Being the first in your family to get a college education is something to celebrate at Saint Augustine’s University. That was the idea behind an event last week in which first-generation students gathered to hear inspirational speeches and prayers, pose for pictures and – to end on a sweet note – enjoy cupcakes topped with a special message just for them.

Speakers at the “First Generation Celebration,” held Thursday, Nov. 21, in the theater at the MLK Student Center, lauded students for being pioneers and exhorted them to be strong and to be appreciative of the opportunity they had been given and to take full advantage of it.

Ophelia Johnson, a professor of Film and Interactive Media, set the tone in the invocation: “We gather here today with hearts full of gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate this program which uplifts and empowers first-generation college students. We are grateful for students who are trailblazers in their families, pursuing education with courage, determination and hope.”

The keynote speaker was Dr. Linda Hubbard Curtis, CEO of H&C Independent Educational Consultant LLC. Dr. Curtis also held several administrative positions at Saint Augustine’s, including vice president of academic affairs, before retiring. Dr. Curtis stressed that the students were blazing a path not only for themselves but for future generations as well.

“You are first generation, so your children will not be,” Dr. Curtis said. “You have the proper tools to guide them, to give them the benefit of an experience of how it was when you were in college; to educate them on financial aid, how it is to live in a residence hall, how it is to deal with professors, how it is to navigate yourself on a college campus, how it is to have that third eye when you want to be safe and sound on a college campus.”

Adonis Blue, who serves as Saint Augustine’s New Scholars Coordinator, told the students that he was a first-generation student himself. He recounted how his mother had worked three full-time jobs to put him through college. He added: “For me, it worked out that education was key to, you know, having a life where I’m able to raise a family, to have a lifestyle that’s comfortable. So take these years very seriously.”

According to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), 56% of college students are first-generation. The current percentage at Saint Augustine’s is unavailable, but the university has always had a large number of first-generation students.

The event was organized by the SAU TRIO Center of Excellence. TRIO is a set of federal programs that provide services to help low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities access and succeed in higher education: academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, and financial guidance. Dr. Bridgette McAden, who serves on the staff of the SAU TRIO program, was the mistress of ceremonies.

Dr. Antonio Stephens, Director of the SAU TRIO Center of Excellence, led students in a pledge at the end of the event in which they committed to upholding nine tasks, including:

1. I pledge to honor the journey I am on, embracing the challenges and celebrating every achievement.
2. I pledge to be a trailblazer for myself, my family, and my community, opening doors for future generations.
3. I pledge to have unwavering faith in my potential, knowing that I am capable of achieving greatness.

Before leaving, students munched on cupcakes topped with the message: “I’m first!” The event got good reviews from the students.

“This was great!” said Michel Shevchenko, a freshman from Haiti majoring in business administration. “I enjoyed the program.”

“It was a very good experience to hear words of encouragement,” added Nicholas Black, a senior from Fayetteville majoring in exercise science.

Kristoff Strachan, a senior from the Bahamas majoring in political science, appreciated the event’s larger significance: “I think it’s good for the school to have a reception for first-generation students, especially since it’s an HBCU. What a difference education has made for Black people! A college education makes a world of difference.”