First-Generation College Celebration (FGCC) is an annual opportunity to raise awareness of the first-generation college student identity by sharing national stories of these students’ experiences and outcomes. The day is not only celebrating first-gen students’ contributions to their communities but also to bring about systemic social change by dismantling barriers to first-generation student success.
The University of Rochester celebrated FGCC this fall with numerous activities a two-week period from October 24 through the climactic November 8th “First-Gen Day of Celebration.” Together 1st ONE, OMSA, the Kearns Center, the Greene Center, First-Generation Network, the Center for Community Engagement, and UHS offered a variety of events to holistically support our first-gen students here at UR offering holistic. First-Gen Day of Celebration on November 8th culminated the events with an inspiring keynote address from Dr. Ruben E. Canedo, Director of Strategic Equity Initiatives at the University of California Berkeley and a time of celebrating with some food and networking.
A message from Dr. Canedo was that community, and your network are vital to your success. There are allies all around us reaching out for help along the way is okay. No one in life is successful on their own. Make sure to reach out to the Greene Center to learn about how to expand your network and talk to people to support you along your journey.
