Texas State’s First-Gen Proud will provide first-generation students with educational resources and opportunities through a series of virtual and in-person events during the university’s third annual First-Gen Week. 
Director of Peer Mentoring Victoria Black says the First-Gen Proud committee works together to provide first-generation students, which make up 46% of the university’s student population, a sense of community.
“We knew we had a large population of first-generation students compared to the national average and we just wanted to be able to show our support and let our first-gen students know that we see you, we hear you, we’re here to support you,” Black said.
Scheduled for Nov. 9-13, this year’s First-Gen Week celebrations will feature various events and experiences for students to partipate in. Black says she hopes the week allows students to realize that there is a community for them on campus that wants them to be here and supports their academic efforts. 
The week kicks off Nov. 9 with Once a First-Gen, Always a First-Gen, a virtual informational panel for first-generation undergraduate students interested in pursuing graduate studies. The panel will feature a group of first-generation graduate degree holders and will include a discussion on the panelists’ experiences in graduate school and their advice for first-generation undergraduates. 
The Hispanic Policy Network and Texas State’s Diversity Week will host a virtual Lotería Night Nov. 10. Lotería sheets will be available for pickup at the Unity Lounge located on the second floor of LBJ (5-2.1). 
Leadership Stories: Where Do You Go From Here on Nov. 11 will include a workshop where first-generation student leaders will share their insight and experiences about their community. Students can expect to learn strategies to overcome the “imposter phenomenon” and skills that’ll help stimulate leadership on campus. 
Texas State will celebrate First-Gen Day Nov. 12 at the UAC Arch. Students are invited to learn more about the First-Gen Proud initiative as well as the university’s Student Support Services (SSS)/Student Support Services STEM (SSS-STEM) programs. Free First-Gen Proud t-shirts, masks and other gear will be distributed. 
First-Gen Week will concluded Nov.13 with First-Gen Alumni Panel, an event that will feature recent Texas State graduates and a discussion on how they navigated their educational and professional journeys. 
The purpose of First-Gen Week is to recognize and celebrate first-generation students at Texas State as well as to educate students on the opportunities and resources available to them.
“We want them to know that this is an identity that they should be proud of and that we’re proud that they are at Texas State and that we have such a large community of students, faculty and staff that were first-generation or currently first-generation,” Black said. 
Throughout the week First-Gen Proud will host giveaways on Instagram and Twitter and will highlight current first-generation students and their stories. 
For more information on First-Gen Week and to view the full list of events, dates and times visit First-Gen Proud’s website.