First Gen Celebration Day
Why Celebrate on November 8?
The Higher Education Act of 1965 (“HEA”) emerged out of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty. Much like other hallmark legislation of that era, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, HEA was intended to help level a playing field that for too long had been weighed against Americans from minority and low-income backgrounds.
In addition to creating federal grants and loan programs to help students finance their educations, the legislation made key investments in institutions of higher education. Additionally, HEA ushered in a set of programs designed to provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other supports necessary for postsecondary access, retention, and completion for low-income, potential first-generation college graduates.
On Wednesday, November 8, 2017, in honor of the 52nd anniversary of the signing of the 1965 Higher Education Act (HEA), Council of Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-Generation Student Success launched the National First-Generation College Celebration. We hope that you will join us and institutions across the nation celebrate the identity and successes of first-generation students.
2026 Celebration
First-Gen Authors-Book Display
Morris Library Browsing Room
Nov. 1-8
Tues. Nov. 3
Dog Day in the Dawg Lounge
Wellness and Health Promotion Services
Student Health Center, Dawg Lounge
8-4:30 pm
Celebration Desserts
University Housing
Lentz Dining Hall-Room 1
12-2 pm
Wed. Nov. 4
Wise Use of Credit
TRIO Student Support Services
Student Services Building, Rm 170
Lunch is provided. Registration is encouraged.
Contact vtaylor@siu.edu
12-1 pm
Wellness Workshop: Stress and Resiliency
Wellness and Health Promotion Services
Student Services Building, Room 160/170
1-2 pm
Thurs. Nov. 5
FAFSA Completion
Financial Aid
Student Services Building
Financial Aid Office, 2nd floor
1-3 pm
Career Q & A: Ask us Anything!
Career Development
Student Services Building
Career Development Office, 1st floor
3-4 pm
Fri. Nov. 6
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Renaming of the Boehler Family First Saluki Center
SIU Foundation
Student Services Building, 2nd Floor
Refreshments will be served
2 pm
First-Generation Students
Check out some of our first-generation students below!
Anaiyah Agee
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major: Communication Studies with Performance Studies specialization
"Being a first-gen college student for me means HOPE! Hope to make a difference for my family. Hope to be a better me. Hope to be the change I want to see. As long as you have hope you can do anything!"
"The advice I would give would be to stay focused no matter what's happening around you and always stay focuses on the goals you have set for yourself. Also, use all the resources provided for you because they will help you go a long way."
Mikenzi Bushue
Hometown: Mason, IL
Majors: English and History
Career Interest: Attorney
"Being a first-generation college student to me is having the opportunity to pave the way for future first-generation students to have an easier time accessing a higher education that everyone deserves."
Malissa Huddleston
Hometown: Staunton, IL
Majors: Radiological Sciences with a Diagnostic Medical Sonography specialization
Career Interest: Attorney
"Being a first-generation college student to me means to persevere through the adversity that comes with being a first-gen with my fellow first-generation students."
Amber Koteras
Hometown: Nicholasville, KY
Major: Architectural Studies
"Being a first-generation college student, and especially being a first-generation Saluki, opens up a range of expectations. Not only is a lot expected of me because I'm the first to make this step, but I get to set the record. When later generations continue on the collegiate trend, I will have been the one to set the example. To be a first-generation student is to take an opportunity and far exceed the expectations in order to prove to everyone, and to prove to yourself, that success is always possible."