Happy First-Generation College Celebration Day from #FirstGenTalks!

Happy First-Generation College Celebration Day!! Today, we recognize the strength, resilience, and determination that define our first-generation college students and to acknowledge the incredible impact that the entire first-gen community has on your campuses.

For each of you who identifies as a first-generation college student, today is about you. Your journey—marked by the unique challenges you’ve overcome, the family and personal sacrifices you’ve made, and the groundbreaking steps you take each day—is nothing short of inspiring. Being first means so much more than just reaching a new milestone for yourself; it means paving the way for those who will follow, lifting as you climb, and creating a new vision of what is possible in education.

To our first-gen faculty and staff, your presence and mentorship are a beacon for so many students. You embody the dreams that first-gen students aspire to and demonstrate the remarkable paths that education can unlock. Your dedication to serving, guiding, and supporting the next generation leaves an indelible mark on each of their lives.

And to our first-gen alumni, you are living proof of the incredible power and potential within our first-gen community. You show us what lies beyond graduation, and you remind us of the vast and lasting impact that first-generation students make in all areas of society. Your commitment to giving back is invaluable, and it fuels the dreams of those who walk these paths after you.

Of course, we would not be here without the supporters, advocates, and allies who champion the first-gen cause daily. Thank you for helping to build a campus that celebrates diverse pathways and champions inclusivity. Your support empowers students to realize their full potential, and it transforms challenges into opportunities.

As we celebrate today, let’s remember that every accomplishment, large or small, is a victory for not only the student who achieved it but also for their families, their communities, and future generations. Your success means that someone else’s journey may be just a little bit easier.

Announcement: As we celebrate First-Generation College Celebration Day, we also celebrate #FirstGenTalks and our expansion into a new platform and our outreach to first-generation college students across the globe. I am happy to share our new #FirstGenTalks YouTube channel, along with our first video on the platform. The first video comes from our First-Gen Talks to High School Students playlist and series. Please share the video with your students and subscribe to our new channel. Let’s continue to celebrate, to uplift, and to support one another. Today is about recognizing how far we’ve come and renewing our commitment to opening doors, breaking down barriers, and standing together. Let’s keep making history together!