Middlesex College Receives Grant to Empower and Celebrate First-Generation College Students at All-Day Event

Middlesex College celebrated first-generation college students at a daylong event held November 8 at its Edison campus, supported by a grant from FirstGen Forward, a national organization dedicated to first-generation student success.

The First-Generation College Celebration at Middlesex College included workshops where students shared experiences and offered advice and insight to their peers, along with a career-development session focused on job interview tips and techniques. The celebration concluded with a networking event for students, faculty, and staff.

The event was organized by Maribel Garcia-Gonzalez, Alyssa Ignacio, and Jenifer Olvera, Middlesex College staff members who serve as advisors for the Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) honors society for first-generation students.

The celebration is especially meaningful for them as all three are first-generation college students and Middlesex College alumnae themselves.

“We are passionate about supporting and uplifting fellow first-generation students,” said Olvera, an administrator in the Financial Aid Office. “We hope attendees feel a sense of belonging, empowerment, and inspiration. By connecting with peers, sharing experiences, and learning from accomplished college professionals, we aim to create a supportive environment that fosters academic and personal growth.”

Forty-two percent of students at Middlesex College are first-generation, meaning that no parent or guardian of a student has earned a four-year college degree.

The $1,000 grant, provided by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and FirstGen Forward, enables Middlesex College to further its commitment to supporting first-generation college students in the community.

“Representation matters, and the First-Generation College Celebration allows our first-gen students to know they are not alone,” said Garcia-Gonzalez, an academic advisor for Career and Transfer Services. “Many times, I tell the first-gen students I work with that I was in their shoes not too long ago. We are truly honored to be part of the coordinating and executing of the sessions we would have loved to attend when we were students.”

The celebration aimed to help students feel welcomed, embraced, and empowered and to provide tools and information to help them flourish at Middlesex College, Garcia-Gonzalez added.

Funds from the grant were used to create collectibles including pins, hats, and T-shirts featuring the First-Generation College Celebration logo, which were given to students who attended the event to showcase their first-gen pride.

“Middlesex College is honored to receive this generous grant to recognize and celebrate the achievements of first-generation students,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick. “Our community offers a wealth of support and encouragement to first-gen students, and we’re committed to their academic, personal, and professional success through programs and events like the First-Generation College Celebration.”

Launched by COE and FirstGen Forward in 2017, the annual First-Generation College Celebration unites college campuses across the country on November 8 to commemorate the signing of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson. This act created federal financial aid programs to fund student education and made key investments in colleges and universities. Many HEA programs promote postsecondary access, retention, and completion for limited-income, first-generation college students.

Earlier this year, the College was named a member of the 2024–25 FirstGen Forward Network, a national initiative that supports first-generation student success in higher education.

“By holding this event, we hope to empower first-gen students and raise awareness about their unique experiences,” said Ignacio, the social media and marketing strategist for the College. “We also want to encourage ongoing conversation about first-gen support and inclusion within the college community.”