Celebrating our First Generation Students

A picture of the Snoqualmie Building with a "Celebrate 1st Generation" banner in the foreground.
Image courtesy of Johanna Jacobsen Kiciman.

Thursday (Nov. 8) is the National First-Generation College Celebration and the library is excited to cheer on First Gen students — this week and every week! See below for books, events, and resources — and stayed tuned for messages from our staff later this week.

Books & Films

UW Tacoma Events and Activities

2nd Annual National First-Gen Celebration

Thursday, November 8, 2018
12:20 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Dawg House, UW Tacoma

UW Tacoma will celebrate the 2nd Annual National First-Generation College Celebration by honoring first-generation stories. This event will feature a keynote address from UWT’s Associate Vice Chancellor & Admissions Officer Karl Smith and student remarks from First-Gen Fellow and ASUWT President Armen Papayan. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to sign their pledge as first-generation students to finish their four-year degree.

We are First Generation Story Campaign

UW Tacoma faculty, staff and students can submit their first-gen stories and participate in the 3rd Annual “We are First Generation” stories campaign.

Web Resources for First Generation Students

  • UW Tacoma First Gen Fellows: First Gen Fellows also referred as “First Generation College Students” is a program that provides individualized support to students who identify as first in their family to graduate from college.
  • UW First Generation Graduate Students: Seattle-based resources dedicated to supporting first-generation graduate students with innovative programming. A first-gen graduate student is in the first generation of their family to earn a bachelor’s degree — and is now earning a graduate degree. Link includes info on a “Show Your Pride” poll for first gen grad students.
  • Navigating the First Year for First Generation College Students: Background information on first gen students, the challenges they face, and how they may be addressed by faculty and staff.

Johanna Jacobsen Kiciman contributed to this post.