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First-Generation Celebration Week continues to serve as a powerful opportunity to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and contributions of first-generation college students while strengthening our institutional commitment to their success. This year’s celebration marked a significant milestone for First-Generation Initiatives as we expanded our reach across academic colleges in an effort to align with FirstGen Forward’s focus on building campus-wide networks of support that advance student success and sense of belonging.
Now in our second year of establishing a First-Generation Initiatives presence on campus, our programming has been centered within Student Affairs spaces. While these initiatives created strong foundations for student engagement and community building, we recognized an opportunity to deepen our institutional impact throughout the campus experience, particularly through partnerships with academic affairs, especially the academic colleges. With this framework in mind, we launched a new collaborative outreach effort designed to meet students where they naturally live and learn.
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Through strategic partnerships with our academic college Student Success Directors and CCUBelong, First-Generation Initiatives hosted coffee pop-up events, called the First-Gen Brew Crew Tour, in each of the academic college spaces across campus. These events served as welcoming opportunities where students, faculty, and staff could gather to learn about first-generation resources, celebrate student identity, and explore opportunities for involvement and leadership. By bringing programming directly into academic spaces, we strengthened visibility and reinforced the message that first-generation student success is a shared institutional priority.
Student Success Directors played a critical role in advancing this initiative by promoting events throughout their colleges and encouraging participation from students, faculty, staff, and administrators. The presence of deans, faculty members, and staff celebrating alongside students demonstrated institutional commitment and reinforced a culture of care. Their engagement helped normalize conversations about first-generation identity and fostered a stronger sense of community across campus.
The events were especially meaningful given the season. With cold weather setting in, students were invited to enjoy coffee, hot chocolate, and caramel iced coffee served by our First-Gen Brew Crew while connecting with peers and campus partners. Conversations around shared experiences, available support services, and student involvement opportunities show how intentional engagement can create a lasting impact.
Additional highlights of our week included the induction of 32 students into the Alpha Alpha Alpha Honor Society (Tri-Alpha), recognizing their academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to the first-generation student community. The ceremony also honored three dedicated staff advisors through honorary induction and the bestowing of honor cords, recognizing their meaningful contributions to first-generation students. This event reinforced the importance of celebrating academic excellence while elevating faculty and staff champions who support first-generation student success. In addition to campus-based initiatives, First-Generation Initiatives expanded its outreach by partnering with neighboring Horry Georgetown Technical College’s TRIO program to host a homecoming tailgate experience for high school participants in their Upward Bound program. This collaboration extended our impact beyond the university by introducing prospective first-generation students to the possibilities of higher education.
As we continue to grow, First-Generation Celebration Week serves as a reminder that student success is most powerful when supported through intentional collaboration, shared responsibility, and a commitment to creating inclusive environments where first-generation students can thrive. By expanding partnerships across academic and student affairs, we are building a stronger, more connected campus community one cup of coffee and one meaningful conversation at a time.
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Looking ahead, we remain committed to expanding our reach across academic affairs and strengthening off-campus partnerships that support high school students exploring college opportunities. We will continue deepening first-generation student engagement through expanded mentoring initiatives and increased involvement in honor society leadership and recognition opportunities. Through intentional collaboration, early outreach, and leadership development pathways, we aim to create sustainable structures that empower first-generation students to thrive academically, socially, and professionally while cultivating the next generation of campus and community leaders.
Coastal Carolina University 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. Learn more about Coastal Carolina first-generation student success program here.
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