On May 3, the University of Wisconsin-Madison celebrated graduating first-gen Badgers with Trailblazers of Tomorrow: A First-Generation Student Graduation Celebration. Over 150 first-generation students and their families joined us to celebrate their accomplishments.
The event started with delicious appetizers and light refreshments, followed by some time to mingle, be in community, and take pictures. During this time, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin stopped by to congratulate our graduates and their families. The event later featured the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Fernie Rodriguez and our Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor, both first-generation students, as our opening and closing remarks, respectively. We appreciate such vast support from our senior leadership, and it helps demonstrate the university’s commitment to our first-generation students. We aimed to feature the first-gen Badger experience and celebrate their accomplishments throughout the event.
"Every first you’ve experienced is a step forward—for you, your family, and those who will follow. So, embrace this moment. You’ve earned it. You are not just students—you are pioneers. You are role models. You are proof that dreams fueled by determination can lead to powerful change." - Excerpt from Dr. Fernie Rodriguez
Highlighting Student Experiences
This year, we decided to have two student speakers instead of a keynote speaker. This allowed us to highlight individual student experiences. Each speaker spoke on their own unique experiences and challenges; however, collectively, they spoke on what it has meant to be a first-generation college student, a Badger, and all together a first-gen Badger. Our student speaker wrote wonderful remarks that had us all in tears and proud to be a part of such a wonderful community.
“So today, as we celebrate this incredible milestone, as we look at the diplomas we fought so hard to earn, I want you to reframe your education. Do not see it as just an opportunity for yourself. See it as an opportunity for all of us. Because every door you open, every table you sit at, every voice you uplift, you are shifting the world closer to justice. You are making it a little easier for the next person who comes after you. You are making it a little harder for the forces of oppression to win. Education is not where the work ends it is where the work begins. It is where the responsibility begins. It is recognizing that when you cross the finish line, you don’t close the door behind you. You hold it open. You steady the ladder. You reach back and lift someone else up. Because beyond these walls and man-made borders, beyond our different flags and languages and hometowns, we are all one”. - Excerpt from student speech, Dana Tabaza
The Future of First-Gen at UW-Madison
It was a day of celebration but also a time of reflection on the challenges and accomplishments that our trailblazers have endured. As the university expands its first-gen initiatives by hiring a program coordinator, it was an important time to ask our first-gen Badgers about their experiences at UW-Madison to help shape our future projects and best support our students.
Our first-generation student experience survey, which was deployed at the celebration, was sent to the graduates who attended our event and asked about the students' sense of belonging, challenges, and accomplishments. The survey also gathered data for potential future programs, such as a mentor program and a first-gen early-arrival program.
As we prepare for a summer of planning and building what first-gen initiatives look like on our campus. It was refreshing to see the smiles of our trailblazers as they walked across the stage to receive their stole. It was a shining reminder of why we do the work we do.
For more information on the University of Wisconsin–Madison's approach, please visit their website here.
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