At New Mexico State University, about 30% of students are first-generation college students. This November, campuses across the NMSU system will celebrate first-generation college students, faculty, staff and families.
On the Las Cruces campus, NMSU’s sixth annual first-generation celebration will highlight first-generation college students and graduates throughout the month and host a tabling event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at Corbett Center Student Union, first-floor lobby. A First-Gen Proclamation from the City of Las Cruces will be presented at 10:15 a.m.
Departments from across campus will participate in the celebration, which will include first-generation information, cookies, T-shirts and photo props.
“For each first-generation student who attends one of our campuses, the campus, classroom discussion, the learning environment, and input and influence on campus decision making is more robust and meaningful for their engagement,” said Marko Mohlenhoff, TRIO McNair Scholars Program director and first-generation celebration co-chair. “We are a better system because of their presence.”
NMSU’s Las Cruces campus also will host a pair of events Wednesday, Nov. 6. From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Honors College First Generation Open House will be held at the William Conroy Honors College. From 6 to 8 p.m., a screening of “Real Women Have Curves” will be shown at the Corbett Center auditorium.
At Doña Ana Community College, the first-generation celebration will include testimonies, food, dancing and prizes. The event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Sunland Park Campus Commons.
At NMSU Alamogordo, the first-generation cookout and a discussion panel will be held at noon Friday, Nov. 8 at the Student Union Building. The event will honor first-gen students and their families.
At NMSU Grants, a special event with self-expression posters will be on display Nov. 4.
“Despite being far from the main NMSU campus, our diverse, tight-knit community is committed to ensuring all students feel connected and celebrated,” said Lorenzo Pino, first-gen committee member. “We look forward to recognizing our first-generation Aggie students with the highest honors and fostering unity and pride across our campus.”
“We know our first-generation students work extremely hard to achieve their educational goals — very often in the face of significant and sometimes overwhelming challenges,” Mohlenhoff said. “Though they face a multitude of obligations and pressures – familial, societal, cultural and financial – we also know they’re leveraging their cultural capital, their own support networks and their impressive problem-solving abilities to invest in a stronger future for themselves and their families. And that benefits the NMSU system, our surrounding communities and greater New Mexico.”
NMSU first-generation college students, faculty, staff and alumni also will be featured in NMSU’s Hotline newsletter and on NMSU’s social media channels in November. To share a first-generation story, complete the “I Am A First Gen Aggie” form at https://nmsu.link/firstgen.
For more information, contact Mohlenhoff at 575-646-3603 or markom@nmsu.edu.
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CUTLINE: New Mexico State University’s sixth annual first-generation celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at Corbett Center Student Union. Campuses across the NMSU system will host events in November. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)