Every journey has a beginning.
For first-generation college students, that beginning often starts long before they ever step onto a campus. It begins in living rooms, workplaces, kitchen tables, and communities where hope is carried quietly, yet powerfully, from one generation to the next.
At Baker College, more than 36%* of our students proudly identify as first-generation, and during First-Gen Celebration Week, we honored not just their achievements, but the stories, voices, and lived experiences that define what it means to be “first.”
This year’s celebration—from November 4-8—was filled with celebration, reflection, empowerment, and connection. But most of all, it was filled with stories.
A College-Wide Commitment to First-Gen Student Success
These stories don’t end when the week is over—and neither does our work. Baker College is actively implementing a college-wide approach to first-generation student success, ensuring that first-gen students are seen, supported, and celebrated throughout their academic journey.
This includes:
Faculty and Staff Education – Training and resources that help our campus community better understand the first-gen experience and respond with empathy and informed support.
Peer Mentorship and Community Building – Programs like the 1st Gen Bees create networks of connection, encouragement, and belonging across campuses and online.
Curriculum-Integrated Engagement – Embedding first-generation perspectives, success strategies, and inclusive practices into coursework and learning environments.
Campus-Wide Events & Storytelling Initiatives – Celebrations, panels, spotlight features, and opportunities for students to share their experiences and build pride in their identity.
Together, these efforts reflect Baker College’s growing commitment to creating an institution where first-generation students don’t just enroll—they thrive, persist, and graduate with confidence.
First-Gen Celebration Week is a powerful reminder that when a student becomes the first in their family to earn a degree, the impact is never theirs alone. Their success ripples outward—to families, communities, and generations yet to come.
The week opened with “Pop Out” pop-up celebrations across every Baker College campus—festive, colorful stops designed to surprise and delight students as they moved through their day. Each location offered pop-themed treats like popcorn, Blow Pops, and Poptarts, alongside exclusive First-Gen Baker College swag. Students gathered to laugh, grab snacks, take photos, and share what being first-gen means to them. These small but vibrant moments set the tone for the entire week: joyful, welcoming, and full of first-gen pride.
Students self-identify in our student engagement tool; this number is not yet representative of the full student population, which we know is higher.
“I Belong Here” - A Week That Felt Like Coming Home
Our student panel, Meet the First Gens: Our Journey, Our Pride, brought together first-gen students who courageously shared the truth about their journeys with their peers.
They spoke of:
Feeling both excitement and fear on their first day of college
Balancing jobs, family responsibilities, and coursework
The moment someone told them, “You belong here,” and how those words changed everything
The pride they felt becoming the first in their family to cross a stage, earn a degree, or simply keep going
As each story unfolded, a quiet understanding filled the room: being first isn’t just a label—it's a lived experience full of grit, heart, and hope.
Get to Know First-Gens: Alumni Perspective – Stories Beyond the Degree
Every first-gen journey begins with a single step—but what happens after the tassel turns? The “Get to Know First-Gens: Alumni Perspective” panel offered a glimpse into life beyond graduation, inviting Baker College alumni to return, reflect, and reconnect.
Alumni shared personal stories from their time at Baker, the challenges they navigated, and the triumphs that shaped them as first-gen students. They also spoke about what came afterward—their growth as professionals, leaders, and role models.
This meaningful event bridged generations of first-gen experiences, offering wisdom, encouragement, and celebration while honoring how far our first-gen community has come—and the paths still ahead.
Celebration Through Knowledge: The First-Gen Trivia Experience
Midweek brought something different—laughter.
At First-Gen Facts & Fun: Baker College Trivia, students, staff, and faculty competed in a friendly challenge of Baker College history, first-gen facts, and campus culture.
There was a buzz of excitement as students uncovered new facts, debated answers, and celebrated every small victory. For many, it became a powerful reminder that community is built not only through shared challenges, but also through moments of laughter, learning, and pure joy.
Honoring the Ones Who Paved the Way—First-Gen Faculty & Staff
Throughout the week, Baker College highlighted our own first-gen faculty and staff. Their stories appeared across digital platforms and reminded students that first-generation success isn’t a destination—it’s a legacy.
These spotlights showed future graduates what first-gen leadership looks like: resilient, creative, compassionate, and deeply committed.
The Heartbeat of the Week: The 1st Gen Bees
Behind the scenes—and often right in the middle of the action—were the 1st Gen Bees, a student organization built on mentorship, belonging, and empowerment.
Their message was simple but powerful: You do not have to navigate college alone.
Honoring Service: A First-Gen Military Story
We closed out the week by honoring one of our own military family students—a powerful reminder that first-gen journeys and military service often go hand in hand. Baker College recognized the dedication and resilience of our veterans and military-affiliated community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, and families who embody purposeful service.
Among them is Kimberly Priest, a first-generation student and military spouse whose path reflects quiet strength and unwavering commitment. While pursuing her degree, she continues to support her husband, who is currently serving, and remains devoted to her family, her country, and her community.
Kimberly’s story illustrates the heart of being first-gen: balancing responsibilities, overcoming challenges, and forging ahead with courage. Her journey reminds us that service takes many forms—and each deserves to be honored.
Why We Celebrate
First-Gen Celebration Week isn’t only about recognition.
It’s about rewriting narratives.
It’s about being seen.
It’s about honoring the courage it takes to be the first—and creating a community that ensures no one has to be the first alone.
It’s about the students who found their voice this week.
The alumni who returned to share wisdom.
The staff and faculty who stepped forward to say, “I was first too.”
And the countless families and communities whose unseen sacrifices paved the way.
Every story shared this week becomes a beacon for someone else.
Every celebration becomes an affirmation:
You belong here. You always have. And your story is worth celebrating.
For more information on the UBaker College’'s approach, please visit their website here
