Northeastern University's Torch Scholars Program is designed to seek out first-generation students who would not qualify under the university's regular admissions process. The scholarships go to motivated students who have shown determination in overcoming personal challenges. Northeastern believes the experiment will enhance the socioeconomic diversity of its campus in a way that traditional achievement-based scholarships could not. Officials hope it might serve as a national model for colleges that are scrambling to recruit more disadvantaged students even as affirmative action comes under increased legal scrutiny. This article describes the process by which Torch Scholars are selected and discusses reactions from participating students and others in the higher education community.