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KCKCC Celebrates First Generation Student Day

November 08 2024 General Strategic Goals
Student standing in front of table, getting a t-shirt
Student standing in front of table, getting a t-shirt

KCKCC celebrated National First-Generation College Celebration Day this week with several activities including t-shirts, food and other giveaways.

First-Gen Day is Nov. 8 each year to commemorate the signing of the Higher Education Act (“HEA”) of 1965 by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson. This act created federal financial aid programs to fund students’ educations and made key investments in colleges and universities. Many of the HEA’s programs, particularly the Federal TRIO programs, promote postsecondary access, retention, and completion for today’s limited-income, first-generation college students. The goal of the day each year is to recognize the strengths of first-generation students, faculty and staff.

“First-Gen Week at KCKCC is all about celebrating the incredible journey of our first-gen students,” said Brady Beckman, director of student success and retention. “We are honoring their resilience, amplifying their voices and building a community where they feel seen, supported and inspired.”

KCKCC was recently selected to NASPA’s FirstGen Forward Network Class of 2024. KCKCC was one of 80 higher education institutions, and the only Kansas college, inducted to this year’s class. These colleges and universities were chosen based upon their demonstrated commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students.

KCKCC defines first generation students as those with neither parent or guardian having earned a four-year college degree. The college has created a number of initiatives that focus on first generation students such as:

  • Family engagement initiatives - creating programs or events that involve families of first-generation students, helping demystify the college experience and foster family support
  • Faculty and staff training
  • First-generation student community building - increasing awareness and advocacy for first generation students at KCKCC
  • Academic and career support programming
  • Creating Fearless First, a club geared for first generation students at KCKCC
  • A first-generation student website with helpful information for students considering KCKCC

“With guidance from the (FirstGen Forward) network, we have set institutional goals with measurable processes to strengthen our support for first-generation students. These foundational steps will position us to focus on program development, outreach and building a learning community in 2025-26,” Beckman said. “In addition to KCKCC’s new designation as a First-Gen Forward institution, we also received a grant from NASPA to support activities and advocacy for our first-generation students during National First-Generation Student Week. Each celebration provided us with an opportunity to gather both formal and informal feedback from our first-generation students, helping us better understand their needs. This feedback will inform our efforts to establish a first-generation student organization, creating a dedicated space for community-building and support.”