First-Gen week wraps up with special celebration

Central hosted its annual First Generation College Celebration on Nov. 6, following a week of special events to highlight the unique experiences and contributions of first-generation college students and faculty members. 

First-Gen Week included the Roadmap to Success Scavenger Hunt; quality time with therapy dogs; a book discussion with Dr. Lisa M. Wisniewski, a first-gen author and Central alumna; and a screening and discussion around the film "First Generation.”

During the Nov. 8 celebration, President Zulma R. Toro said, “First-generation students make up more than half of Central’s student population, and that is something of which I am very proud. Your presence here represents a milestone not only for you, but for your families and for everyone who has supported you. You are proof that when opportunity meets determination, barriers give way to possibility.”

The Center for First-generation Student Success named Central a First-Gen Forward institution in 2022. The designation recognizes institutions of higher education that have demonstrated a commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of first-generation college students.

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Students chat with President Toro at the annual First-Gen College Celebration at Central. (Photo by Stan Godlewski)