First-generation students at Illinois State University were celebrated Sunday at an event to mark National First-Generation College Day.
TRIO Student Support Services [SSS] at ISU hosted the event at the Bone Student Center. The day is celebrated annually to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which laid the foundation for federal financial aid programs, including TRIO programs.
“I think as a first-gen, you are your own opportunity. I think you always have to advocate for yourself,” said third-year undergraduate student Maria Perdomo, of Bloomington. Perdomo is studying Spanish and public relations.
Perdomo came to grow in networking skills, one of the focal points of the event. It brought together ISU faculty, staff, alumni and community-based organizations to recognize and celebrate first-generation college students.
TRIO SSS also supports students who are income-eligible, non-traditional ages or have documented disabilities.
“We're all basically in the same environment from different backgrounds of life, so I would love to network,” said sophomore Christian Warren, of Chicago. Warren is involved with TRIO as a student with ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder]. “I would love to meet more people, have conversations, just to hear where everybody's coming from and just how excited everybody is.”
Warren said the event, as well as other TRIO SSS events makes him feel that he is part of a tight-knit group.
“All these students here want better for themselves. They want to succeed. They want to also feel more included,” said Warren.
Allen Bryson was the keynote speaker for the event. Bryson is a retired higher educational administrator from the University Illinois at Chicago. He participated in TRIO as a student of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Bryson spoke about how to make the right decisions in life to achieve goals. He said groups like TRIO put students on that path.
“Every group on this campus has a sense of community somewhere,” said Bryson. “So students who get the most out of their college experiences are students who have a sense of community where they are.”
The national day is commemorated annually at ISU. Having the event open to the wider campus community, rather than just members, is not always guaranteed.
“We're not always able to open it up to the campus unless we have support from campus partners,” said LaToya Carter, project director of TRIO SSS.
Sponsors included the Julia N. Visor Center, CAST Connections, the Multicultural Center, Olay and the Bird’s Nest.
“So because of their partnerships, we were able to open it up to the campus. But we do celebrate this holiday every year with the TRIO students,” said Carter.
