Students, faculty, staff and alumni celebrated I AM FIRST Week, a recognition of Թ students’ first-generation identity, by building community and showcasing campus-wide support.
“We intentionally highlight first-generation faculty and staff because we want to be able to show students representation here at Թ of successful individuals in their own right,” Melanie Jones, director of Student Success Programs, told Թ State Today, “who have also been the first in their family to graduate.”
I AM FIRST Celebration
The week-long celebration culminated in Friday’s I AM FIRST Celebration, which honored first-generation students, faculty and staff, but the days leading up to that moment were also filled with programs and activities recognizing students and graduates who will be or are the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree.
“One of the goals with all of the different events throughout the week is to help folks see that they aren’t alone on this journey,” Jones said.
During the I AM FIRST Celebration, participants signed the I AM FIRST Promise banner and listened to keynote speakers share their journeys as first-generation college students.
Executive Vice President and Provost Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., served as a panel speaker, reflecting on her own experience as a first-generation student.
“First-gen students are bringing their entire families and communities forward,” Tankersley said during her keynote panel. “And I know this to be true because I’ve lived it.”
While college was not her initial plan, she hoped to become a restaurant manager after high school, her mother encouraged her to attend college for one year, promising she could return home if she didn’t like it.
In the end, Tankersley found passion and purpose in higher education, becoming the first in her family to graduate and credit her family for their belief in education.
“I owe my career to them,” Tankersley said. “They believed in the power of education, an education they had never received, an education that they didn’t really know anyone who had received it, but they believed in the power that it would hold, and they believed in me.”
Tankersley shared five pieces of advice for college students, both first-generation and continuing education, in their pursuit of success:
- Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. It’s okay to learn as you go.
- Learn the power of office hours. Professors enjoy it when students show up, even if they’re not sure what to ask.
- Find your people. Seek out advocates, friends and mentors who will support and guide you.
- Be proud of where you came from. Never feel like you need to hide yourself; your resolve is a superpower.
- Keep going, even when you doubt yourself. Success is not about never feeling uncertain, but about continuing to show up despite uncertainty.
“We remember that behind every student there’s a story, and sometimes a mom and a dad who are waiting tables and bussing them just to make this dream possible,” Tankersley said. “We want to show up for you in all possible ways by being generous with our time, our patience, our encouragement. We want to make sure our classrooms are places of belonging, and our campuses feel like home.”
Following Tankersley, four first-generation keynote panelists: Yasir Pope, senior integrative studies major; Nicole Kotlan, Ph.D., director of student progression in the Division of Enrollment Management; Don'Marie Reid, graduate student in the College of Public Health; and Wilson Chung, associate professor in the department of biological sciences, shared their stories and insights. The panel emphasized the importance of mentorship, flexibility in academics, and the courage to ask for help.
“None of us did any of this by ourselves,” Pope said. “The smartest people in the world probably have somebody else smart that they are in the room with them to bounce off their ideas. So, I feel like just not ever getting too in your head about being a first-generation.”
After the panel, first-generation awards were presented by Kelly Cichy, Ph.D., professor in the School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences and interim executive director for Student Success Initiatives, recognizing a record-breaking number of nominations across nearly all categories.
“Students could self-nominate this year,” Cichy said. “It was really kind of telling their story of overcoming barriers, their leadership, their scholarship, their service to the university.”
Cichy added that this year’s nominations stood out. “The nominations were so remarkable that it was really hard to narrow it down to just one,” she said.
First-Gen Faculty Advocate
- Jean Engohang-Ndong, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences
Staff Advocates
- Ashley Dunlope, academic advisor II
- Katie Levels, director of academic recruitment and retention in the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship
- Leigh Ann Tomaswick, assistant director, innovative teaching in the Center for Teaching and Learning
First-Gen Alumni
- Terrence J. “Chip” Bahn, ’75, M.Ed. ’77, Ed.D.
- Amanda Feaster, Ph.D., director of Student Accessibility Services
- Ann Mariko Walter, '96, M.Ed. '19., Ed.D. '24, associate professor, New York City Fashion
Ran Die E. McKenzie Undergraduate Alumni Award
- Melissa Brodhead, academic advisor I
- Yvette Roberts, assistant director, Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services
“My grandmother passed away when I was here in college in January of 2000, and my biggest dream was for her to watch me walk the stage,” Roberts said.
First-Gen Graduate Student Awards
- Antonio Xavier Moma Nunes
“I’m from Angola and it’s a big deal of responsibility because once you gain it, you have to keep it up, and especially at home,” Xavier said. “When people get to know that you got it, this is a motivation for other people that are following in the line. So, this is a legacy in the making.”
- Sharmin Shahjahan
- Mialie Szynmanski
First-Gen Undergraduate Student Awards
- Isabella Baird
- Jovine Gonzalez Freeman
“The award means a lot to me, especially coming from a first-generation household where my father is an immigrant,” Freeman said. “He’s a single parent, and just being here, not really expecting myself to come to college and be here at Թ State, it’s just really a blessing.”
- Arlan Kalandarov
A Week-Long Celebration
Numerous I AM FIRST events earlier and throughout the week, both in person and virtual, built momentum to Friday’s celebration of cheers and camaraderie. The week’s programming highlighted the achievements and community of first-generation students each day.
For instance, on Monday, Nov. 3, the First-Gen Fuel Up, hosted by the Division of Student Life, kicked off the week with games, food and free merchandise. Visitors were greeted at the door with free first-gen and first-gen ally T-shirts to show their pride and support, while booths throughout the room highlighted university resources for first-generation students.
“We’re very excited to kick off the week this way,” said Yvonna Washington-Greer, Ph.D., associate vice president for belonging, engagement and success in the Division of Student Life. “We figured we’d get a jump start by inviting as many students as we could to learn about resources that typically first-generation students could find useful and helpful in their journey.”
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, during one of the events, the Integrated Sciences Building hosted It’s Sweet to Be First-Gen to recognize students who are the first in their families to attend college. Attendees enjoyed photo opportunities with Flash, Insomnia Cookies, soda floats, SWAG and time to connect with faculty and peers.
“For us, it’s all about celebrating with our students,” said Kristofer Braxton, senior director of academic outreach in the College of Arts & Sciences. “It’s a huge accomplishment to be a first-gen student, to be a trailblazer for your family.”
Students gathered Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the Center for Undergraduate Excellence for Buttons, Bracelets & Belonging, an event designed to promote creativity, connection and relaxation. Participants crafted bracelets and buttons while enjoying snacks and learning about campus resources.
“It’s giving folks an opportunity to take a break from their regular kind of schedule in the day and celebrate the first-generation status,” Jones said. “Students can decompress, grab some cookies and make a bracelet.”
Hosted by University College and the Elliott Scholars on Thursday, Nov. 6, Frosting & Firsts: A Celebration of Firsts invited first-generation students to share their experiences while decorating sweet treats. The event encouraged students to open up about their personal milestones, whether it was taking their first exam, making a first friend or receiving their first piece of Թ State gear.
“This is the first time we’ve done Frosting and Firsts,” Cichy said. “Just being able to connect with other students who wouldn’t otherwise know each other is really great.”
From cookie socials to keynote panels, I AM FIRST Week celebrated the determination, pride and resilience of first-generation students. Each event served as a reminder that being first means opening the door for many who will follow.
To learn more and read individual stories, visit the I AM FIRST Week website.