Director of Upward Bound Math & Science Nate Obin gave welcoming remarks and introduced Keynote Speaker, and First Generation Student, Dustin Hodge for our celebration of First Generation Day in the Hammond Main Lounge. Director of TRIO Student Support Services Elizabeth Swartz served as moderator for two First Gen panels; one consisting of current students, the other faculty and staff who all shared their experiences as a first generation college student.
First Generation Day is celebrated annually on November 8 to honor the signing of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965. The day recognizes and celebrates students, faculty, and staff who are the first in their families to attend college, and it commemorates the HEA's role in expanding educational opportunities for low-income and first-generation students through federal financial aid and other support programs.
