History and Mission

In alignment with our Catholic, Jesuit identity, Marquette has a history of supporting its undocumented students, often referred to as Dreamers, and advocates for policies that protect them. Most undocumented youth were brought to the United States by their families at a young age and grow up attending American schools, speaking English, and believing in the American dream—that with hard work, anyone can rise up and overcome the circumstances of their birth. But for many undocumented students, no matter how hard they work, their dream of college is out of reach. These young men and women are not eligible for federal financial aid as this requires citizenship or legal permanent residency. The result is that, of the approximately 100,000 undocumented students who graduate from high school each year, very few will attend and graduate from a postsecondary institution.

Since the inaugural event, the Dreamers Gala has continued to be a yearly student-led initiative that brings together students, administrators, faculty, staff, Jesuits, and community members in a beautiful celebration of the accomplishments and resilience of our undocumented/DACAmented students.

Save the Date!

We invite you to help make dreams come true. The eleventh annual Dreamers Gala will take place on Thursday, March 19, 2026. 

Registration information will be available in January.