At NC State University, one in five students identifies as a first-generation college student. At a university as large as NC State, that means that there are 5,000 or more first-generation undergraduate students on campus at any given time. At NC State, we aim not only to help first-generation college students hone the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in college but also to create a university experience where they are fully included, engaged, and empowered to achieve holistic success on campus and beyond.
This is why the university launched First in the Pack in 2016, a university-wide initiative geared towards first-generation student success. In the 10 years since its inception, First in the Pack has taken a multi-pronged approach to ensure that first-generation college students at NC State have ample opportunities to be engaged and celebrated on campus. In collaboration with multiple campus partners and stakeholders, First in the Pack has launched numerous unique initiatives to support the university’s first-generation college students.
First Generation Celebration Week
First in the Pack hosts First-Generation Student Celebration Week during the first week of November. During the week, First in the Pack coordinates multiple events in addition to First-Generation Student Celebration Day that highlight first-generation students and their success.
The week commences with the First-Generation Success Summit, an event that brings together faculty and staff from across campus to learn about the unique strengths and needs of first-generation students. Throughout the week, First in the Pack coordinates with departments and organizations across campus to host a series of events exclusively for first-generation students that support their success. The week concludes with First-Generation Student Celebration Day, where first-generation students leave their mark on campus by painting the Free Expression Tunnel, a NC State landmark, and connecting with campus faculty and staff. Each year, upwards of 100 first-generation students celebrate their lasting impact on the university by participating in this commemorative event.
Engaging First-Generation Students & Their Families
At NC State, we understand that first-generation college student success extends beyond simply engaging students, but their families as well. This is why the Office of Parents and Families Services partners with First in the Pack to engage first-generation students and their families through dedicated events that affirm their role as partners in student success. Parent and Family Services hosts “First in Family” events, including a Welcome Webinar and a First in the Family Welcome event, both of which aim to foster inclusion and a sense of belonging for first-generation students and their families. This year, PFS and First in the Pack also launched an inaugural First-Generation Student Graduation Celebration to honor first-generation students and their families.
Tri-Alpha Honor Society
NC State recognized the importance of the academic recognition of first-generation students through the creation of a campus chapter of the Tri-Alpha First-Generation Honor Society during the 2025-26 academic year. This honor society celebrates the academic excellence of first-generation college students, faculty and staff, and alumni, while providing continued access to mentorship and programming across multiple colleges. On March 27, 2026, 54 students, faculty and staff, and alumni were inducted into the inaugural cohort of Tri-Alpha at NC State.
Nery Gonzalez-Garcia, a third-year microbiology student at NC State, commented that induction into Tri-Alpha was important for her sense of academic accomplishment and community as a first-generation college student. She said, “I do know some first-gen students, but not that many. I just wanted to continue building that community with others, especially since we all have similar experiences. It seems like we’re all high achievers, so that was really nice, just being surrounded by a community with other first-generation, high achiever students.”
For more information on NC State’s multi-pronged approach to supporting first-generation college students, please visit their website here.
