Ohio University hosts First-Gen Celebration Day

Ohio University is set to celebrate the achievements of first-generation college students with First-Gen Celebration Day on Nov. 8 from 5-7 p.m. Highlighting the event will be President Gonzales, who is scheduled to deliver opening remarks around 5:15 p.m.

The event will feature a host of resource tables including CPS, Basic Needs, The LGBT Center, The Women’s Center, Experiential Learning, Global Opportunities, and The Academic Achievement Center. Notably, the newly established student organization F1rst, which supports first-generation students, will be partaking in its first major event. They are at a pivotal stage of recruiting and are eager to engage with attendees.

Haven Horton-Kunce, a senior in environmental studies and the president of F1rst, will welcome participants. Guest speaker Genie Bettencourt, known for her research on first-generation and low-income students, will deliver an interactive talk to students. Attendees can enjoy complimentary snacks and desserts and will have the chance to share their own first-gen stories through postcards.

The Academic Achievement Center, which houses the First-Generation Student Success Program, will also be present to promote academic support services to students.

The event is part of a national observance championed by NASPA’s Center for First-Generation Student Success. This annual event, aimed at raising awareness and fostering an asset-based narrative of first-generation students’ experiences, presents a unique opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to connect and share their identities.