Our Story

In 2014, we repeatedly witnessed young adults from a refugee background attempting to enter into the American higher education system and progress towards meaningful careers. More often than not, the lack of resources and difficult-to-navigate system resulted in families relying on entry-level jobs with little to no education. We observed with even more discouragement that even young people in refugee households raised in the U.S. struggled to qualify for and transition into higher education.

During this time, Roger and Sara Boyer had been personally contemplating the refugee crisis and desired to find a responsible way to help the refugee community with a clear and lasting impact. Through research and multiple consultations with interested parties, it was determined that focusing on the motivated population of individuals trying to access higher education would have the greatest impact on the refugee population as a whole. A holistic scholarship program was developed to assess needs and help college students overcome barriers to higher education.

Through helping college students since 2014, One Refugee has identified several areas inside and outside of academia where refugee students require support, including one-on-one mentoring, connection to wellness resources, financial support, professional development opportunities, and much more.

The results have been incredible. One Refugee has helped over 400 scholars graduate from universities and trade schools across Utah and Idaho equipped with impressive professional skill sets, a network of business contacts, and a community of peers and mentors. Each year, a great number of scholars apply for and are accepted into the ever-expanding program. As a team, we are continually growing and learning how to have a more meaningful impact in the lives of our scholars and the world.