APU Celebrates GEN1 Scholars

Azusa Pacific University (APU) a private, evangelical Christian university in Azusa, California. Thirty-six percent of traditional undergraduate students at APU identify as first-generation college students. APU has supported first-generation students through various initiatives including scholarships such as TELACU (1993), which awards an average of 10 scholarships per academic year, and Azusa Scholars (2000) which awards an average of 5 students per academic year. Through academic advising, culturally enriching events, leadership development, and mentoring, our APU TRIO programs support first-generation students through their entire academic journey. In 2015, APU received a TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS) grant to serve 140 students annually; and, in 2017 the campus received a TRIO Upward Bound grant to serve 60 high school students from the city of Azusa.

In the 2017 fall semester, APU introduced a campus-wide initiative designed to support all first-generation students on campus through academic support, mentoring, workshops for personal development, workshops for parents, and an annual fall and spring gathering. The GEN1 Scholars program began with an Inaugural Luncheon which brought together over 100 students, staff, and faculty to celebrate the start of this program. In January 2018, the GEN1 Scholars program launched the GEN1 Faculty/Staff Mentoring program, where 63 students and 47 faculty and staff met one-on-one. The program hosted monthly student gatherings to address topics such as the “First-Gen Identity” and “The Grad School Journey.” Together, with their mentors, students shared personal stories and asked the panel questions about their experience as a first-generation student in a graduate program.

The first year of the GEN1 Scholars program culminated with the Celebration of Excellence on April 12th, 2018, Students, and faculty and staff mentors came together to celebrate the first cohort of graduates and accomplishments of participants. As a community, we enjoyed a meal and heard from our keynote speaker, Jennifer Godoy, M.S., who is a first-generation APU alum and current TRIO SSS success coach. Ms. Godoy shared her journey with students and offered words of encouragement to the graduates as they prepared for a new chapter in their lives. Following the keynote speaker, the GEN1 Scholars coordinator, Cassandra Gonzalez, M.P.A., acknowledged the mentors and students and took the time to celebrate their individual accomplishments throughout the academic year. The event concluded with a moment of acknowledgment for the 2018 GEN1 Scholars graduating class. This was truly a time of celebration for every student and their individual journey.

As the GEN1 Scholars program prepares for its second year of programming, APU seeks to expand support services to all first-generation students including undergraduate, graduate and professional students. APU believes it is important that our students feel supported by their campus community and through their academic journey, in order to help guide them in reaching their goals of graduation and beyond. As the new academic year approaches, APU seeks to find more ways to support students beyond the services established during the first year of the program. In the near future, the GEN1 Scholars program hopes to implement more leadership development, community building, scholarship opportunities, alumni networking, bridge programs, and much more! APU is dedicated to supporting students; and through the GEN1 Scholars program, the campus will continue to provide specifically tailored support for our first-generation college students.