Schultz Fellows Superior Dome Catwalk - Northern Magazine

By Kristi Evans

"I am beyond grateful that the burden of financial stability in college is now lifted off my shoulders, and I have the opportunity to pursue the life I am destined for."

- Sebastian Tavares, Schultz Fellow

The Schultz Family Foundation First-Generation Empowerment Scholarship, which awards NMU students up to $15,000 per year up to four years, was “crafted on the notion that, while talent is everywhere, opportunity is not.” The 32 inaugural recipients engaged in pre-semester programming this August focused on relationship-building, connections to resources and the U.P. community, financial literacy and career readiness. Some even braved the heights near the NMU Superior Dome’s 143-foot-high terminus to traverse the wooden “catwalk” and peer down upon the turf and stands.

“First-gen students bring with them resilience, independence and drive, but it can be hard for them to navigate a college system they don't have any previous knowledge about,” said Nicole Eldridge, director of first-generation services and assistant dean of students. “The goal of the programming was to help them acclimate in advance of their first semester to make navigation easier. We plan to meet with them at least monthly moving forward to build on some of the topics we introduced.”

Starbucks chairman emeritus and former CEO Howard Schultz was a first-generation student who earned a bachelor's degree in communications from NMU in 1975. To create opportunities for other first-generation students, last year, the Schultz Family Foundation announced a $1 million gift to NMU to support the Empowerment Scholarships and related pre-semester programming, along with initiatives to promote student-athlete success.

“The opportunity to arrive on campus and connect with the other fellows was such an amazing experience. It allowed me to settle in and be comfortable being in a new state and to make friends all over again. The activities we did as a group were engaging, educational and incredibly fun; they definitely got us to grow closer together in the time we were here. It also mirrored how life would be like in college with both freedoms and responsibilities,” said Schultz Fellow Sebastian Tavares.

The Schultz Fellows traveled to campus from nine states. They moved into the residence halls early and participated in a variety of activities. The students completed a trail-building service project with the Noquemanon Trail Network (NTN), which introduced them to some of the area's outdoor recreation opportunities.

“Without the Schultz Family Foundation scholarship, I wouldn't be in college,” said Fellow Chase Adams. 

“Moving in early gave me time to figure out how to live on campus before the hustle and bustle of the semester started. It also gave me a community of people that are first-gen students as well, to start our Northern journey. The most beneficial activity for me was the trail building with NTN. It gave us a project that we could call ours and, it gave us something we can look back on in 10 years and smile. Our friendships grew as did the trail that day. Northern and the Marquette communities are incredibly welcoming. This is truly a safe and amazing place to live, learn and grow.”