UM Celebrates Sixth Annual First-Generation College Students Week
Celebrations, community-building events scheduled for week of Nov. 3
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi will kick off its sixth annual First-Generation College Student Week celebrations on Monday (Nov. 3).
Flagship First-Gen, Ole Miss' hub for students who are the first in their families to attend college, has organized a week of activities ahead of National First-Generation College Student Day on Nov. 8.
This year's event, themed, "Flagship First-Gen Forward: Together We Thrive" is focused on building community, said Seneca Crump, program director for Ole Miss Opportunity and first-generation programs.
"This week is going to give us an opportunity to build awareness, create connections and foster belonging," he said. "It's not just about celebration, it's about visibility and empowerment for our students, faculty, staff and even alumni who are first gen."
The week's events include:
- Monday – Campuswide Networking Reception, 5-6:30 p.m., Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement, Student Union
- Tuesday – "Stories That Inspire" First-Gen Career Journeys Panel, 4-5:30 p.m., Career Center, 303 Martindale-Cole Student Services Center
- Wednesday – Pastries on the Plaza, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Student Union Plaza
- Thursday – First-Gen Block Party and Resource Fair, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Circle
- Friday 7 – "First Down" Pre-Game Day Celebration, noon-3 p.m., Flagship First-Gen Student Suite, Martindale-Cole Student Services Center.
Crump, who was named program director over the summer, said the celebration is special to him as a first-generation staff member. Crump graduated from Ole Miss in 2017 with an undergraduate degree in political science.
The annual Evening of Excellence at the Union Ballroom celebrates first-generation students graduation and is one of the many ways Seneca Crump, director of first-gen programming, said he hopes to create community. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
"Being a first-generation student from Terry, Mississippi, I had no idea of all the different opportunities and possibilities here," he said. "I had no idea I could build a community here.
"That's what I want to do: I want to open doors for other students."
The Flagship First-Gen office provides support for students year-round, including resume workshops, academic counseling and the annual First-Gen Evening of Excellence, which celebrates graduating students each spring.
Students can also get involved with the First-Gen Student Network, which meets every other Monday, and join Alpha Alpha Alpha, the nation's only first-generation student honor society.
"When we think about access to higher education, it's not just getting them here, but getting them access to all the resources that are available to them to elevate their experience here," Crump said. "We want first-gen students to see that they are not alone, that there are faculty, staff and other students walking this same journey with them."
Top: Ole Miss receive their graduation cords for Alpha Alpha Alpha, an honor society for first-generation students. The university recently joined the honor society. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services