1st annual First-Generation Week Nov. 12 – 15

November 12, 2019 - 03:33 PM

A first-generation college student is one who is the first in their immediate family to go to college. Mt. SAC has a lot of them. Nearly half the student population at Mt. SAC is first-generation, and it is for this reason that the school will hold its first ever week of festivities to honor those students and give them inspiration to persevere to get their degree.

“We want our first-generation students to realize how many of the faculty and staff are also first-generation,” said Eric Lara, the Associate Dean of Student Success & Equity. “Students may see the position or tittle and just assume that person came from a college-educated family. But many times, they came from the same neighborhood and struggled through college, just like our first-gen students are going thorough right now.”

The week has a number of events including:

Tues. November 12 – First-Gen Open House at Equity Center (Bldg. 16E)  (9am – 5pm)

Wed., November 13 - First-Gen Mixer at Bldg. 13 Patio 11:30am - 1:30pm. Refreshments served.

Thurs., November 14 - Talk by Reyna Grande, author of "The Distance Between Us", about her experience an immigrant (first 150 get a free book). at Bldg. 13-1700 4:30pm - 6:30pm. Dinner will be provided.

Fri. November 15 - College Visit: USC.

 

In fact, the President  & CEO of Mt. SAC: Dr. William Scroggins is First-Gen. In this video, Dr. Scroggins tells his story of going to college - an unfamiliar world that he had very little knowledge of or preparation for before he attended.