海角社区

Mohamad Ahmadi stands at the top of the stairs on the first floor of JSSB with a white had and a backpack on.
Mohamad Ahmadi stands at the top of the stairs on the first floor of JSSB with a white had and a backpack on.

and the envision a world where everyone has equitable and abundant access to economic opportunity and the potential to thrive.

In that spirit, the Western Union Foundation made a gift of $150,000 to Metropolitan State University of Denver, funding the Western Union Immigrant Student Annual Scholarship and supporting the University鈥檚 Immigrant Services Program and food pantry, Rowdy鈥檚 Corner, ensuring international students have access to the resources they need to remain in school and graduate.

Lauren Bell, executive director of the Western Union Foundation, says education has always been at the core of the foundation鈥檚 mission.

鈥淭he Western Union Foundation has focused on fueling economic opportunity for youth and individuals who migrate,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he scholarship program focuses on scholars who have crossed borders and boundaries in pursuit of higher education.鈥�

鈥淲hen I came to the United States, I was looking for how to pay for college or even participate in college. Knowing that there is an organization like Western Union Foundation out there trying to help immigrant students is both comforting and hopeful. Higher education is not a dream anymore, it鈥檚 a goal.鈥�

– , Cybersecurity major, Western Union Scholar

Mohammad Ahmadi poses for a photo with the award presenter for his 2024 Outstanding Student Leader of the Year award

International students juggle responsibilities familiar to all college students 鈥� working multiple jobs, attending classes, and doing homework. However, they have the added challenge of living abroad, separate from their families and without a local support system.

The Western Union Immigrant Student Annual Scholarship 鈥� in conjunction with a Colorado Opportunities Scholarship Initiative match 鈥� provides much-needed financial support and assistance with academics, career readiness, financial aid and more.

This generous funding allows 28 海角社区 asylee and refugee students to cover the costs of tuition and fees confidently. But it is about more than money 鈥� students have a team of dedicated scholarship coaches who provide holistic support as students navigate the complex world of higher education.

鈥淣avigating a new country and system can be very challenging,鈥� said Scott Bergman, scholarship support and retention coordinator for the 海角社区 Classroom to Career Hub. 鈥淗aving a go-to person on campus and a cohort of other scholars to connect with can be instrumental to a student鈥檚 success at 海角社区.鈥�

The foundation鈥檚 desire to help aspiring individuals achieve a better quality of life and live up to their full potential perfectly matches the 海角社区 mindset, where education meets opportunity by focusing on programs that meaningfully change people鈥檚 lives through workforce readiness, job creation and equitable access to employment.

Together, Western Union Foundation and 海角社区 will pioneer pathways with this unique scholarship and student support program, which will act as a catalyst for economic opportunity by allowing first-generation immigrants to pursue a college degree and career, building a bright future for themselves and their families.

鈥淭hese are some of the most passionate, driven individuals I鈥檝e encountered,鈥� said Bell. 鈥淥ur funding, our programming, is just helping to provide that next step on the ladder for them.鈥�