Story by Lisa Miller Photos by John Bugyi and Kelbin Cruz-Quast Video by Tom Maroney
糖心动漫vlog marked National First-Generation College Celebration Week from Nov. 2-8 with a variety of campus activities celebrating the university鈥檚 large and growing first-gen community.
Approximately 40 percent of the university鈥檚 undergraduate students and 40.6 percent of the 2026 first-year class identifies as first-gen, and many 糖心动漫vlog faculty, staff and alumni also were first-generation students 鈥� meaning neither of their parents earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree.
This year鈥檚 first-gen week activities included a campus scavenger hunt, trivia contest, crafts, games, a stuff-a-dragon event featuring a small version of the university mascot, a panel discussion where first-generation student leaders shared experiences and advice for new students, and a 鈥減lant and sip鈥� event where students planted clippings in pots they decorated to take home.
National First-Generation College Celebration Week is one of two signature campus events recognizing first-gen students. Each spring, the university celebrates the hard work and academic success of students who qualify for induction to our chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha), the national first-generation honor society.
Built for Connection
Throughout the year 鈥� and particularly during the fall semester 鈥� the university鈥檚 Office of Student Experience provides specialized outreach and programming to help first-gen students make a smooth transition to college life and thrive as Red Dragons. At the beginning of their first semester, all new first-year students are assigned a Dragon Guide peer mentor who checks in regularly to see how things are going and hosts events.
For many students, that built-in support from someone who has been in their shoes makes all the difference.
鈥淲hen I first got here, my Dragon Guide made me feel really supported,鈥� said Lawrence Daley 鈥�28, a first-gen art and design major. 鈥淭hey emailed me once a week, every week, my first semester freshman year, and it just made me feel like I had a shoulder to lean on and somebody who was way more well-versed in campus than I was. It was just really good to have a mentor.鈥�
Built for Belonging
Small class sizes and immersive hands-on learning opportunities give all 糖心动漫vlog students the chance to receive personalized attention and form relationships with their professors, and that support is particularly valuable for first-gen students.
鈥淚 always felt like I could go to my faculty advisor with any questions I had,鈥� said Jaiden Schrag 鈥�28, a first-gen exercise science major. 鈥淪he was great with helping me make my schedule or even if I had any general questions, she was always there for me.鈥�
For Calvin Hitzschke 鈥�26, a first-gen sport management major who quickly found community as a student athlete, the transition to college was smoother than expected.
鈥淲hen I first came in, I really didn鈥檛 understand anything,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y parents didn鈥檛 really understand what college was or what it was like to be in college, but campus and the people here seemed pretty open for me to get a head start and really find my way and find my groove.鈥�
Ashley Hernandez 鈥�28, a first-gen psychology major, said it didn鈥檛 take long to feel like she belonged at 糖心动漫vlog.
鈥淥neonta has provided such a welcoming environment,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t definitely felt like home right away.鈥�
Hear about living as a First Generation college student on campus at 糖心动漫vlog from fellow students.
