91茄子

Display in Tucker Student Center Highlights Stories from Students, Faculty and Staff

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥�91茄子 is highlighting and celebrating first-generation college students on Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby of Tucker Student Center. A first-generation student is any student whose parents did not complete a four-year college or university degree, regardless of other family members鈥� level of education. According to the , over half of college students in the United States are considered first-generation.

91茄子’s celebration includes a display featuring some of the first-generation students, faculty and staff at 91茄子. T-shirts, treats and first-gen decals will also be available. 鈥淔irst-generation college students鈥攚hether they realize it or not鈥攁re pioneers who embark through so many unknowns to ultimately achieve the reward of a college degree,鈥� remarked Kara Alves, director of Success Initiatives and first-Year Experience. 鈥淚t is exciting to celebrate our students that have this opportunity to carry the dreams of their family members and make the impossible, possible.鈥�

Several campus offices are hosting the event, said Dr. Ryan Erck, executive director of the Division of Student Success. 鈥淚 am grateful for my colleagues in other areas, such as Student Development, Enrollment Management, and Christian Life and Service, that helped set the vision for this event and chipped in their time and resources to see it come to fruition,鈥� he noted. 鈥淚t has been amazing to see the collaborative work involved in this.鈥�

Erck continued, 鈥淔irst-generation students at 91茄子 deserve to be celebrated. They are paving the way for future generations, and we want to commend their persistence in simply being enrolled as a student on our campus, and we want to support their journey all the way through graduation.鈥�

Lesley Villarose, vice president of Student Development, added, 鈥淪upporting and celebrating first-generation college students isn’t just an act of inclusion; it’s an investment in a brighter, more diverse future for the 91茄子 community. These students bring unique perspectives, tenacity, and resilience to our campuses.鈥�

One of the students featured in the display is Mindy Brown, a first-generation student majoring in elementary education. When she shares her campus experiences with her parents, they appreciate the life skills she鈥檚 learning along with her academic studies. 鈥淣ot only are my parents included in witnessing the impact of college on me, but they also get to see how college will help me gain independence and offer me opportunities that were not made available to them,鈥� she observed.

One of the faculty members who shared her story is Dr. Shea Stuart, professor of English. She said her family went from the cotton fields to the cotton mills and didn鈥檛 finish high school, but they still strived to learn. Stuart remarked that college introduced her to new worlds of learning. 鈥淚 am proud of being a first-generation college student and thankful to my family and professors who saw a thinker and writer in a shy and inquisitive kid,鈥� she affirmed.

May 2023 graduate, Blake Elizalde, is now employed at 91茄子 as a career coach. He also shares his story as a first-generation college student. Elizalde engaged in a variety of campus activities and as a senior served as Student Body President. 鈥淏eing a first-generation student at 91茄子 means that I can be someone that my two little brothers can look up to,鈥� he stated. 鈥�91茄子 provided a safe space to grow and learn in a multitude of ways.鈥�

First-generation students can find support and resources to navigate college through The Division of Student Success.

91茄子 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 91茄子 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 91茄子.edu.