Wabash Valley College’s TRIO Student Support Services program invited WVC faculty, staff and students to celebrate first-generation college students on Friday, Nov. 6.
Eighteen members of WVC’s faculty, staff and student body showed up for the celebration photo, and the TRIO Upward Bound program was represented as well. The goal was for students to see how many of the instructors and staff were students, at one point, just like them. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks were worn and TRIO SSS staff shared that they were saddened by not being able to create more activities for the celebration.
On Nov. 8, 2017, the Council for Opportunity in Education and NASPA’s Center for First-generation Student Success launched the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration.
Since that time, hundreds of colleges across the nation have continued to mark this date — the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 — as a day to celebrate first-generation students on their campuses.
First-Generation college student designation is one of the demographics eligible for the TRIO SSS program which is a free program. TRIO was brought about by President Lyndon B. Johnson as part of his war on poverty. Students who are income eligible also have access to this program.
Please contact Tayna Smith, the TRIO Academic Counselor at WVC, if you have any questions regarding the program.
Thank you to all who participated in the celebration photo, and congratulations to all first-generation college students!
