Celebration for first-generation students

October 30, 2019

University Relations

In honor of National First Generation College Student Day, Alaska EPSCoR and TRIO Student Support Services will host a STEM-focused panel discussion about what it is like to be the first in your family to experience college when neither parent/guardian has earned a baccalaureate degree.

The celebration will occur Friday, Nov. 8, in the Murie Building auditorium from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. The date marks the 54th anniversary of the signing of the 1965 Higher Education Act, which has helped millions of first-generation, low-income/under-resourced students persist to degree completion. Hear from first-gen STEM professionals from UAF and the greater community about the challenges and opportunities they faced in college, speak one-on-one with local first-gen mentors, and enjoy hors d'oeuvres in the lobby of the Murie building.

“Being the first in your family to go to college comes with certain challenges, but it also gives you unique perspectives and skills that can help you succeed. Research has shown that connecting with others from the same background and discussing this has huge benefits. I also know this to be true from personal experience, as I was a first-gen student myself,” said Research Associate Professor Laura Conner.

Creating space for mentorship and helping students embrace their first-gen identity in STEM majors helps improve student success, ensuring that first-gen students attain their degrees and move on to competitive careers in STEM-fields.

A first-gen Pub Trivia night will also be held Tuesday, Nov. 5. For more information, email Victoria Smith at vrsmtih@alaska.edu or Laura Conner at ldconner@alaska.edu.