Loyola University Chicago Students Create Scholarship for DREAMers

The students at Loyola University Chicago are making it easier for undocumented immigrants to receive higher education through a new scholarship.

Starting in the fall, several DREAMers will be able to apply for a scholarship to attend the Illinois university thanks to the student body.

Last year, a majority of the students voted to create and fund a scholarship for undocumented students. By agreeing to pay an individual student fee of $2.50 each semester, they helped fundraise about $50,000 for the Magis Scholarship Fund, reports NBC News.

Don Graham, the co-founder of TheDream.US, which provides DACA recipients with scholarships, then matched the student's contributions by donating $50,000 to the fund.

The Magis Scholarship Fund, which was approved by the university's board of trustees in December, will reward scholarships to undocumented students protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).

Adriana Robles, a senior at the university who was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Magis Scholarship Fund, said she was shocked when about 70 percent of the students voted in support of creating the scholarship.

"It made sense to them to support students who couldn't access financial aid just because of their legal status," Robles said. "They agreed that although education is expensive, everyone should have a right for an education."

Under Illinois laws, undocumented students can pay in-state tuition but are not granted any federal financial aid. However, the Magis scholarship will cover tuition, on campus room-and-board, and mandatory student fees for a year for five students. The recipients can also apply to renew it for three more years.

"The reason why we wanted to call the scholarship fund 'magis' was because we believe Loyola students want to do more for other students," said Robles.

John Pelissero, the interim president for Loyola University Chicago, said the implementation of the Magis Scholarship Fund is one of the latest ways the university is "showing our commitment to students, regardless of their status."

"As a Catholic, Jesuit institution, we have a responsibility to do more for our students, specifically those who are marginalized in our communities," he said.