CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Colleges and universities across the country are commemorating First-Generation College Celebration, recognized annually on Nov. 8. 

What You Need To Know

  • Higher education campuses are commemorating First-Generation College Celebration

  • The events spotlight the successes and challenges students face being the first in their family to get a bachelor's degree

  • Gardner-Webb University is celebrating its first-gen students all week

  • A first-generation graduate says these events are reinforcing the resources available to help students thrive 

The FGCC date marks the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The legislation established federal financial aid programs that helped first-generation college students pursuing higher education goals. 

Colleges use this time to spotlight the experiences students face being the first in their family to get a bachelor's degree, while focusing on ways to better support their academic journey. 

The Division of Student Success at Gardner-Webb University is celebrating its first-generation students all week. The events include a First-Generation Gallery Walk and viewing and a first-gen social media day.

Benjamin Flournoy is the coordinator of the learning resource center at the university.

He says first-generation students make up around one-third of GWU's enrollment.

"A big thing we find with first-gen students is they can sometimes feel like they're isolated," Flournoy said. "They don't know how to navigate college, and it can cause you to not do as well. Our job here is to make students successful. You might be the first in your family ever to be here, [however], you are able to succeed and do great things."

Flournoy, a first-generation graduate from GWU, says FGCC reinforces resources and tools to help first-gen students thrive.

"We make sure we are providing scholarships to students who are from unique backgrounds coming in to Gardner-Webb," Flournoy said. "We have groups on campus like 'Men of Impact,' which is specifically for men from diverse backgrounds who might not have had the opportunity to pursue leadership roles before. We want to make sure we're giving them opportunities to stand out and to take initiatives on campus to make change. We're trying to think of new initiatives all the time to make sure students feel represented here."

"As a first-gen student, I didn't know a lot [about] how college worked," Flournoy said. "There were a lot of great resources at Gardner-Webb to help me get through, and that's what we're trying to do this week. Provide support to students, let them know they're seen, they're heard and we're here to help."

Marcus Simmons is a senior at Gardner-Webb. 

He'll soon be the first in his family to receive a bachelor's degree.  

"Means I'm breaking generational things and also starting generational things," Simmons said. "It's a good thing for me."

The university says first-generation students are typically navigating paths that can present unique challenges.

However, Simmons says support from the Garder-Webb community, including "Men of Impact," is helping him overcome those obstacles.

"I think the biggest challenge we face is [ourself]," Simmons said. "I think [it] can be a hindering or cultivating thing."

Gardner-Webb recently announced it's now a member of the FirstGen Forward Network, which is helping to transform the lives and outcomes for first-generation students.

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