On Oct. 18 the First Gen students of The University of North Georgia joined together to paint the fall season’s mascot vegetable: the pumpkin.
On the windy afternoon, many students from across multiple backgrounds came to the admin parking lot and decorated pumpkins sourced from a “local farm” as noted by First Gen Gainesville Officer and Family Engagement manager of the Gainesville Campus of UNG, Jennifer Herring.
Students could paint a pumpkin to keep for themselves while also painting one to be used as decoration for the upcoming First Gen “Proud To Be First Celebration” which takes place on Nov. 4 at the Performing Arts building lobby from 12 – 1:30 p.m. for those who are “among the first” within their families to attend college.
The event will be an opportunity for the First Generation students to network with fellow students, faculty, staff and leaders in the community who all share backgrounds as First Gen students.
“Proud To Be First Week, which is part of National First Generation College Celebration Day will be taking place Nov. 4 – 8 on all five campuses.”- Jennifer L. Herring, Officer of First Gen UNG and Family Engagement Manager
National First Generation College Celebration Day is celebrated every year on Nov. 8 to honor the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, brought about by President Lyndon Johnson.
The act provided federal funding with the intention to make college more accessible to all students instead of just the privileged few. Thanks to this, many new programs were created such as the Pell Grants program and the Stafford Loans program that helped to coin the term “first-generation” for students who the Education Act describes as “individuals whose parents did not complete a bachelor’s degree”.
Since 2020, UNG has added a mentoring program available to eligible students through the hard work of the First Gen advocates of the Gainesville Campus.
Alongside the “Proud To Be First” celebration being held on each campus, First Gen will also be hosting a “Floats for First Gen” event on the Blue Ridge campus lobby on Nov. 7 where ice cream floats shall be made for those who attend.
