ATLANTA — The University System of Georgia (USG) is launching a need-based scholarships program financed through the private sector.

The USG Foundation raised more than $4.5 million in startup funds for the new DREAMS Scholarship to help students bridge financial gaps, system Chancellor Sonny Perdue announced Saturday during the annual Regents' Scholarship Gala. The first scholarship will go to Giuli Capparelli Sanabria, a junior majoring in biology at Georgia Tech.

"The Board of Regents is focused on affordability, but unmet needs for students can still arise," Perdue said. "By helping to close the gap between the cost of college and what families can afford, this program helps us expand access to higher education for those who need it most."

Georgia and New Hampshire are the only stat

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