Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's First-Generation College Celebration
November 8

2019 First-Generation College Celebration

To kick off the 2019 First-Generation College Celebration, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s (GCSOM) First-Generation National Day of Celebration planning subcommittee executed the following initiatives:

1. Kicked off the week with our annual First-Generation Meet and Greet to welcome our incoming first-generation students and have them get to know current first-generation students, faculty, staff and allies by playing a game of Human Bingo with gift card prizes for those able to achieve BINGO. Any first-generation students interested were also invited to share their story at the Meet and Greet event.
2. Distributed GCSOM Bookmarks defining first-generation students, and for students to have as a keepsake;
3. Continue to stock our student food pantry to address food insecurity;
4. Hosted a week-long on-campus Scavenger Hunt and raffled off prizes to the first 10 students who completed the hunt;
5. Welcomed first-generation students, faculty, and staff to write their stories, including first-generation allies to write why they support first-generation students in a blurb box. Blurbs were posted at the First-Generation National Day of Celebration finale along with a slide show with pictures of past GCSOM First-Generation events;
6. Distributed GCSOM First-Generation Ally and GCSOM First-Generation Mentor stickers in an effort to grow awareness across GCSOM community;
7. Distributed copies of the First-Generation Guidebook. The Guidebook includes a personal letter from the senior leadership of the medical school to first-generation students and a list of faculty and staff allies; resource point-persons and mentors; pictures and biographies of well-known first-generation college graduates; discounts for local stores, shops, restaurants; and inspirational and supportive and encouraging quotes.

To kick off the 2018 First-Generation College Celebration, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) assembled a First-Generation College Celebration planning subcommittee! The subcommittee consisted of Dr. Vicki T. Sapp, Amy Kline, Mary Triano, Gina Osif, and Kelly Ca.  

The subcommittee identified and executed the following initiatives:

1. Designed and distributed GCSOM Bookmarks defining first-generation students, and for students to have as a keepsake;
2. Purchased and distributed "I’m First" lapel pins and stickers to faculty, staff, and student committee members who identify as first-generation student/graduate;
3. Started a food pantry to address food insecurity and hosted the Kick-off event where faculty and staff were invited to donate on November 8;
4. Hosted an on-campus Scavenger Hunt and raffled off prizes to the first 10 students who completed the hunt;
5. Invited faculty and staff to serve as Allies, Resource Person, and Mentors;
6. Welcomed first-generation students, faculty, and staff to write their stories, including first-generation student allies to write why they support first-generation students in a blurb box. There were 31 students, faculty, and staff who identify as first-generation offer their narratives, and 21 students, faculty and staff who identified as allies shared why they support first-generation students. Blurbs were posted across campus;
7. Designed and plan to distribute GCSOM First-gen Ally and GCSOM First-gen Mentor lapel pins and stickers in an effort to grow awareness across GCSOM community;
8. Distributed copies of the First-generation Guidebook. The Guidebook includes a personal letter from the senior leadership of the medical school to first-generation students and a list of faculty and staff allies; resource point-persons and mentors; pictures and biographies of well-known first-generation college graduates; discounts for local stores, shops, restaurants; and inspirational and supportive and encouraging quotes.

To ensure that our efforts are sustainable, GCSOM has assembled the GCSOM First-Generation Student Support Committee which is broken down into a number of subcommittees with the mission of supporting first-generation students with their transition to and through medical school. Below are the subcommittees:

1. Meet and Greet Subcommittee
2. Food Pantry
3. First-Generation College Celebration
4. Celebration of Achievement