What is the National First-Generation College Student Celebration?

In November 2017, the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) partnerered with the Center for First-Generation Student Success, which is an initiative of NASPA and the Suder Foundation, to launch the inaugural First-Generation College Student Celebration.

The now annual event, which is held each year on November 8 to commemorate the anniversary of the Higher Education Act of 1965, encourages colleges and universities across the country to celebrate the successes of the institution's first-generation faculty, staff, and students.

2023 First Generation Celebration Events

First-Gen Headshots on the Mall

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Centennial Mall

1:30pm - 3:00pm

Are you a first-generation student, faculty, or staff member at Montana State? Come and get your headshot taken and let us know what it means to you to be first-gen. These photos will be utilized in an exhibition in the library from October 16th - November 10th as a First-Gen Celebration Two-Week event!

Can't make it in person? Experience it virtually.

First-Gen Photo Exhibition

Monday, October 16 - November 9, 2023

Renne Library Display Case

Visit the Renne Library during the month of November to experience what it means to be First-Gen through the thoughts of First-Gen faculty, staff, and students. 

First Generation Students Admissions Webinar

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Virtual

6:00pm - 7:00pm

For Future Bobcats -- Join us for our First Generation Students Webinar to learn about the wide network of student services and resources available to help support our growing community of First Generation College Students at MSU!

First-Gen Book Group: Session 1

Thursday, November 2, 2023

MSU Library 324 Conference Room

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Join fellow faculty and staff for a discussion on the first two chapters of Rachel Gable's book The Hidden Curriculum: First Generation Students at Legacy Universities. This will be the first of three discussions on this book.

Famous First-Gen Display

Monday, November 6 - November 9, 2023

ASMSU Office

Drop by the ASMSU Office during the month of November to learn about famous First-Gens! All photos will be in the windows of ASMSU.

Snacks on the Mall

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

9:00am - 11:00am

Centennial Mall

Let's celebrate First-Generation Day together! Come by between 9am and 11am for snacks on the mall put on by the First-Generation Celebration Committee! There will be easy snacks to grab as well as some hot beverages. 

First-Gen Experiences - A First-Gen Student Panel

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

4:00pm - 5:00pm

Strand Union Ballroom B

Please join the First-Gen committee for a discussion about first-gen student experiences from Montana State First-Generation students to celebrate National First-Generation Celebration Day. There will be a couple of structured questions follow by Q&A time for the audience. Discussion on resilience, struggles, and experiences of first-gen students on and off of the MSU campus will occur.

Speed Networking and First-Gen Posters Event

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

4:00pm - 5:00pm

Inspiration Hall

The Speed Networking event will host FGSA members (first-gen undergrads and grads) to share key elements of their identities, their role models and inspirations, as well as their current field of interest, majors and research/engagement in a poster-session-like conversation. Groups of people will hear from each first-gen, connect and get to know them, and will move clockwise to the next one. Join this "Speed-Networking" event and become an ally, a mentor, a friendly face and a welcome hand for these great students! Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Graduate School First-Gen Popup

Thursday, November 9, 2023

MSU Library 2nd Floor

1:00pm - 3:00pm

 

First-Gen Book Group: Session 2

Thursday, November 16, 2023

MSU Library 324 Conference Room

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Join fellow faculty and staff for a discussion on chapters 3 & 4 of Rachel Gable's book The Hidden Curriculum: First Generation Students at Legacy Universities

First-Gen Book Group: Session 3

Thursday, December 7, 2023

MSU Library 324 Conference Room

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Join fellow faculty and staff for a discussion on chapters 5, 6, & 7 of Rachel Gable's book The Hidden Curriculum: First Generation Students at Legacy Universities

 

See previous years' events here.