First-Generation College Students to be Recognized, Celebrated

SUNY Plattsburgh will join colleges and universities across the country celebrating first-generation college students during First-Generation College Celebration Week Monday, Nov. 3 through Friday, Nov. 7 on the university campus.

According to Lauren Gonyea, assistant director of access and opportunity programs, first-generation week “is part of a national movement to honor and recognize the experiences, achievements and challenges of first-generation college students — those who are the first in their families to pursue a four-year degree.”

The annual celebration, held around Nov. 8, coincides with the anniversary of the Higher Education Act of 1965, legislation signed into United States law on November 8, 1965, as part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society domestic agenda.. Legislation that expanded access to higher ed through federal aid and programs like TRIO, she said.

“The Council for Opportunity in Education and FirstGen Forward, formerly the Center for First-Generation Student Success, launched the inaugural celebration in 2017,” Gonyea said.

Roughly a quarter of SUNY Plattsburgh’s students identify as first-gen.

To Celebrate, Honor the Work

“The week serves as a time to build belonging, foster awareness, and highlight the strength and resilience of first-gen students,” she said. “Through a series of events ranging from faculty-student discussions and social gatherings to educational workshops, we aim to celebrate and honor the work of our first-gen community, strengthen connections and uplift the first-gen experience at SUNY Plattsburgh.”

Dr. Raymond Carman, associate professor and chair of political science identifies as a first-generation college student.

“Being first generation, the biggest challenge for me was not knowing what I didn’t know. Without having close family members to give you a heads up about the hidden world of academia — things like what workload to expect in college, why syllabi are important, how useful office hours are, etc. — puts you at an immediate disadvantage,” he said.

Gonyea agreed.

“As the first in their families to go to college, first-generation college students are navigating a new system while balancing family, work and personal obligations,” she said. “At SUNY Plattsburgh, first-gen students are supported through a network of programs, offices and initiatives designed to address academic, personal, and professional needs.

“We want to ensure first-generation college students see themselves reflected, feel supported and know they are not alone,” Gonyea said.

‘Challenge of Higher Education’

“First-generation college students open new doors for themselves, their families and their communities,” Gonyea said. “They are often the first to take on the challenge of higher education without a family roadmap to guide them. Their journeys reflect resilience, independence and courage, but also come with emotional and systemic challenges.

“We support and uplift first-gen students because their success represents more than individual achievement: It’s about breaking barriers and transforming generations. Honoring their stories recognizes their strengths, amplifies their voices and ensures that these students feel seen, supported and celebrated for all they bring to our campus.”

Carman, who joined the faculty at SUNY Plattsburgh as an assistant professor in 2014 after serving four years as a visiting instructor at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., observed that first-gen students “are more likely to be financially disadvantaged.

“I certainly was,” he said. “So how figuring out the financial aid system, how you can you cover your tuition, pay for books, etc., all fall on you.”

“This brings me to the top two suggestions I always give students, especially those that are first generation: First, ask questions. We often assume that students understand academia. That’s on us. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t understand something,” Carman said. “Second, find (or build) a support system. No one should do college alone. Make friends early on, find your academic home on campus, and develop good relationships with your faculty and advisers. I promise you, they care about you.”

Gonyea said the university has “many services on campus that provide academic, career and financial support to first-generation college students.”

Services Provided

“TRIO Student Support Services, for instance, provides services to first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities. Students are assigned advisers who can provide academic coaching, career guidance, scholarships, financial literacy education, and mentorship opportunities.”

But beyond that, SUNY Plattsburgh “builds intentional spaces for connection,” Gonyea said.

“During last year’s celebration, for instance, we hosted small-group discussions where first-gen students met faculty who were also first in their families to attend college. Students asked questions, shared stories and saw firsthand that even professors — and professional staff — once faced uncertainty and self-doubt,” she said.

This year, the university organized a First-Gen Planning Committee with stakeholders from across campus to assist with planning events and promoting the celebration, Gonyea said.

“Their involvement ensures students are aware of opportunities to participate and helps coordinate programming across offices and departments,” she said.

Ariel Sookram, a May 2025 graduate and now academic success coach in TRIO SSS on campus, credited her status as a first-generation college student with giving her the fortitude to push past the challenges many first-gen students face.

“Being a first-generation college student means everything to me — it represents my parents’ sacrifices and my determination to succeed,” Sookram said. “Even though my parents didn’t attend college, they have always been my biggest supporters and motivators. Navigating the college process was challenging, but it pushed me to get involved, take on leadership roles, and pursue meaningful internships with the New York City Probation Department, University Police, and the District Attorney’s Office.

“Through my roles as a community assistant, Criminal Justice Club president, and TRIO Student Support Services worker, I’ve grown both personally and professionally,” she said. “Being first-gen means paving my own path, making my parents proud, and accomplishing the things they never had the chance to do.”

First-Generation College Celebration Week 2025 events include:

• “Voices of First-Generation College Student Panel Discussion” Monday, Nov. 3 from 1 to 1:50 p.m. in the Alumni Conference Room, Angell College Center. Part of the university’s broader Black Solidarity Day schedule, students will discuss the opportunities, challenges and successes of being first-gen.
• “First-Gen Faculty/Staff Pods,” Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 12:30 to 1:45 and 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. in the Cardinal Lounge, Angell College Center. Students will meet with first-gen faculty and staff in small groups to share experiences being a first-gen.
• “From First to Finish: Helping First-Gens Thrive,” Wednesday, Nov. 5 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Cardinal Lounge, participants can discover high-impact practices for faculty and staff to better support first-gen students.
• “Level Up: First-Gen/First-Year Registration Made Easy,” Friday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Feinberg Library, Room 108, a drop-in session for students to register for winter/spring courses with academic advising and access and opportunity programs onsite assistance. Student financial services consultations will be available.

For these and other events planned for the week, visit the overview of events here. For more information on being a first-generation college student, visit the Office of Access and Opportunity Programs in the basement level of Macomb Hall, call 518-564-2810 or email [email protected].

— By Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs

— File Photos By Hunter Mossey, multimedia coordinator