TO: Campus Community
FR: Rose Calzontzi, Director of TRIO Student Support Services
Sonoma State University is proud to join colleges and universities nationwide to celebrate first-generation college students throughout November. First-gen college students are the first in their families to attend college, and they’re a critically important and growing population at nearly all higher education institutions. Many in our SSU community, including myself, are first-generation college students.
This year, the celebration focuses on the theme of first-gen+. Students are never only first-gen, and first-gen+ celebrates and amplifies the visibility of the intersectional identities held by first-generation students.
Seawolves across campus are invited to share their first-gen+ stories on social media, use first-gen-specific graphics in email, Zoom, and profile photos, and join the planned events to mark this year’s celebration.
Events
Tuesday, November 7
12 - 1 p.m.
Zoom
Disrupting the Deficit Narrative and Building Institutional Support for First-generation College Students
Faculty and staff are invited to attend a professional development webinar with Dr. Rashné Jehangir, a scholar-practitioner whose research and praxis interests focus on the experience of low-income and first-generation students, critical pedagogy, and identity development. Please RSVP no later than Nov. 6 to receive the Zoom link.
Wednesday, November 8
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Seawolf Plaza
National First-gen Celebration Community Pop-up
Join us in celebrating our first-generation students, faculty, and staff! Stop by to grab a first-gen pin and sticker, take a picture at our fun photo booth, and celebrate your success!
Thursday, November 9
4:30 - 6 p.m.
Student Center, Ballroom B
First-generation Mixer
First-gen students and their families, alumni, faculty, and staff are invited to a first-gen mixer. Join us to celebrate the success of Sonoma State's first-gen community, enjoy light refreshments, and spend time in community with your fellow first-gen Seawolves.
Email Signature Graphic and Zoom Background
Show your support by adding one of the specially designed graphics to your email signature, using the #CelebrateFirstGen Zoom background, or adding the #CelebrateFirstGen frame to your profile picture.
First-gen? Me too! Graphic
Celebrate First-gen Graphic
Celebrate First-gen Background
Celebrate First-Gen Profile Template
Social Media
Help cap off this celebration by sharing your first-gen+ story on social media using the hashtags below. To add a little extra sparkle to your posts, we have a special first-gen sticker for use on posts to your Instagram story (search for the sticker using keywords: SSU first gen).
Hashtags:
#CelebrateFirstGen
#FirstGenSeawolf
#FirstGenAtSSU
Thank you for joining me and others across campus in celebration of first-gen college students next week.