BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — History was made for a local organization called HOPE Toledo.
They have had people finish programs, but this is the first time a four-year scholar received a bachelor's degree through The HOPE Toledo Promise program.
Wakeso Peterson Jr. just earned his degree from Bowling Green State University, but it comes with a special distinction.
He's the first to do so through the HOPE Toledo Promise program.
"Growing up in Toledo, it's a little rough, but this has been one of the best four years of my life, honestly," Peterson said. "HOPE Toledo has done a lot for me so it's been a really amazing journey."
HOPE Toledo Promise is the first fully funded, two-generation scholarship program in the United States.
With a combination of mentorship financial aid and dedicated support, the President and CEO of the program said its primary goal is to help students achieve both their educational goals and end the cycle of poverty.
"Kids who are in kindergarten can see what the full fruition of this looks like," Rev. John Jones, president and CEO of HOPE Toledo said. "So I can be in kindergarten today, but I can be graduating from Bowling Green State University tomorrow."
Peterson earned his degree in architecture and environmental design. While he's been hitting the books, he's also been spending his time interning at his future job at SSOE Group, an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm based in Toledo.
The future looks bright for Peterson, but his inspiration for school started a long time ago.
"I've actually wanted to do architecture since I was little. I just love building and putting things together," Peterson said. "So programming or anything of how everything fits, I just love all that stuff."
And now thanks to the HOPE Toledo Promise program, students like Peterson have the perfect blueprint for their future.
"It means, one, promises made, promises kept. So we've made a promise," Jones said. "Our HOPE Toledo promise was a promise to these kids that they could graduate debt-free and then pursue what they wanted to do."
And when it comes to the new college grad, he has some advice for the next generation.
"Even though it might be like a struggle at first, you can definitely push through," Peterson said. "It's something that you will never forget."