Attending university far from home, far from family, it was difficult, but having a community of ScholarMatch advisors and coaches was very helpful, and I’m grateful for that experience.”
Fast forward to today, and Luis is a software engineer and a proud ambassador of our mission, paying it forward for future generations at networking events, student panels, and other professional development opportunities offered by ScholarMatch.
“Supporting access to college for first-generation students is very important,” he shared. “It gives opportunities to people like me who come from low-income, underserved communities,” added Luis.
Pictured above: Luis mentoring ScholarMatch scholars at a networking event
Why Programs Like ScholarMatch Matter More Than Ever
At ScholarMatch, we strive for success stories like Luis’ to be the norm. But the reality is that only 24% of first-generation students from low-income backgrounds across the nation earn a bachelor’s degree within six years.
Students who are the first in their families to attend college often juggle multiple family responsibilities, part-time jobs, and academic demands, making it challenging to prioritize their college and career goals.
Adding to that, proposed cuts to federally funded college access and success programs serving underserved communities, such as East Los Angeles, are leaving many students stranded, with fewer pathways to pursue.
Programs like ScholarMatch are rising to the challenge by filling the gaps and connecting first-generation students like Luis to these much-needed college resources.
By focusing on students’ academic, financial, and emotional needs, we are seeing greater outcomes that translate to first-gen success in the long run. Thanks to our holistic program model, 80% of ScholarMatch students graduate within six years. That’s almost four times higher than the national average for first-generation students.
And this success goes beyond graduation. 76% of our students reported being fully employed six months after graduation, working in multiple fields from business to bioengineering to healthcare, to name a few. We’re incredibly proud of our scholars and their journeys, and know that they have a bright future ahead.
“Here at ScholarMatch, we understand the importance of connecting our scholars with career development experiences throughout college to ensure their success post-graduation. In addition to career mentoring and workshops, our flexible scholarships provide scholars with access to funding for unpaid internships or externships, which opens up a new world of career opportunities for our scholars to build their skills and networks early.” – Devon Moore, ScholarMatch’s Senior Director of Programs and Compliance
Be an Education Champion at Trivia Night and Make a Difference for More Students Like Luis
To learn more about ScholarMatch and how we make a difference for first-generation students, we invite you to join us at our Trivia Night fundraiser at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco.
Every year, Trivia Night brings our community together for a night of brain-teasing fun, mouth-watering bites, and a heartwarming celebration of first-gen success alongside other education champions like you!
Trivia Night 2025
Friday, October 3, 2025
6:00 – 10:00 p.m. (PST)
Cartoon Art Museum
781 Beach St., San Francisco, CA
Bring your team, sponsor a table, and show up to support first-generation success. Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels. Visit scholarmatch.org/events/trivia-night to learn more.
