F1rstGen Hilltoppers

Who Are First-Generation Hilltoppers?

First Generation Logo Western Kentucky University defines First Generation as “neither parent graduated from a traditional four-year college.” It does not mean that you are the first one in your family to attend college. In addition, a student is considered "first generation" if the student's parents graduated with an associate's degree (two-year degree), attended college but did not graduate, or had a sibling graduate with a bachelor's degree.

We are excited that you are interested in the Climb With Us! As a First Generation student, you are already demonstrating your resilience and resourcefulness, but we all know the climb can be steep. Think of the resources and engagement opportunities on this page as climbing tools that can help you reach the Top and benefit you even after graduation.

4,000+
First Generation
Students Enrolled

31%
of WKU Students
are First Generation

150+
First Gen Faculty
and Staff Advocates

How Do I Prepare for WKU?

Be College Ready

Basic Admission Requirements

WKU Scholarships

F1rstGen Summer Camp

Learn About WKU

Attend a WKU Preview Day

F1rstGen Summer Camp

Become a Hilltopper

College Checklist

Living Learning Communities

What F1rst Gen Programs Are Available?

High School Summer Camp

For high school students who will be first-generation college students. Live and eat on campus, meet other first-gen students, and sample the college experience. More information and the interest form link is on the camp webpage.

Living Learning Community

The F1rstGen LLC is for incoming first-time, first-year WKU students. Students who are unsure of their major are preferred. More information and link to housing application is on the LLC webpage.

Mentorship Program

At the beginning of each semester, students will be matched with a student, faculty/staff, or alumni success coach who can provide guidance and encouragement. You may prepare for your profession or grad school; develop career or study skills; and much more.

Make It Count

All students are welcome at our workshops and social events. See the Upcoming Events list for details. First-gen students can track participation in events and other selected activities in Suitable to earn points toward completion grant eligibility.

National First Gen Celebration Week

Join us as we raise awareness for the first generation experience each November. Our National Celebration activities include the First Gen Alumni-in-Residence program in cooperation with the WKU Alumni Association and the academic colleges.

F1rst 2 the Hill Academy

Begin in your second year, continue till you graduate! Participants in this cohort program receive career skills training, mentors, scholarship opportunities, and more. There is NO cost for participants. Sign up at the end of your first year.

Student Spotlight

Htee Shee Paw

Why did you get involved with the First Gen Program?

In 2009, we moved to America to escape war and ethnic persecution. Growing up, I witnessed the immense sacrifices my parents made to provide my two brothers and me with a better life. My mom worked as a nurse, and my dad served in the military before we moved. They instilled in us the importance of education, perseverance, and faith. College was challenging, and at times, I felt like an impostor. During my freshman year, when I had college-related questions, there wasn't anyone I could immediately turn to for help. The larger college environment made it harder to connect with others, and I struggled with the lack of structure and the uncertainty of navigating higher education. Read more...

Htee Shee Portrait

What Other Resources Are Provided?

Faculty and Staff F1rstGen Advocate List

Click on the column headers to sort the list.

per page

First Name	Last Name	WKU Email	Position/Title	Unit/Department	First-generation student?
Ajay	Srivastava	ajay.srivastava@wku.edu	Professor-Associate Director, Applied Research and Technology Program	Biology	Advocate
Ali	Er	ali.er@wku.edu	Associate Professor, Director of Laser Research Lab, Biophysics Minor Coordinator	Physics & Astronomy
Amanda	Trabue	amanda.trabue@wku.edu	VP, Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement	Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement	Advocate
Amy	Cardwell	amy.cardwell@wku.edu	Director, International Recruitment & Admissions	Global Learning & International Affairs	Yes
Amy	Wininger	amy.wininger@wku.edu	Student Wellness Navigator	Health and Human Services, College of	Yes
Amy	Combs	amy.combs@wku.edu	Director of Development	Public Media	Yes
Andrea	Paganelli	andrea.paganelli@wku.edu	Associate Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator	Teacher Education, School of	Yes
Andrew	Adler	andrew.adler@wku.edu	Chair, Library Collections & Discovery	Libraries	Yes
Andria	Henry	andria.henry@wku.edu	Office Associate	Management	Yes
Angela	Nagel	angela.nagel@wku.edu	Visiting Assistant Professor	Teacher Education, School of	Yes

Showing 1 to 10 of 157 entries

College Terminology to Know

per page

Terminology	Definitions and Tips
Academic Standing	A "C" average (GPA 2.0) or better is required to be in "good" academic standing. You must be in good academic standing to receive federal financial assistance. Tip: Some programs require higher than "C" average. Aim high, especially in your major!
Advisor	A designated faculty or staff member who helps a student choose and register for classes and select an overall course of study.
Blackboard	This is the Learning Management System (LMS) used by WKU faculty to house course information, assignments, and grades. Tip: How Blackboard is used by a particular faculty person can vary. Be sure to log in early and be familiar with each course!
College	There are five academic colleges within Western Kentucky University: PCAL, OCSE, CHHS, GFCB, and CEBS. Each academic college is led by a Dean.
Dean	The leader of an academic college. At WKU this includes: PCAL, OCSE, CHHS, GFCB, and CEBS. Also, Dean of Libraries and Dean of Students.
Drop/Add	The time during the beginning of a semester when courses can be dropped or added without a penalty.
Faculty	University employees who teach classes, conduct research, and perform services such as advising student groups and working on committees. Tip: If in doubt, call them Professor. Call them Doctor if they have earned a Ph.D., Ed.D, or other doctoral level degree.
FERPA	The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects student information. This means that your information can only be shared with "non-essential" individuals, including your parents, with your written consent.
Financial Assistance	Financial assistance or financial aid includes grants and scholarships (money you don't pay back), loans (money you pay back with interest), and money you can earn (stipends and work-study). Tip: Complete your FAFSA every year to help ensure that you receive the maximum amount of financial assistance.
First-generation WKU Student	Neither of the student's parents/guardians has a four-year, or higher, college degree from an accredited university or college in the United States.

Showing 1 to 10 of 21 entries

More Information about First-Gen Students

You can read the spring 2024 Professional Learning Community (PLC) book online for free courtesy of WKU Libraries. Read it all, or select the chapters and critical conversations of interest to you.
Book: At the Intersection: Understanding and Supporting First-Generation Students
Editors: Robert Longwell-Grice and Hope Longwell-Grice

WKU Libraries FirstGen Research Guide
This research guide is divided into the following categories: Best Practices for Teaching, Background Reading, and Resources for Students.

FirstGen Forward Network
Click on the "Journal & Research" and " Engagement" links to see the extensive array of information available. The Network also offers opportunities to attend conferences and webinars.

Sample Syllabus Wording
Consider including a statement on your syllabus indicating your advocacy for first-generation students. If desired, the following statement can be used verbatim or with adjustments to better represent your voice and plans for students. For more syllabus tips, contact WKU CITL or refer to Designing a Motivational Syllabus (Harrington and Thomas, 2018)

If you are a first-generation college student, at WKU this is defined as someone whose parents or legal guardian did not graduate from a traditional four-year college, then you may face a unique set of challenges or have questions that may not seem to apply to other students. I want you to know that this is completely normal and I am here to support you! If you have questions about our class or about WKU in general, please contact me or visit with me in office hours. Again, I am here to support you and am excited to see you succeed at WKU!

Show Your F1rstGen Pride

Faculty, Staff, and Students may request a t-shirt, F1rstGen sticker, and F1rstGen Family sticker by using the webform on this page.

Email Signature Graphics
Show your support for first-generation students by adding a graphic to your email signature. Click image to download.

Zoom Backgrounds
Show your support for first-generation students by using a first-generation advocate Zoom background during your next meeting. Click image to download.

About the Initiative

F1rstGen Leadership Team (faculty and staff)

Cierra Waller - CITL Student Success, F1rst 2 the Hill Academy (F2HA)
April McCauley - CITL Student Success, F1rstGen LLC
Destiny O’Rourke - TRIO-SSS
LaMario Moore - Intercultural Student Engagement Center
Cara Cordell - GFCB Student Success
Dr. Dawn Winters - PCAL Faculty, Department of English
Jeremy Logsdon - CEBS Faculty, School of Teacher Education
Tammy Dorris - WKU Online Student Services
pending - CHHS Student Wellness Navigator
Wayne Simpson - Career Development Center
Zach Marcum - Alumni Association liaison

F1rstGen Student Leadership

Alyssa Fisk - Ambassador, Event Planning Committee Chair
Camryn Douglas - Ambassador, Event Planning Committee
Htee Shee Paw - Ambassador, Promo and Marketing Committee Chair, Student Org Exploratory Committee
Jessie Puii - Promo and Marketing Committee
Kania Sims - Event Planning Committee
Lejla Guhdija - Ambassador, Leadership Team Student Representative
Maahi Patel - Event Planning Committee
Makiyah Morrow - Ambassador, Student Org Exploratory Committee
Marquavis Baker - Ambassador, Mentorship Program Committee
Melanie Mora-Arce - Ambassador, Promo and Marketing Committee, Mentorship Program Committee
Peter Aung - Ambassador, Student Org Exploratory Committee Chair, Leadership Team Student Representative
Sandy Cruz - Ambassador, Promo and Marketing Committee, Leadership Team Student Representative
Talaya Guest - Ambassador, Promo and Marketing Committee, Event Planning Committee

Competencies

F1rstGen programming strives to build the following competencies. These competencies mesh the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies with the skills needed to excel as part of the WKU student body.

Career & Professional Development
Communication & Community Building
Personal Development & Well-being
Leadership & Service
Academic Engagement & Achievement

FirstGen Forward Network Member

We are excited to be reaffirmed as part of the FirstGen FORWARD Network. This organization, previously known as the Center for First-Generation Student Success, is dedicated to raising awareness and opportunities for first-generation students nationwide. The First Scholars Network offers a national model for scaling holistic first-generation student success by engaging and empowering higher education institutions to transform the first-generation student experience, advance academic and co-curricular outcomes, and build more inclusive institutional structures.

Alumni-in-Residence Program received 2024 Circle of Excellence Award from CASE

The WKU Alumni Association and its partners in the Office of the Provost, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning and each academic college have been honored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) with a Silver award in the category of Leadership: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives for the First Generation Alumni in Residence Program launched in November 2023.

F1rstGen Programs Highlighted in the WKU Spirit Magazine, Fall 2024

F1rstGen HS Summer Camp featured on WKU Public Radio, June 6, 2024

Interested in Learning More?

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be listed as a first-gen advocate on the webpage.

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Tell us more!

WKU Student Resources

WKU Student Financial Assistance

Dean of Students Resources List

Graduation Application

Other Programs for First-Gen Students

TRIO-SSS

ISEC Academy

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Larissa Frisby

Hometown Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Major Chinese and Biology

Do you have any advice for First-Gen Students?

Embrace the challenges you will inevitably face during your university journey. It took me numerous setbacks to recognize my limitations and learn the importance of reaching out for support.

"I am first gen, and my experiences in University have shaped my perspective on education and opportunity."

Larissa Frisby Portrait