Monmouth University's First-Generation College Celebration
November 8
2023 First-Generation College Celebration
The 2023 First-Generation College Celebration at Monmouth University is a celebration of first-generation student identity through storytelling and creative expressions. The kickoff for the celebration at Monmouth is a virtual day of first-gen student voices through the 11th Annual First-gen Student Summit which Monmouth is co-sponsoring for the fifth consecutive year.
The First to Fly club are engaging first-gen students and faculty during November 8th around sharing personal narratives of first-gen success at Monmouth and beyond. In collaboration with the student club CommWorks: Students Committed to Performance the campus community is invited to share their experiences and stories at an Open Mic Night at the Monmouth Intercultural Center. In addition, First to Fly and CommWorks are celebrating storytelling through visual and performing arts expressions with the First-Generation Storytelling Collective, a Diversity Innovation Grant (DIG) funded year-long project made possible by the Office of the Provost and Intercultural Center at Monmouth University. Also this year the Monmouth Center for the Arts is celebrating first-generation experiences through, Journeys of Interdependence: Portraits of First-Generation Identity in Higher Education, a juried portrait art exhibition show which will run in Monmouth University’s Pollak Gallery from January 16 – March 8, 2024.
2022 First-Generation College Celebration
The First to Fly Hawks at Monmouth are celebrating first-generation college success in 2022 with a week of events that highlight the five year anniversary of the First to Fly: First Generation at Monmouth community of support. The celebration is kicking off November 5th with a virtual watch party during the 10th Annual Class Action First-gen Summit. On November 7th, in collaboration with the Monmouth Intercultural Center and Leon Hess School of Business, first-gen guest speaker Saul Flores will share his inspirational story of persistence and community. The First Generation College Celebration on November 8th will feature the annual First to Fly table event to raise awareness of first-gen success and celebrate the first-gen community. In addition, the annual First to Fly first-gen alumni panel discussion event will conclude the 2022 festivities.
2020 First-Generation College Celebration
In 2020, as a new First-gen Forward Institution, Monmouth University and First to Fly: First Generation at Monmouth join the First-Generation College Celebration with a series of virtual events that highlight the campus-wide first-gen community of support. Featured events include a virtual first-gen student networking workshop, a virtual first-gen college success panel discussion, and an Instagram first-gen celebration profile series.
2019 First-Generation College Celebration
First to Fly: First Generation at Monmouth will host an entire week of first-generation student success events designed to highlight first-generation students, faculty, staff and administrator accomplishments along with educational events to continue to raise awareness of critical issues related to first generation student identity and promote campus-wide student support partnerships.
2018 First-Generation College Celebration
In 2018, through a campus initatives called First to Fly: First Generation at Monmouth, the plan is to launch the campus-wide first-generation student mentoring program along with a student/staff panel discussion celebrating the successes of first-generation members of the campus community. Additionally, on November 8th, 2018 there will be a tabling event raising awareness about and celebrating first-generation students in the student center.
2017 First-Generation College Celebration
In 2017 Monmouth University established a dedicated position to lead campus-wide first-generation initiatives. Also, Monmouth co-sponsored and sent six students to the 6th Annual First Generation College Student Summit hosted by Mount Holyoke College.
For the latest updates on this celebration, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and use #FirstToFlyMonmouth to show your support!
