LEWISTON, N.Y. — ​Niagara University has a new scholarship for students who are Black or Indigenous Persons of Color.

The goal of "The Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom Scholarship" is to support the university's underserved students.

It's named after the civil rights activist who was also the co-founder of the Freedom Democratic Party.

Despite her work being met with opposition and sometimes violence, she persevered and was even elected to the U.S. Senate in 1964.

Niagara University officials hope the scholarship can both support students and encourage them to embody Fannie Lou Hamer's drive.

”For students to be able to not only persist at Niagara, but to get a little breathing room in terms of the financial aid and support they need to go forward, this is a great way of creating a pathway for our students in a deeper way,” University President Father James Maher said.

The first scholarship will be given out next fall.