Sharod McClendon (left) and Tyler Mathis started the UGA law school First-Generation Student Association. (Courtesy photo)

With a $3 million gift—calling it the “largest outright donation” in its history—the University of Georgia School of Law plans to build a scholarship and mentoring program to assist all new law students who are first-generation college graduates.

The law school announced Tuesday the creation of the First-Start Scholars Program, funded by a lead gift from 1982 alumna Kathelen Amos and the Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation. Dan Amos is chairman and chief executive officer of Aflac Inc. The company was founded in 1955 in downtown Columbus as American Family Life Insurance Co. of Columbus by John Amos and his brothers, Paul and Bill Amos.

Kathelen Amos—married to Dan Amos—is a trustee at Emory University, where she earned a B.A. in political science before going on to UGA law school. According to the Emory website, she joined Aflac in 1985 as a staff attorney in the company's newly-formed legal department. She was named deputy counsel in 1989. In 1990, she became responsible for the company's media relations. Eventually, she was tasked to form the corporate communications department, which was responsible for the company's public relations, sponsorships, donations and national advertising. She was the company's first female executive vice president. Under her leadership, Aflac developed its award-winning duck advertising campaign.

The new UGA program will begin awarding scholarships in the fall of 2019, the law school announced. Students will receive a partial tuition scholarship as well as a professional development stipend, according to the school. The law school plans to hire an adviser to work exclusively with first-generation college graduates.

“With roughly 15 percent of each entering class representing the first person in his or her family to attend college, this program is a transformational commitment to first-generation college graduates,” School of Law Dean Peter “Bo” Rutledge said in announcing the news. “At its core, these scholarships provide financial assistance. But, beyond that tuition aid, they also will give additional support in vital areas such as financial planning advice, network development and acquisition of business attire and bar preparation classes.”

A number of efforts have been made in recent years to help first-generation college graduates go on to law school at UGA. Plaintiffs lawyer, former state representative and candidate for governor Stacey Godfrey Evans donated $500,000 for that purpose in 2015, funding an Evans scholar each year.

With this latest $3 million gift, more than $5 million total has been contributed for first-generation college graduates at UGA law school, according to the school. Rutledge said the goal is that, with continued support from law school graduates and the legal community, the law school can eventually be able to offer financial aid to 100 percent of its first-generation college graduates.

“Scholarships like these ease the burden of a obtaining a legal education—a foundation that will launch our hard-working students into careers with impact,” Rutledge said.

Two current law students and first-generation college graduates—Tyler Mathis and Sharod McClendon—have already formed the UGA law school First-Generation Student Association. Mathis is a recipient of the Evans Scholarship. McClendon is a Benham Scholar, which is a program that benefits individuals who plan to practice in legally underserved communities.

“Being able to connect with each other and share our experiences—the similarities and differences” inspired the two friends to “foster a community of people relying on each other and feeling like they belong here,” McClendon said in the law school's news release Tuesday.

The student group will complement the First-Start Scholars Program by offering a unifying force around relevant academic, emotional, financial and social issues, the law school said.

“We also want to celebrate being first-generation college students,” Mathis said. “You're blazing a trail. You're the first in your family to attend college or law school, and you're making it easier for those who come behind you.”