First-Generation College Celebration (FGCC) is an annual opportunity to raise awareness of the first-generation college student identity by advancing an asset-based, national narrative of these students’ experiences and outcomes.
Since the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the Center for First-generation Student Success launched the inaugural celebration in 2017, hundreds of higher education institutions, corporations, non-profits, and K-12 schools have joined together in recognizing the achievements of the first-gen community on and around November 8.
This year, leverage Celebration Day to deepen your community’s understanding of the systemic barriers plaguing higher education and the supports necessary for this resilient population to continue thriving across education, career, and life.
Why Celebrate on November 8
FGCC is celebrated annually on November 8 to commemorate the signing of the Higher Education Act (“HEA”) of 1965 by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson. This act created federal financial aid programs to fund students’ educations and made key investments in colleges and universities. Many of the HEA’s programs, particularly the Federal TRIO programs, promote postsecondary access, retention, and completion for today’s limited-income, first-generation college students.
FGCC strives not only to celebrate first-gen students’ contributions to their communities but also to occasion systemic social change by dismantling barriers to first-generation student success. Through this intentional advocacy focus, FGCC engages key constituencies in building upon the work left unfinished by the HEA.
Click here to learn more about the HEA, the creation of Federal TRIO programs, and the history of National First-Generation College Celebration.
Plan Your Celebration
This year, we encourage you to celebrate the successes of first-generation college students, faculty, staff, alumni, and professionals in every way possible! From launching strategic plans to inviting speakers to lead professional development events, the possibilities for celebration are endless.
Below, you'll find everything you need to begin planning your 2024 events!
Be sure to tag @COEtalk and @FirstgenCenter and use the #CelebrateFirstGen when sharing information about your plans across social media!
TRIO PROGRAM RESOURCES
To support institutional Federal TRIO fund recipients' FGCC participation, COE created a guide outlining the applicable regulations for each FGCC-related project. This includes the three areas in which supplies are allowable costs.
Review the Full Guide
2024 Voter Registration Drive
From your local school board to the White House, voting in every election is important—especially for first-gen students and their advocates.
This year, the Center has partnered with the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge to institutionalize nonpartisan democratic engagement through a custom First-Generation College Celebration voter registration portal.
Get Registered to Vote
We strongly encourage organizers to incorporate this voter registration portal into their 2024 FGCC plans. Please use the additional resources below to strengthen your efforts!
Grant Opportunity
Each year, we’re pleased to award grants to NASPA- and COE-member institutions to aid them in reaching more first-generation college students or graduates; engaging more stakeholders; launching new first-gen-specific events or initiatives; and/or providing additional services around FGCC.
The 2024 FGCC Grant Opportunity has closed. All applicants will receive a submission status update in late August 2024.
Please join us in thanking the Strada Education Foundation and TIAA for their generous support of this year's Grant Opportunity!
Congratulations to our past Grant Opportunity recipients!
2023 Recipients
National Events
The Center and COE have co-hosted annual events to elevate Celebration Day’s national profile.
In 2023, our event examined first-gen college students' career trajectories by featuring a panel of first-gen graduates who have ascended into senior leader roles in some of the world's most recognizable companies.
Watch the 2023 Event Recordingg
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Congressional Resolution
Led by Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), a bipartisan team of senators helped steer S. Res. 437 to passage under unanimous consent in the 117th Congress—helping to solidify the importance of November 8 as a day to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of first-generation college students. You can view the resolution’s text and list of 19 bipartisan cosponsors below.