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�鶹�� President Dr. Anne Prisco, herself a first-generation college student, joined in a gathering on November 8 as part of the campus’ National First-Generation College Celebration, offering congratulations and encouragement to her fellow first-gens. Sponsored by the Academic Affairs and Student Life departments, first-generation students came together to enjoy food, music and prizes and to recognize their shared achievements and unique journeys.

“Now that you have arrived as the first in your family to attend college, please know that �鶹�� is a place that you can rely on for the rest of your life,” Dr. Prisco said. “Think of this campus as a real base and connection for you so that, years from now, you can come back, have friends that you have made here, people that you will be able to network with, faculty that you can stay in touch with. No one told me, when I was in school, about the importance of making connections. I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity and know that there are many of us there who went through what you are going through. We don’t all look the same.  We didn’t grow up in the same neighborhoods.  We may come from different racial and socio-economic backgrounds, but the struggle is still the same. If you don’t have someone at home or friends in your neighborhood who have experienced the challenges of college, you can turn to everyone gathered here for support.”