At 蜜桃直播, we take immense pride in our First Gen Tigers, who are not only trailblazers but also a source of inspiration for the entire campus community. Currently, 300+ first gen students make up 30% of the school's total student body. The year kicked off with a warm welcome at the First Gen Tiger Family Reception, where upper-class First Gen students, faculty, and staff came together to greet and support our new students. This was just the beginning of a year filled with special events designed to celebrate and uplift our First Gen Tigers.
In week two, the COMPASS Student Success team hosted an exciting Trivia Night for First Gen students, creating a fun and engaging way for them to connect with each other while learning more about the university.
In November, we celebrated First Gen Week, packed with activities like a First Gen Swag Pickup, a Decompression Craft creating a Zen Garden to help students relax. Students also received a copy of the bestselling book "First Gen," generously donated by Alejandra Campoverdi, and were offered shuttles to the voting polls, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement. As the holidays approached, one of the ongoing highlights was the First Tiger mural in the library, where students could submit photos and share their stories of what being First Gen means to them鈥攃reating a visual legacy of their experiences.
In early March, we held the Registration Fair, a pivotal event for First Gen students where they could meet with departments like the Registrar, Career Services, Academic Success Coaches Financial Aid, and more to ensure they were on track for fall registration and had the resources they needed for their summer goals.
As we approach the end of the year, we鈥檙e gearing up for the First Gen Tiger End of Year Celebration on April 22nd. This event is a celebration for all First Tigers but will feature the Tri-Alpha Honors Program initiation and graduation ceremony, recognizing some of our academically elite first gen students.
Drew Sawyer, Senior Associate Director of Student Success, shared, 鈥淏eing First Gen is both a special and challenging experience. These students rise to the occasion, breaking barriers not just for themselves, but for their families. Their success has a lasting impact on our campus, showing that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.鈥�
The First Gen Tigers鈥� journey at 蜜桃直播 is one of empowerment, community, and triumph鈥攎aking a lasting impact on the university and proving that being First Gen is not just an identity, but a story of persistence and success.