OUR STORY

 This is a story of three siblings, and starts with our President, Edward Swan.

The eldest of the three, Edward was a natural-born leader and a willing  caregiver to his two younger sisters, Nichole and Erin during their  childhood together. As happens often in fragmented homes, a lack of  resources forced them to rely on each other; this forged their tight,  unbreakable bond. That bond has helped guide them through life and has  become a permanent fixture of support, guidance, and love. 

College was thought to be a distant, unattainable dream for these  three. Undeterred at the age of 32, Edward would decide to head to  college and break down that barrier, becoming the first in his family to  do so. He earned a BA in anthropology from CSU Monterey Bay and, later,  a graduate degree in teaching from the University of Southern  California; though the degrees bare his name, they represent  generational growth and upward mobility for the entirety of this  close-knit family. 

For Nichole and Erin, it was critically  important to commemorate Edward's academic accolades. The two sisters  struggled with ideas that would truly reflect their big brother's  inspirational and selfless nature. Then the lightbulb went on: with the help of close family and friends, they created the inaugural Swan Start  Scholarship. In a matter of weeks, the sisters raised $1,000 and the  Swan Start Scholarship Program was born. 

Edward  may have been the inspiration for the program, but SSSP is not the celebration of any one person's accomplishments. SSSP is about providing  a start for others to pursue their passion and chase their dreams. It  is an opportunity that should be widespread and grants accessibility  towards that which should be universal: higher education as a human  right. We hope to provide some of the financial aid and mentorship that  is necessary for the development of future leaders, who can one day know this to be true.