The first group of students to benefit from the trailblazing Temple Promise last-dollar financial aid grant program is making its way through their second semester. 

Launched one year ago, the Temple Promise program is intended to make a Temple University education more accessible and affordable for talented and qualifying students from Philadelphia. 

“The Temple Promise program is a crucial investment in securing a strong talent pipeline, ensuring that hardworking, talented students have access to the transformative power of a Temple education,” said Jose Aviles, vice provost for enrollment management. “By removing financial barriers, we are not only expanding opportunity but also empowering the next generation of economic drivers, productive citizens and leaders who will make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond.”

For the 2024–2025 academic year, 489 students received Temple Promise funds. They were part of the more than 1,000 students in the incoming class who hailed from Philadelphia, which represented a 68% increase from the previous year.

Get to know a few of the students who are finding success at Temple thanks to this transformational opportunity. 




Edmond Tsan 
High school: Bodine High School  
Major/school: Engineering technology, College of Engineering 

Edmond Tsan first became familiar with Temple’s campus in the summer between his junior and senior yearsof high school, when he participated in the Temple + Heights STEM research program. During the program, he visited campus four days a week across six weeks to conduct a research project focused on engineering and marketing.

However, he knew he wanted to attend Temple before he ever set foot on campus.

“Before I partook in the program, I was already thinking of going to Temple. It was the main college I was thinking about going to. I wanted to be close to where I live. I didn’t want to go out of state,” Tsan said. 

Now, as a student, Tsan is involved in Temple’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders and is a part of the Honors Program. Describing himself as a “hands-on type of person,” he’s majoring in engineering technology with the goal of attaining a career in engineering design. He attributes some of his success in his first year to the support of advisors on campus, including Shawn Fagan, assistant vice provost of student success in the Division of Enrollment Management, whom he met while participating in the Temple + Heights STEM research program, as well as advisors in the Honors Program. 

“So far, my time at Temple has been great. My financial aid package has helped me focus on my education without constantly worrying about my finances, and which also relieves my parents,” he said. 





Tayla Howell  
High school: The Philadelphia High School for Girls  
Major/school: Music, Boyer College of Music and Dance  

With dreams of becoming a professional harpist, Tayla Howell is majoring in music at Boyer College of Music and Dance. She said the Temple Promise program has given her the opportunity to attend college without the financial worry of paying tuition.  

“I’ve been playing the harp since the fifth grade, and no matter how much time has passed, it has always felt like home to me,” said Howell. “I am currently practicing repertoire that truly excites me, and I hope to shine a light on new and diverse styles of music through my playing.” 

As a first-generation college student, she appreciates how her advisor, Cooper Creal, has helped her acclimate to campus life. “Cooper has been my advisor for this semester and the last. He’s been such a wonderful help with my schedule and explaining college to me,” she said. “He’s been a life saver for so many mishaps that might have occurred.” 

In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends, figuring out new pieces to play on the harp and volunteering with The Primavera Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides musical opportunities for underserved youth.  







Saalih Muhammad  
High school: Constitution High School 
Major/school: Undeclared 

Saalih Muhammad was encouraged by the women in his family to attend Temple.  

“They love education, and I want to be the first male in my family to graduate from college,” Muhammad said. He finds special inspiration in his sister, who graduated from Temple’s College of Education and Human Development and went on to become a teacher.  

Looking back on his first few weeks as a student, he remembers Fagan, who is also his advisor, checking in on him to make sure everything was going smoothly. “He has my number, so he texted me saying, ‘How’s it going? How’s the first week of the semester?’ It means a lot. I appreciate him a lot,” said Muhammad.  

He has not yet declared a major but has plans to pursue advertising at Klein College of Media and Communication because he is interested in business but wants to do something with a creative component. 

“The experience of college is great. It can be hard if you don’t have the right support system but I recommend getting to know your advisors, who you can communicate with and they can help you succeed.”