The University of Georgia School of Law’s vision to redefine what it means to be a great national public law school – one that matches excellence with access – just took a huge step forward with the creation of the Hart Family Foundation First-Generation Scholarship Fund.
Alumnus E. David Hart Jr. (J.D.’80) was instrumental in the $2-million-plus commitment that will now ensure an endowed one-quarter scholarship for all first-generation college graduates enrolled in the Juris Doctor program at the School of Law.
“Being a first-generation college graduate and University of Georgia School of Law graduate, I believe strongly in higher education,” Hart said. “The outstanding education that I received at Georgia Law was very instrumental in our family business’ success. Providing scholarships for other first-generation college graduates is a privilege and a blessing for me.”
There are currently 77 first-generation college graduates pursuing their Juris Doctor degrees in Athens. These students are supported by a First-Start coordinator and the First-Generation Students Association and benefit from targeted programming to help them adjust to the rigors of legal study. Since 2021, 100% of first-generation college graduates enrolled at the School of Law in the Juris Doctor program have received some amount of financial support.
School of Law Dean Usha R. Rodrigues said this gift is an incredible investment in those who are stepping out of their comfort zones and seeking to make meaningful contributions to society and the legal profession.
"Since 2015, the school has been building a portfolio of scholarships to provide at least some financial assistance to all members of this special cohort of students. This gift – when combined with approximately 20 other funds focusing on first-gen scholarships – ensures we will always be able to provide a meaningful amount of support to those who are the first in their families to earn a college degree and navigate the challenges of law school," she said.
"I am thankful to David and the Hart Family Foundation for their continued generosity and belief in the School of Law and the next generation of legal leaders," Rodrigues said. "Together, we are creating a model of what a great national public law school can, and should, be."