Duylam Nguyen-Ngo among 10 first-generation college students who will chronicle their college experiences and offer advice on preparing for college on new blog.
    
Duylam Nguyen-Ngo ’13 from Richmond, VA and nine other students who beat the odds to become first in their family to attend college, recently teamed up with nonprofit Center for Student Opportunity (CSO) to launch the Opportunity Scholars blog (www.csopportunityscholars.org). Their mission: to share their remarkable college journeys and offer advice to other underserved students like them on how to make it to college.

“No one in my family ever went to college,” wrote Duylam, a budding entrepreneur who credits his single mother with inspiring him to look beyond the dangerous neighborhood where he grew up, “but I knew I wanted to set a precedent for my entire family.”

“I am very pleased and extremely excited for Duylam in his selection for this scholarship,“ stated Babson’s Dennis Hanno, dean of the undergraduate school. “Babson is dedicated to providing opportunities for first-generation, college-bound students to become a part of this vibrant Babson Community. In his short time here, Duylam has already made an impact on our community and we look forward to partnering with him along this journey."

“Duylam is a true role model from whom we can all learn how to turn college dreams into reality,” said Matt Rubinoff, CSO’s Executive Director. “We hope that this blog encourages the hundreds of thousands of underserved, low-income students who aspire to make it to college understand that the opportunity for college is within reach.”

The 10 student bloggers all receive CSO’s Opportunity Scholarship, a $1,000, four-year, renewable award.

High school students can follow the blog and use the accompanying CSO College Center website (www.csocollegecenter.org) to research and connect with colleges active in the recruitment of first-generation, low-income, and minority students. Students who use the website will have a chance to apply for the Opportunity Scholarship and become future bloggers when they begin college.

To check out Duylam’s blog, please visit: www.csopportunityscholars.org


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About the Center for Student Opportunity
Center for Student Opportunity (CSO) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting higher education opportunities for first-generation and other historically underserved college-bound students. CSO programs serve colleges and universities, counselors, and community-based organizations in support of their college access goals. More information about CSO is available at www.CSOpportunity.org.

Contact:         Joe Tavares  |  Project Director
(301) 951-7101 ext. 203 |  jtavares@csopportunity.org