Gemali Alcantara is a first-generation college student.
He aspired for more and so he sought it out. It was difficult doing it on his own without any guidance. But he found a way and the University of Montevallo opened a door.
“Many schools accepted me, but none provided me with the financial means I needed to attend school except for Montevallo,” said Alcantara, a junior majoring in finance and minoring in non-profit studies.
“UM admitted me and provided a Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, which helped me get established.”
It wasn’t just scholarships that UM helped him with. Programs such as M.A.D.E. (Minorities Achieving Dreams of Excellence) and TRIO have helped guide him through his undergraduate experience.
Alcantara found the help he was looking for. But it was because of scholarships that he was able to break the mold and achieve a milestone in his family.
“Thanks to support from donors, I was given the opportunity to become the first person in my family to attend college. And because of TRIO, I’ve been able to create a non-profit to help feed hungry children and provide them with school supplies.”
“I greatly appreciate the support of donors, because otherwise I couldn’t be here as a part of the UM Family.”
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