Delaware

Program offers college scholarships to immigrant students

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, left, shakes hands with Donald Graham, co-founder of TheDream.US, during a news conference Tuesday, May 10, 2016, in Dover, Del. where it was announced that a partnership with Delaware State University and TheDream.US to give full scholarships to the children of immigrants. Looking on are, Delaware State University president Harry Williams, right, and Sadhana Singh, second from left, originally from Guyana. (Jason Minto/The Wilmington News-Journal via AP) NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

Harry Williams, Delaware State University president, speaks during a news conference Tuesday, May 10, 2016, in Dover, Del. where he announced a partnership with TheDream.US, which gives full scholarships to the children of immigrants. (Jason Minto/The Wilmington News-Journal via AP) NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

Delawere Gov. Jack Markell speaks during a news conference Tuesday, May 10, 2016, in Dover, Del. where it was announced that a partnership with Delaware State University and TheDream.US to give full scholarships to the children of immigrants. (Jason Minto/The Wilmington News-Journal via AP) NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

Delaware State University is joining with a national scholarship program to increase college opportunities for immigrant students living in the United States illegally.

Gov. Jack Markell joined DSU officials and former Washington Post chairman and CEO Donald Graham on Tuesday to announce the historically black school's partnership with TheDream.US, a program co-founded by Graham.

TheDream.US is also partnering with Eastern Connecticut University to offer scholarships for students who face barriers to higher education in 16 states. In some instances, those students are barred from enrolling in state colleges and universities; in others, they are forced to pay out-of-state tuition, making college unaffordable.

Under the new program, TheDream.US will offer 500 scholarships of up to $20,000 per year for immigrant students "locked out" of higher education in their home states.