Students and Faculty Celebrate First Generation Week

First-generation students and faculty at the luncheon, Georgina America

Students and faculty came together for the midpoint of First Generation Week at Belmont with a celebration and luncheon on Wednesday afternoon. 

The luncheon at Harrington Dining Hall was part of a six-day collection of events put together by Student Success and Flourishing to celebrate First Generation Day on Saturday. 

Students weren’t the only ones being celebrated; first-generation faculty were also invited to the luncheon to share a meal and to connect with students. 

“We want to highlight what a huge accomplishment this is for them... We also have a lot of staff and faculty who are first generation, and so we want them... to be able to support them through this journey,” said Carshonda Harris, the assistant provost of student success and flourishing. 

The celebration and luncheon offered a space for students and faculty to have meaningful conversations outside of the classroom about their experiences as first-generation college students in their families. 

“I’m getting to know so many other professors that are here to support me, and I think that’s been the best outcome of a whole week dedicated to just first-generation students,” said sophomore Joseph Garate. 

Along with the luncheon, a study abroad information session and first-generation panel were hosted earlier this week.  

The combination of events that take place during First Generation Week honors both students and faculty for their educational journey. 

“It makes the students feel like they’re really accomplishing something,” said senior Rachel Phinney. 

First-generation students will be recognized at the Belmont men’s basketball game against Tennessee State University on Saturday for First Generation Day, and the first edition of the new “Flourishing Friday Newsletter” will be published on Friday. 

The newsletter will offer beneficial information to first-generation college students and their parents to give them support in navigating the college experience. 

“We want to be intentional in our support... So, we want to highlight and celebrate, but we acknowledge that that same support needs to be across the whole academic year,” said Harris.

This article was written by Georgina America