Wayne State College will be celebrating first generation students on campus with treats and the opportunity to express their gratitude for the people who helped them on their journey. 

On Nov. 7, WSC will be hosting a day of celebration for first generation students on campus. This nationally celebrated day across colleges and universities honors those who were the first generation in their families to continue their education through college. 

Director of TRIO Student Support Services Liesel Powicki said that being a first generation student means that neither parent nor person that raised a student graduated with a four-year degree.  

“So, we have students here that maybe their parent went to a two-year college,” Powicki said. “…but they would still be a first-generation college student because they didn’t graduate with a four-year degree.” 

This event will be located in the Kanter Student Center, and first-generation students will be given treats like donuts and hot chocolate, and there will be a big wall where they can write down who supported them. 

Although the event does honor first-generation students, WSC also honors faculty and staff members who were first generation students. Powicki said that in our college, 46% of students, almost half of the student population, are first generation. 

There are several flyers in the student center with faculty and staff members who were first generation students. The flyers give some details about how long they’ve worked here, what they were majoring in, and who supported them on their journey. 

“A lot of the people that are in faculty roles…they’re all first gen,” Powicki said. 

The “First Generation College Day” focuses on students, faculty, and staff members and honors them for their accomplishments and ability to be the first in the family to head into college.