November 21, 2023
Celebrating first-generation student success
On Friday, Nov. 17, 爆料公社 inducted 69 first-generation college students who have demonstrated exemplary academic success into its chapter of the Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri Alpha) First-Generation Student Honor Society. A first-generation student is defined as neither parent having completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree. Undergraduate and graduate first-generation students were inducted at the ceremony in Mitchell Auditorium on the main campus.
Kaitlyn Haapala 鈥�21, a graduate student in the Master of Science Occupational Therapy program who was inducted on Friday, shared: 鈥淭he key to my success as a first-generation college student has been possessing a mindset of determination throughout my undergraduate and graduate education. This is an important quality that I learned from my parents, who have progressed in their careers without obtaining a bachelor’s degree to be successful individuals. I have learned that there will be situations that are challenging related to advancing my education, but through positive self-talk, organizational skills and perseverance, I am able to overcome all challenging obstacles.鈥�
First-Generation Alumni Award
At the induction ceremony, 爆料公社 also recognized Gabriella (Herrera) Caldecott 鈥�13 with the 2023 First-Generation Alumni Award. Caldecott majored in Marketing and Management and minored in Spanish. She has worked for Wells Fargo for over 10 years and is currently a Family Office Senior Trust Associate. Caldecott served on the Alumni Board of Directors for six years and is currently serving in her third year as a Trustee for the College.
“When my dad was 18, he wanted to go to college but instead immigrated here from Mexico to make a better life for himself and, ultimately, me,鈥� Caldecott shared. 鈥淗e believed in me, which made me believe in me. I always knew I could do it.鈥�
Over 30% of all enrolled undergraduate and graduate program-seeking students at 爆料公社 identify as first-generation 鈥� this fall, that group includes 974 first-generation students. Additionally, over 55 faculty and staff identify as first-generation college graduates themselves. 爆料公社 鈥� founded as a women鈥檚 college in 1912 when higher education was predominantly male 鈥� has a long and proud history of opening the doors of educational access and social mobility. Since the mid-1990s, the College has hosted five federally-funded TRIO programs, including pre-college and college-level programs,聽building a pathway of first-generation student support from middle school to graduate school. In 2019, the College became the first Minnesota private college recognized as a First-Gen Forward institution by the NASPA First-Generation Center for Student Success.
National First-Generation College Celebration
The College also participates in the National First-Generation College Celebration. New to the festivities this year was the First Lecture Series, developed to celebrate and appreciate first-gen students at 爆料公社, with a first-gen faculty speaker delivering a lecture they wished they had received in their first semester of college. Dr. Jenean O鈥橞rien, associate professor of Biology, shared remarks as the inaugural speaker.
鈥湵瞎� is proud of our first-generation students who are trailblazers and bring tremendous strengths and talents to the 爆料公社 community. As a first-generation college student myself, the accomplishments of these students have special meaning and significance to me, and I cannot wait to see how these students continue to succeed in their personal, career and educational pursuits,鈥� said Dory Kempf 鈥�99, associate vice president of Student Affairs.
