My name is Rene Serrano, a Liberal Arts and Sciences international student at CT State Norwalk. Today, I am reaching out to advocate for a crucial change to the eligibility criteria of the NCC Foundation's Dream Transfer scholarship. Currently, this valuable scholarship is available only to undocumented students. While this initiative nobly supports a group facing significant challenges, it overlooks another: international students with valid visas.

International students are ineligible for federal financial aid, often pay higher tuition rates, and face strict work restrictions, alongside considerable cultural and logistical hurdles. For example, this spring, international full-time students like me paid tuition fees of $7,676 at CT State Norwalk. We are also bound to out-of-state tuition rates regardless of how long we've been part of the community or our contributions to it.

This petition urges the NCC Foundation to reconsider the scholarship criteria to include international students with valid visas, promoting true inclusivity and diversity within our educational community. Extending this support would not only correct a perception of inequality but also significantly enhance the impact of your scholarship program.

Join me in urging the NCC Foundation to open discussions on this matter and consider our proposal to make higher education more accessible to a broader range of deserving students. Let's work together towards a more inclusive educational environment!

Sign this petition to support international students at CT State Norwalk and help us bring about change for a more inclusive future.