The W celebrates First-Gen Week
Mississippi University for Women is gearing up to celebrate first generation students during First-Gen Week, Nov. 4-8. A first-gen student is a student whose parents or guardian did not complete a bachelor’s degree.
“The celebration of National First-Gen Day commemorates the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 which opened the door to advanced education through the creation of federal financial aid programs among other things. This act helped to increase financial opportunities and social mobility for many first-generation college students. This is the fourth year that The W has celebrated the day and this year we are expanding to a week of activities. It is important to highlight our first-generation students and recognize their determination to reach their educational goals. We want to use this week to celebrate their accomplishments and encourage their future journey,” said Dr. Clear Moore, director of The W’s Student Success Center.
Festivities will kick off Monday, Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m. with a table tennis tournament sponsored by Campus Recreation. Following that, game night will be held in The W Room, sponsored by the Student Success Center. There will be video games, board games and trivia.
Tuesday’s events begin at 8:30 a.m. with National Donut Day, where the Student Success Center will be giving out donuts on the Turner Lawn. Students are also encouraged to wear green in recognition of first-gen students.
Next, from 4-5 p.m., the Career Services and Professional Development Center will host “Level Up Your Professionalism and Networking Workshop,” in Fant Memorial Library’s Gail P. Gunter Multipurpose Room.
Wednesday offers a mid-week cool down with De-stress Day, which will feature massages and an oxygen bar, sponsored by Student Life. This will take place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in The W Room.
At 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Campus Recreation is hosting a pickleball tournament.
Thursday will feature a First-Gen Recognition celebration from 4-5 p.m. in the Limbert Ballroom in Cochran Hall. Dean of Students Matthew Miles will be the guest speaker for the event. First-gen seniors will receive a green cord as well. The event is sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs and The Students Success Center.
The celebration concludes on Friday with a pair of events.
First, from noon-1 p.m., there will be a lunch and learn presentation focused on helping students level up their academics with undergraduate research opportunities, sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research. The presentation will take place in the Owl’s Nest in Hogarth.
The final event is a movie in the library’s tiered classroom from 2:30-4 p.m. The movie will be “Blue Beetle,” a 2023 superhero film about a recent college graduate who becomes a super hero. The event is sponsored by the library.
The celebration is part of a larger effort by The W to focus on first-gen students, making sure they are successful in their endeavor to earn a degree.