Kessler Scholars Program seniors from the Class of 2023 represent the first graduating cohort in the program at Cornell. Over the past four years, the program, overseen by the Office of the Dean of Students’ First-Generation and Low-Income Support,has provided support to these exceptional graduating students—who are among the first in their family to attend college—helping them achieve their dreams through academic, financial, and social support.

From Day 1, the program helped facilitate a smooth transition to Cornell and introduced these scholars to a dynamic community that supported their personal, social, and intellectual growth.

“Coming to Cornell, I was terrified, I was far from home, I knew no one, and didn’t know if I had what it takes to succeed here,” said Javier Villalpando-Hernandez ’23. “With this community and support system in place, I was able to acclimate into the rigorous college environment and found myself becoming more and more independent as time progressed. College no longer seemed unfamiliar to me and the path to my goals became clear and much more attainable.”

See the full story on Student and Campus Life's website.