UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the third consecutive year, Penn State will join colleges and universities across the nation in recognizing First-Generation Celebration Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The event will celebrate Penn Staters who were or will be the first in their family to earn a baccalaureate degree. All members of the Penn State community are invited to participate and learn more about first-generation student success.
The celebration will be co-led by the Student Success Center and First-Gen Advocates, a student organization that promotes advocacy, awareness and mentorship for first-generation undergraduate students.
“We look forward to this occasion to celebrate Penn State’s first-generation students as pioneers and trailblazers, forging a new path for themselves and their families. This annual event is an opportunity to enhance community among first-generation students while bringing greater awareness to the many contributions they bring to the University,” said Denise Poole, Penn State’s director of student success initiatives.
This year’s events and opportunities are designed to celebrate first-gen Penn State students, promote valuable campus resources and bring awareness to the experiences of the first-gen community at Penn State. Please consider participating in and promoting the following events on Nov. 8:
HUB Takeover
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., students and other members of the Penn State community are invited to visit the HUB-Robeson Center for activities, prizes and information. There will be an opportunity to meet Student Success Center staff and the leadership of First-Gen Advocates. The event will also feature free food, a photo booth and a DJ
“First-Gen at Penn State and Beyond” Virtual Panel, In-Person Networking
First-gen students are invited to attend a virtual employer and alumni panel, to be held via Zoom, at 7 p.m. Participants will hear from prominent employers such as Amazon, Penn State Career Services professionals and first-gen Penn State alumni. The panel will be followed by an in-person networking session in 233A HUB-Robeson Center. Undergraduate and graduate students from any Penn State campus, including Penn State World Campus, are encouraged to attend.
Share Your First-Generation Story!
Similar to prior celebrations, we are inviting faculty, staff, alumni and students to share their first-generation story. Stories of success, resilience and growth will be highlighted through the Student Success Center’s Twitter and Instagram accounts and First-Gen Advocates’ Instagram account on and surrounding the Nov. 8 celebration (follow #PSUFirstGen). Submit your message by Nov. 4 using this form.
College and Campus Events
In addition to the events listed above, numerous first-gen celebratory events will be hosted by the colleges at the University Park campus, at Commonwealth Campuses and through Penn State World Campus. Details regarding these events can be viewed on the Student Success Center website and by following #PSUFirstGen on social media.
Ways to Get Involved
Whether you are a first-generation student or not, all Penn Staters are invited to show their first-gen pride on Nov. 8. You can support our efforts by attending and promoting University events, by learning more about first-gen students and available support and by following and using #PSUFirstGen on social media.
About National First-Generation College Celebration
National First-Generation College Celebration, recognized each year on Nov. 8, was established in 2017 by the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-generation Student Success to advance a national narrative on first-generation student experiences and outcomes, particularly the barriers facing this population and the supports necessary for first-generation students to thrive. Nov. 8 marks the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which created a range of initiatives to expand access to higher education for low-income and first-generation students.
About the Student Success Center
The Student Success Center is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education. The Student Success Center opened in 2019 and is located at 325 Boucke Building. The center supports undergraduate students and their advocates by contributing to a University-wide culture of care and assisting students as they strive toward academic goals and degree completion.
About First-Gen Advocates
First-Gen Advocates is a Penn State organization that offers professional and personal development, mentoring and mentorship opportunities, career pipelines and social events to help first-generation undergraduate students persist to graduation.