Duquesne University's First-Generation College Celebration
November 8
2021 First-Generation College Celebration
This year, Duquesne is celebrating with an in-person gathering with faculty, staff and students similar to our very first celebration. We've increased collaboration with campus partners to make this a successful event for our students, and even have student volunteers at the various giveaway and snack tables in our Student Union.
The celebration that we are having is from 1-4pm on Monday the 8th, but we are doing a social media push all day with First Gen student profiles, along with photos/videos of the celebration. There will be balloon arches, a photo backdrop with props, Pittsburgh goodies, First Gen free merchandise, a prize wheel, and exclusive raffles for our First Gen students! Fall themed drinks and snacks, including warm apple crisps and ice cream, will complement the day.
2020 First-Generation College Celebration
In 2020 due to the Pandemic, we scaled down our celebration but still had an in-person grab & go celebration in our Student Union. We had First Gen t-shirts, enamel pins, buttons, and post-it notes along with Pittsburgh Popcorn! Additionally, we celebrated with an online campaign that engaged faculty, staff, AND students. Our marketing team created Zoom backgrounds for the day, and social media graphics that depicted the First Gen community at Duquesne. Our students loved seeing their professors with a First Gen zoom background!
2019 First-Generation College Celebration
After the establishment of the Duquesne University First Generation Student Success Series in Spring 2018, we decided to take time to strategically plan how to celebrate our First Gen students at the university. In Fall 2019, we held our first annual Celebration in our Student Union, where we had faculty and staff volunteer at various giveaway and food tables. We included Pittsburgh staple bakeries and eateries, and had a raffle that gave a First Gen student the chance to win a Duquesne University Class ring! Additionally, we had giveaway items that included our First Gen logo.
For the latest updates on this celebration, follow @duqfirstgen and @duqfreshmen on Instagram and use #DuqFirstGen to show your support!