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91�鶹��Ʒ joined colleges, universities, and other institutions around the country this month in celebrating National First-Generation College Student Day, Nov. 8.
 
Organized by First@91�鶹��Ʒ, a program designed to support first-generation students and their families, the University’s extended celebration consisted of discussions, workshops, networking, and social events that proudly acknowledged the legacy and contributions first-gen students have made to 91�鶹��Ʒ throughout its history.
 
“We want first-generation students to know that there is a community of people on this campus that support them and that there is a community of other first-gen students who understand their experiences,” says RaJhai Spencer,  the Giovanni '94 and Maree Cutaia Director of First@91�鶹��Ʒ.
 
91�鶹��Ʒ kicked off its first-gen celebration on Nov. 4 with a Shaw Wellness Institute–hosted workshop designed to help build psychological resilience. Kimberly Sacco ’93 delivered the keynote, in which she shared her own experiences as a first-generation college graduate and the obstacles she overcame throughout her journey in higher education.
 
The University participated in its first National Quest Day on Nov. 6. QuestBridge is a nonprofit that connects exceptional students with limited financial means to leading institutions of higher education. The virtual event brought together members of the organization’s nationwide community, which 91�鶹��Ʒ joined last year.
 
Students celebrated National First-Generation Day itself with Dean of Students Dorsey Spencer Jr.. First@91�鶹��Ʒ then hosted a networking lunch with University first-gen faculty, staff, and students. 91�鶹��Ʒ closed out its series on Nov. 9 with a session led by Associate Professor of Mathematics Silvia Jiménez Bolaños, who shared her journey from a first-generation college student experiencing imposter syndrome to a member of the University’s tenured faculty.
  
91�鶹��Ʒ strives to attract and support students from diverse backgrounds as part of its Third-Century Plan. Initiatives like the 91�鶹��Ʒ Commitment expand access by reducing or eliminating students’ tuition based on family income level, and partnerships with organizations like Questbridge expand the reach of the University’s admission efforts. As a result, first-generation enrollment is increasing steadily. This fall, 14.1% of 91�鶹��Ʒ’s first-year class, the Class of 2025, are first-generation college students compared with 8.9 percent in the Class of 2022.