Purdue University Northwest > Student Life > Belonging at PNW > Office for First Generation College Student Initiatives > First-Gen Events and Involvement > First-Generation College Scholar Celebration

First-Generation College Scholar Celebration

Two students stand together with First-Generation student t-shirts

PNW celebrates First Generation College Student Day (November 8) with a week full of celebrations! From celebration, award recognition, featured keynote speakers and much more, PNW is committed to acknowledging first-gen student excellence.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2024 First-Generation College Scholar Celebration!

From conversations with Chief Stephanie La Rue to celebrating first-gen success, we had so much fun celebrating your successes!

See upcoming First-Gen Events

Explore First-Gen Resources

First-Gen College Student Celebration (Hammond)

Come celebrate the First Gen College scholars of PNW! Join us for food, games, giveaways, community resources and more.

First-Gen College Student Celebration (Westville)

Come celebrate the First Gen College scholars of PNW! Join us for food, games, giveaways, community resources and more.

Conversations with Chief Stephanie La Rue (Westville)

Stephanie La Rue, Chief DEI and Accessibility Officer for the Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of national Intelligence, will share personal stories of overcoming challenges and navigating her path to leadership as a first-generation Latina and college student.

Conversations with Chief Stephanie La Rue (Hammond)

Stephanie La Rue, Chief DEI and Accessibility Officer for the Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, will share personal stories of overcoming challenges and navigating her path to leadership as a first-generation Latina and college student.

First-Gen Voices: Navigating Career Success

This inspiring panel of first-generation alumni share their journeys and insights on navigating their careers after graduation.

Human Library: First-Gen College Student

Join us for a transformative experience where you can “check out” first-gen individuals as living books to hear their inspiring stories.

First Gen Finale: Savoring Success

Come indulge in our exclusive first-gen ice cream flavors! If you’ve completed your passport, stop by for a chance to win a prize for participating in this week’s events.

Tri-Alpha Honor Society Induction Ceremony

This is a closed event for new inductees to the Tri-Alpha Honor Society, our First-Gen Honor Society

Relive the fun from the 2023 celebration!

This year’s celebrations included First-Generation Student Scholar Celebrations on both campuses, a talk from author Alejandra Campoverdi, a First-Gen Pride Microgrants Panel, a callout meeting for our new Tri-Alpha Honor Society for first-gen students and more!

A group of five PNW students pose for image in celebration of first-generation student scholars.

PNW students celebrate their own and their peer's achievements as fellow first-generation trailblazers!

Two students stand together with "First-Gen" foam fingers

Attendees to the First-Generation Student Scholar Celebration received foam fingers to show off their first-gen pride!

First-Generation faculty, staff and students stand together in FRC

First-generation students, faculty and staff were invited to join in on a family photo showcasing the PNW first-generation community.

The book, "First Gen: A Memoir," stands upright to present its cover with an older image of a child whose hand is held by an adult. A stack of the same book lies in the back.

"First Gen: A Memoir" was written by Alejandra Campoverdi as a way to share the story and struggles most first-generation students endure to achieve academic success.

Alejandra Campoverdi stands with a microphone in hand as she speaks to first-generation students.

Alejandra Campoverdi, author of "First Gen: A Memoir," visited PNW first-generation students in honor of the celebration.