Mass. College Helping Illegal Immigrants

A Massachusetts college has created an endowment that will help pay tuition for illegal immigrants not eligible for loans or federal grants.   

Hampshire College in Amherst has raised $350,000 from students, alumni, parents and donors and the goal is to increase the endowment to $1 million.    Margaret Cerullo, a professor who organized the campaign, tells The Daily Hampshire Gazette the first student to draw on the endowment will arrive on campus next month.

The student will receive $25,000 in annual assistance for four years to supplement merit-based awards.    She says donors recognized that it's unfair that some students are denied a college education based on economic circumstances or immigration status.    Tuition, room and board at Hampshire for the upcoming academic year is about $55,000. The school has 1,500 students.

[Via MetroSource]