Concordia University Irvine is participating in Fostering the Future, a national initiative that partners with colleges and universities to provide scholarships and support for students who have experienced foster care. Concordia is among 26 institutions nationwide in the network. The initiative launched in 2021 as part of First Lady Melania Trump’s Be Best initiative. Concordia said its first cohort of six scholarship recipients enrolled in the 2025-to-26 academic year. More than 20,000 young adults age out of the U.S. foster care system annually. Many face steep barriers to completing a college education. The initiative aims to increase access and support student success through financial assistance and campus resources. Concordia’s participation puts an Irvine campus in a small group of universities involved in the national effort.