Special Scholarship Provides Path for DACA Recipient's UCF Degree

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A University of Central Florida student will graduate with a biomedical sciences undergraduate degree thanks to a scholarship that helps DACA recipients and undocumented students.

What You Need To Know

- TheBestSchools.org: Less than 10% of DACA recipients pursue higher learning

- Undocumented college students are not eligible for federal aid

Ruben Mercado, 22, is graduating from UCF on Saturday with biomedical degree

According to TheBestSchools.org, less than 10% of DACA recipients pursue higher learning.

“These students have to pay out of pocket,” said Josefina Rosario, with UCF. “Remember, they’re not eligible for federal student loans or federal aid.”

That’s why many turn to The DREAM.US Scholarship program, also known as the DREAMer Scholarship.

Ruben Mercado, 22, is one of the DACA students graduating from UCF on Saturday, thanks to that scholarship. He and his family left their home country of Honduras when he was 6 years old.

“Due to some criminal activity against my father, we moved here to the United States of America,” Mercado said.

Read the article here

About TheDream.US

TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college access and success program for immigrant youth, having provided more than 6,500 college scholarships to DREAMers at more than 70 partner colleges in 16 states and Washington, DC. We believe that all young Americans, regardless of where they were born, should have the opportunity to get a college education and pursue a meaningful career that contributes to our country’s prosperity.

Read through TheDream.US Scholar story-bank, featuring powerful personal reflections from Scholars about their lives, journeys, and future goals here.