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I'm First BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 5, 2013 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Eight first-year college students who beat the odds to become the first in their family to attend college have been awarded Center for Student Opportunity’s I’m First Scholarship, a $2,000, four-year, renewable award. Along with 25 previous winners, these students share their personal stories, chronicle their college experiences, and offer advice to aspiring first-generation college students on the I’m First blog.

The 8 scholarship winners are:
* Alexa Rodriguez (Compton, CA/Wellesley College);
* Brenda Angulo Barrios (Washington, DC/Trinity Washington University);
* Dallas Simms (Cape Charles, VA/University of Virginia);
* Khalil Johnson (Philadelphia, PA/Pitzer College);
* Michael Faikes (Irmo, SC/College of Charleston);
* Omawatie Beharry (Bronx, NY/Wellesley College);
* Samuel Hayes (Chandler, AZ/Northern Arizona University);
* Ysabel Cuerva (Bronx, NY/Stonehill College).

“Follow these students closely because they are shining examples of how to turn college dreams into reality,” said Matt Rubinoff, CSO’s Executive Director. “We hope that this blog inspires thousands of future first-generation college students and helps them understand that the opportunity for college is within reach.”

High school students and their supporters can follow the blog and use the accompanying I’m First web application to prepare for college and research colleges and universities that are committed to supporting first-generation college students on their campuses. Students who sign up will have a chance to apply for the I’m First Scholarship and become future bloggers when they begin college.

Please visit I’m First: http://www.imfirst.org and check out the blog: http://www.imfirst.org/blog/ .

About Center for Student Opportunity (CSO):

Center for Student Opportunity (CSO) is a national nonprofit based in Bethesda, Md. that empowers first-generation college students on the path to and through college. Since its inception in 2005, CSO has created tools and resources to help first-generation college students and their supporters-parents, counselors, and mentors — on the road to and through college. In addition to operating http://imfirst.org/ CSO publishes the “I’m First Guide to College” and maintains partnerships with colleges and universities across the country to strengthen and build awareness of their campus efforts supporting first-generation college students.

Media Contact:
Chelsea Jones
of Center for Student Opportunity
+1-301-363-4224
chelsea [at] imfirst.org .

NEWS SOURCE: Center for Student Opportunity :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

Jennifer Hedly, content editor at Florida Newswire
Jennifer hedly is the managing content editor for Florida Newswire™, and has been a team member of the Neotrope® News Network since Dec. 2008. She is a creative writer, former surfer girl, and currently resides in South Florida. She paints, is a foodie, and owns two pure white tabby cats who prefer their identities be kept secret (and no, they don't have their own Facebook page).