KINGSVILLE (Nov. 11, 2024) — As part of Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s National First-Generation College Celebration Week, Student Access & Initiatives and the Center for Student Success hosted the inaugural First Generation Students Celebration Resource Fair on Thursday in the Memorial Student Union Building.
The celebration, was open to First-Gen students, faculty and staff and featured information about beneficial resource programs, free food and door prizes.
“I think it’s important to celebrate our students and our community,” said Dr. Robert Ayala, Associate Vice President for Academic Success, who is also First Gen. “These students are a representation of what is great about higher education. The fact that we are here to provide access to higher education, access to a career path and access to academics is incredibly important, especially for our community and for our First-Generation students. Celebrating them as trail blazers, beacons of hope and light and show all the great things that are available to them and show what we do is important.”
Resource programs from all around campus included the Disability Resource Center, Counseling and the Center for Student Success, Career Engagement, Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), Veterans Upward Bound, the McNair Scholars Program and Student Support Services-Science, Engineering, Technology, Mathematics (SSS-STEM).
Each program made an informative presentation regarding their programs and were available throughout the celebration to meet with students and answer questions.
There also was a first-gen stole presentation for seniors graduating this fall or in the upcoming spring or summer semesters to close out the celebration
“For me and as well as the staff that is here, I think it was very powerful to celebrate their victory to graduation,” Associate Vice President for Student Access Maria Martinez said. “That meant a great deal because we have been alongside the students as they were facing some challenges. So to see where they have come from Day 1 to graduation has been absolutely amazing and they deserve every bit of the celebration.”
The event was partially funded by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the First-Gen Forward grant opportunity sponsored TUAA and Strada Foundation. Funds from the grant are used to enhance our campus celebration of first-generation students by providing valuable awareness, beneficial resources and engaging activities.
“A special acknowledgment goes to the Office of Research & Innovation, with heartfelt thanks to Diana Luna, Yvette Perez, Angela Bingham, Tim Alaniz, and Francis Regalado,” said Christina Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Director of Academic Success. Their guidance was invaluable throughout the process of securing my first First-Gen Forward grant. Lastly, our inaugural First-Generation Student Celebration and Resource Fair would not be possible without the generous support of Dr. Maria Martinez and her Student Access team, Dr. James Palmer, Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, along with Dr. Alberto Rodriguez from the Mexican American Studies Institute. Thank you all for helping us champion first-generation student success.”
View photos from the event HERE.
-TAMUK-
