National First-Generation College Student Day was celebrated in the center of the Hixson Union Building on Nov. 8. Whitworth has a handful of different ways it shows appreciation for and works to attract first-generation students to attend the school.
“We’re showing appreciation for the first-gen people,” said Leina Balancio-Sadamaru, a senior majoring in secondary education of English and a first-generation student. “To let them know that they are doing good, they are welcome here and their community is proud of them for taking a step forward.”
First-generation students are the first in their families to attend and graduate from a four-year university. Whitworth has 200 first-generation students this year.
“This day means remembering everyone that’s helped me get where I am today,” said junior Guadalupe Zavala, a double major in secondary education and biology. “Remembering all the sacrifices my parents and my family has made.”
Whitworth recognizes these students as “trailblazers” for their families and community toward higher education.
Among those celebrating is Hannah Tillet, a sophomore majoring in secondary education with a focus on history. As the oldest of 11 siblings, Tillet will be the first in her family to earn a degree.
“I’m really happy, I’ve made it so far,” Tillet said. “My family’s proud of me because they tried, but they never finished.”
BUCS Bridge, or the Building Unity & Cultivating Success program, is one of Whitworth’s initiatives designed to address the challenges faced by first-generation college students, as well as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students.
This pre-orientation program helps students begin university life before regular orientation begins and continues to support them throughout the academic year.
“They helped me with doing FAFSA, they helped me get a job because my mom didn’t know how to do FAFSA and everything for college,” said Tillet. “So, I had people who helped me and supported me.”
Students admitted into this program move in early and participate in five days of community building and getting connected with every resource. They then participate in a yearlong mentorship program during the school year.
Marina Davis, the BUCS Bridge Coordinator who began her role in January and is also pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling at Whitworth, hopes that the program will reach more students in the future.
“This year, we had 80 students,” said Davis. “I just wish I could accept them all because we had probably 200 more that would be eligible, but we didn’t have the capacity.”
Students who have been through the program also can go into leadership. Zavala is a peer guide and Balancio-Sadamaru runs the social media.
“We do fun events to work with BIPOC, first gen, and transfer students to help transition in,” said Balancio-Sadamaru. “To make them feel welcome and part of the community.”
