By Olivia Borgula
National First-Generation day, which falls on Nov. 8, is a nation-wide celebration. This year was one of the first times the University of Maryland hosted events.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a table in Adele H. Stamp Student Union was lined with turtle-shaped cookies, coffee and flyers offering information about events.
UMD offers Academic Achievement Programs and the Incentive Awards Programs, which offer academic support, counseling and scholarships to low-income and first-generation students. UMD was also recognized as a 2020-2021 cohort of First-gen Forward Institutions by The Center for First-Generation Student Success. But students still expressed a lack of information about available resources.
First-generation student Valery Tabraj wished she knew about the Global Fellows program before her senior year. This fellowship offers a fall seminar and a spring internship relating to global leadership and policy.
“They give you a lot of great insight in employment, internships, and I didn’t know that until my last year,” the senior international relations major said. “I’m still glad I got those resources. But of course, it would have been better if I had it a couple years prior.”
Other events for first-generation students included a photobooth, a collaboration with McKeldin Library featuring books by first-generation authors and a gallery walk composed of photographs of first-generation students that will open later this month. An inaugural First-Generation newsletter was also announced.
“I think [UMD] is trying to start addressing these things,” said Rocio Fregoso, coordinator for immigrant and undocumented students. “Acknowledging that first-gen students are here could be the start of them working on it. But I think it’s very much a work in progress.”
Freshman psychology major Lidija Stamenkovic, whose parents are from Serbia, said she feels pressure to make the most out of her college experience as a first-generation student.
“My parents didn’t go to college where they’re from. Even if I feel like I don’t like it here, I feel pressure to have to stay,” Stamenkovic said.
Christian Galeano, a freshman criminology major, heard about the event through an Academic Achievement Program. He said FAFSA, college applications and scholarship applications were difficult to navigate as a first-generation student.
“[UMD does] offer resources, but they don’t make other students aware that they have them,” Galeano said. “It was difficult for me because I had to understand everything. I had to learn everything firsthand.”
Later this semester, the First-Generation Student Success Steering Committee will issue a report reviewing data from first-generation students at UMD and will make recommendations to improve first-generation student success.
Featured Image: A table is set up at Stamp Student Union celebrating first generation students for National First Generation Day in College Park, Maryland on Nov. 8, 2022. Photo by Jess Daninhirsch.