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Your story. Your strength. Your success. These words capture the heart of First-Gen Week at TCU—and the ongoing commitment of TRIO Programs to support first-generation students at every stage of their journey.
The first-generation experience is layered and diverse. Many first-gen students find themselves navigating unfamiliar systems—asking questions, uncovering unspoken expectations, or realizing they don’t yet know what they don’t know. As access to higher education continues to expand, the need for intentional support has become even more pronounced.
TCU TRIO Programs, which have supported TCU Horned Frogs for decades, leaned into this responsibility by creating deeper, more intentional opportunities for first-generation student success. In 2017, these efforts led to TCU becoming a First Gen Forward institution. Since then, TRIO programs have served as the bedrock of initiatives that celebrate, empower, and guide first-generation students across academic, career, and social pathways.
TCU is grateful for TIAA and the Strada Education Foundation’s generous sponsorship of the First-Generation College Celebration. The #CelebrateFirstGen grant equipped us with the resources to move #FirstGenForward by raising awareness of first-gen college students’ identities, strengths, and experiences.
One signature event from the week, Beyond the Degree: Stories, brought together professionals and graduate students for a dynamic panel focused on career pathways and transition, first-generation perspectives and allyship, and preparation and mindset. The event created space for honest dialogue about entering the workforce, applying to graduate school, and building meaningful post-college pathways. Students also participated in a networking and resource experience designed to translate insight into action.
Anchored by the theme Frogchella, a playful nod to the iconic Coachella music festival, First-Gen Week blended celebration with purpose. Frogchella was designed to reflect the vibrancy, creativity, and resilience of first-generation students while creating multiple entry points for connection, learning, and affirmation across campus.
Throughout the week, students and their supporters were invited to participate in a range of events that recognized both the personal and practical dimensions of the first-generation experience. A First-Gen Family Day welcomed families into the celebration while a performing arts event highlighted creative expression as a powerful form of storytelling and identity affirmation. Additional workshops focused on financial literacy topics provided students with tools to navigate real-world responsibilities that often accompany life after graduation.
The week culminated in the highly anticipated First-Gen Day Frogchella, a campus-wide celebration held at TCU’s recognizable fountains and open to all members of the Horned Frog community. Music, conversation, and visual displays created a festival-like atmosphere that joyfully reinforced the message that first-generation students are seen, valued, and supported.
Frogchella served as a visible reaffirmation of TCU’s commitment to first-generation student success. Bringing together campus and community partners, the week highlighted the collective responsibility of ensuring first-gen students not only access higher education but are empowered to thrive within it. Each event reverberated a larger narrative: first-generation students’ stories matter, their strengths are assets, and their success is a shared priority.
“First-gen students belong here and they deserve support that matches their brilliance.”
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