By Sydnie Harrell, Office of Undergraduate Studies at Texas A&M University

COLLEGE STATION, Nov 7, 2021 – During the week of Nov. 8-12, the Routh First-Generation Center will be hosting events for First-Generation College Celebration Week. The events will be available to both staff and students, and a comprehensive schedule can be found here.
 
“The first-generation celebration week is to honor our first-generation students, faculty, and staff at Texas A&M University,” Routh First-Generation Center Program Manager Dr. Leticia Palomin said. “The Center hosting a first-generation week-long celebration is one of the many ways that allow students to be seen in their own right and recognize their individual need.”
 
Panels will be held throughout the week and will feature remarks from first-generation faculty, staff and students. In addition to the panels, there will be a celebration at Rudder Plaza and a Poster Gallery Walk at the MSC. Student highlights will also be available to read on the Office for Student Success website.
 
“In partnership with the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Class Councils, the Center will offer four student panels that will highlight first-generation student experiences in-and-out of the classroom at Texas A&M University,” Palomin said. “These panels will allow faculty, staff and students to engage in discussions to enhance existing practices and campus traditions to advance first-generation student success at Texas A&M University.”
 
Students and staff can also attend the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) first-generation webinar, “A National Celebration Centering First-gen Voices,” where first-generation students and graduates will be speaking. The event will be held Nov. 8 at 3:00 p.m.; those interested in attending can register here.
 
“The Center strongly encourages undergraduates and graduate students to tune into NASPA's "A National Celebration Centering First-Gen Voices" webinar to help reinforce their sense of belonging in higher education,” Palomin said.
 
For more information about the Routh First-Generation Center efforts, students can visit their website or email firstgen@tamu.edu.
 
“We look forward to the campus community showing support by participating in the events offered to learn more about the first-generation college student experience and provide insights into how the institution can enhance first-generation initiatives,” Palomin said. “The Center would like to thank everyone for their commitment and advocacy to advancing first-generation student success at Texas A&M University.”
 
 
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Media contact: Anna Transue, transuea@tamu.edu