Students Enjoy SIUE’S Annual First-Generation College Celebration
Empowered, esteemed and excited were a few of the student reactions to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Annual First-Generation College Celebration (FGCC), Wednesday-Thursday, Nov. 8-9 on the Edwardsville campus.
“I enjoyed the Celebration greatly because there were a lot of opportunities to mingle with other people who shared my experiences,” said Kaelyn Cupil, a junior majoring in nursing. “The Celebration was very welcoming, and I loved the cute buttons.”
“I appreciated seeing students thrilled to know we were celebrating them as first-generation students,” said Lindsay Winkeler, New Student Transitions coordinator. “It’s great that SIUE hosts this Celebration for first-generation students. As a first-generation student myself, I would have loved something like this.”
First-Generation College Celebration (FGCC) is an annual opportunity to raise awareness of the first-generation college student identity by advancing an asset-based, national narrative of these students’ experiences and outcomes, according to coordinator of Student Retention Darryl Cherry, with the office of Student Opportunities for Academic Results (SOAR).
Cherry added that SIUE is a member of the 2023 Cohort of NASPA’s First Scholars Network which expands and sustains structural support to comprehensively, substantively and equitably accommodate first-generation students.
Winkeler and Cherry, along with Miriam Roccia, interim vice chancellor of Student Affairs, hosted SIUE’s event.
“SIUE has made a stressful situation, not as stressful,” said Cupil. “It’s always hard to be the first at something, but I know I am able to access resources and have the support here to figure it all out.”
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Last week, SIUE first-generation students enjoy an annual Celebration held in their honor.