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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University alumni are going places. But as the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step—and it's not always easy when you're the first to take it.

"I think graduating from college in general, to me, was like winning the lottery," says Zenia Gutierrez, a first-generation college graduate and two-time degree holder from Western Michigan University. "Walking in the line (at commencement), I was in disbelief that I had made it through; I graduated. I had a degree, I had made something out of myself and I was about to start my dream job as a teacher."

The daughter of immigrants from Mexico, Gutierrez is now opening the door for countless students just like her to blaze their own trails to success through higher education as a teacher to multilingual students in rural southwest Michigan.

First-generation students like Gutierrez—those who were first in their family to earn a four-year college degree—are well-represented 51¸£ÀûÉç. This fall, more than 12% of undergraduate students and 9% of graduate students identify as first generation.

"At Western Michigan University, we have a long tradition of welcoming and embracing first-generation college students. We specialize in helping first-gen students, and all our students, pursue their purpose, prosper in meaningful careers and make an impact on society," says 51¸£ÀûÉç President Edward Montgomery. "Demonstrating resilience and driven by purpose, our first-generation students set a high bar of achievement that makes the Bronco community even stronger."

Tuesday, Nov. 8, is National First-Generation College Student Day. A weeklong, campuswide celebration beginning Tuesday, Nov. 1, will highlight the stories and successes of Western students and alumni who were first in their family to attend college. Events include receptions, giveaways and a in Heritage Hall. A complete event listing and .

"We celebrate that they are here and they are doing something that is going to change the trajectory of not only their lives but the lives of their family and their communities," says Melissa Holman, director of Multicultural Affairs for Students, who helped spearhead Western's celebration. "(First-generation students) often have more of an idea of what they want to do in life and how they want to make an impact. … If we're talking about creating a culture of success 51¸£ÀûÉç and creating a community, having this group of students adds to that culture."

SUPPORTING STUDENTS

Western has a number of resources in place to assist first-generation students in their transition to college and holistically support them through to graduation. They include the TRIO Student Success Program (SSP), which offers academic, financial and career assistance as well as community-building opportunities, and the TRIO Future Educator Success Program (FESP), which focuses on first-generation students who aspire to teach.

"(TRIO) really helped me as a student, because they would check on you and see how you're doing, how your grades were," Gutierrez, B.A.'12, M.A.'22, remembers. "On top of providing that support, if there were any personal things I was going through, (my mentor) would always give me great advice."

Matt Ryan, a Western alumnus and TRIO program services specialist, participated in TRIO FESP as a student. He says without the program's support, he likely would not have graduated.

"I had people I could turn to when I felt overwhelmed," he says. "It also provided me with many opportunities for growth. From attending conferences to game nights after class, it was exactly what I needed to change my thinking from 'I don't belong' to 'I'm going to make it out.'"

"Joining TRIO was one of the best decisions I have made, and I never take it for granted," adds Meghan Wateridge, a TRIO SSP student and office aid. "Any question that I have approached the TRIO staff with has never gone unanswered, and even in times where they personally couldn't be of assistance, they have always made sure to direct me to someone who can—making sure to personally connect me with a member of staff in other departments."

Support, while not limited to first-generation students, is also offered to Broncos who have lived in foster care through the Seita Scholars Program, those whose families are migrant or seasonal farmworkers through the College Assistant Migrant Program and students of diverse multicultural backgrounds through the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Scholars Academy. The historic Empowering Futures Gift also allowed the University to develop a Navigator Network,offering holistic support services, paid internships and a comprehensive student well-being experience.

"We know the kind of belonging we can provide here 51¸£ÀûÉç, and that's what these programs, especially through our Empowering Futures Gift, are doing for our students. We know that exposure to the right resources is going to help them thrive," says Holman.

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