The For the Culture Scholarship: Who It's For, What It Covers, and How to Win It
For a lot of first-gen and underrepresented students, showing up isn't the problem - staying is. The For the Culture Scholarship exists for everything that happens in between.
That's exactly what the For the Culture Scholarship exists to solve.
What Is the For the Culture Scholarship?
The For the Culture Scholarship is Diversity University Summit's (DUS) annual scholarship, awarded to a high school senior every single year - sponsor or no sponsor. Since the very beginning, DUS co-founders Risachi Ogan and Rachel Aideyan have personally funded this scholarship out of pocket, giving more than $5,000 directly to students before a single outside dollar was ever raised.
The name says exactly what it means: this scholarship exists for the culture - for the students who've historically been left to figure out the unglamorous, unspoken-about parts of college on their own.
What Makes This Scholarship Different
Most scholarships stop at tuition. Some go further and cover room and board. Almost none address what actually derails most students in their first semester: the underfunded, invisible costs that don't show up on a financial aid letter.
The For the Culture Scholarship is specifically designed to help close that gap — the real costs that come after the acceptance letter:
Dorm and move-in supplies - the bedding, storage, and basics every student needs just to have a livable space
Technology - a laptop that can actually handle coursework, not a hand-me-down that crashes mid-paper
The in-between costs - the things nobody thinks to fundraise for, but that quietly determine whether a student can focus on class or has to focus on just getting by
This is a direct answer to a very specific, very common moment: the one where a student realizes getting in was never actually the hard part.
Who the Scholarship Is For
The For the Culture Scholarship is awarded each year to a high school senior in attendance at Diversity University Summit - part of DUS's broader mission of supporting first-generation and underrepresented students not just in getting into college, but in actually succeeding once they're there.
How to Be Considered
The scholarship is awarded to students in attendance at the DUS Summit, which means the first step is simple: show up.
Attend virtually through the national livestream, free of charge, from anywhere in the country.
Attend in person at this October's summit at the DuSable Black History Museum in Chicago.
Full details on how to formally enter - and the criteria used to select the winner - are shared below as well as on the ticketing page, so students in attendance get the clearest and earliest information.
New to Diversity University Summit? Read our full guide on what DUS is here.
Support the Fund
The For the Culture Scholarship grows through community support, including the DUS Watch Party Partner Pledge, where local businesses commit a percentage of a day's revenue directly to the fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the For the Culture Scholarship only for students attending in person? No. Students can qualify by attending the free virtual livestream from anywhere in the country, or by attending in person in Chicago.
Who funds the scholarship? DUS co-founders Risachi Ogan and Rachel Aideyan have personally funded the scholarship since its start, with community and sponsor support now growing the fund further.
What can the scholarship money be used for? It's designed for the costs that come after acceptance - things like dorm and move-in supplies, a reliable laptop, and other essential expenses financial aid often doesn't cover.
Do I need to already be committed to a college to apply? Scholarship terms and full eligibility requirements are listed on the ticketing site and will be announced again at the event - attending is the first step to being considered.
How do I register to attend Diversity University Summit? Register for the virtual or in-person summit here.
Diversity University Summit is a free college access initiative helping first-generation and underrepresented students navigate the college process — and everything that comes after it.
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