TRIO Celebrates National First-gen Day at Purdue University Fort Wayne

What do many faculty, staff, and students at Purdue University Fort Wayne have in common? Almost half are the first in their families to attend college.

This year, TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) led a campus-wide First-Generation Celebration to bring awareness to the strong, vibrant first-generation students, faculty, and staff on campus. A panel of first-generation university faculty and staff members shared stories from their past including challenges, triumphs, and advice to help first-generation students relate to their own struggles. TRIO SSS student, Graciela Jimenez commented, “It’s nice to know they were once where we are now and they made it.” 

Panel members included Regina Gordon (Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching), Luke Rodesiler (Education), Kristina Creager (Student Affairs), Curt Hosier (Sociology), Suin Roberts (English and Linguistics), James McHann (Business), Jenna Hoppe (Student Success and Transitions), and Jeff Anderson (Mathematics and Chemistry). 

The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the Center for First-generation Student Success launched the National First-Generation College Celebration in 2017. Each year on November 8, the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, colleges are encouraged to celebrate what it means to be a first-generation college student through events, education, and advocacy. The Higher Education Act of 1965 coined the term “first-generation” to refer to college students who were the first in their families to attend college. The Higher Education Act of 1965 also authorized the TRIO programs to assist those students in their educational pursuits.

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To learn more about Purdue University Fort Wayne's approach, please visit their website here.