Skip to main content

First-Generation Students Celebrate Successes



To commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the Higher Education Act, this week SLCC is joining institutions across the country in celebrating first-generation students. Check out our Instagram feed (saltlakecc) for more inspiring stories as well as our blog post on first-gen student Brooklyn Sumner. #celebratefirstgen



The free pizza, candy, cupcakes, drinks, t-shirts and swag may have drawn people in, but many who stopped by the First-Generation Student Celebration at Salt Lake Community College’s Taylorsville Redwood Campus stayed to hear stories of trials and triumphs from actual first-generation students.

Last year the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-generation Student Success started the First-Generation College Celebration, with colleges and universities across the country, including SLCC, holding their own events.

During this year’s celebration, SLCC hosted a panel discussion that included first-generation students Sepa Faupula, Haley Nate and Jonathan Herrera, along with SLCC staffers Mequette Sorensen and Thanhtung Thantrong. All spoke about their own experiences and the support SLCC gives to first-gen students.

Pictured: Sepa Faupula (l-r), Haley Nate, Jonathan Herrera, Mequette Sorensen, Thanhtung Thantrong

Panelists also shared similar stories about the struggles that come from not having family members who fully understand or appreciate the sacrifices of time and money that must be made when pursuing a college degree. Sorensen encouraged students in the room to seek help from the college. “I’m here for those of you who might be afraid,” she said. “I do and can speak out for you. If you need support, please come to us. There are many people like myself who say, ‘We are here for you.’ If you need support or tutoring, you come to us. Please, don’t quit. We’re all examples that you can make it. Please, believe in yourself, even if your parents were not college graduates. You can make it on your own and with the help of all of us.”

Below are photos from the celebration.










Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Center for Prior Learning Receives an Honorable Mention

Today, SLCC's Credit for Prior Learning department received an Honorable Mention from the  Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL ) and the  Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education  for its intentional approach and for expanding student options to receive credit for prior learning.  Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)  allows students to obtain college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside of the traditional academic environment. This is exceptionally beneficial for adult learners, who, according to CAEL, have a 17% higher chance of graduating compared to those adults who don’t earn credits through prior learning programs. The CPL department at SLCC was created in 2020 and since then the volume of students served has grown as the department continues to expand. To be eligible for CPL, students must be working towards a degree, certificate, or apprenticeship. Director of Credit for Prior Learning at SLCC, Andrea Tipton, mentioned fee...
Post a Comment
Read more

Board of Higher Ed names Gregory F. Peterson 9th SLCC President

The Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously selected Gregory F. Peterson, Ed.D., as the ninth president of Salt Lake Community College today, following an extensive national search. Peterson will assume the position on July 1, 2024, and succeeds Deneece G. Huftalin, who served as president from 2014-2024.   “I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as Salt Lake Community College’s next president, and I look forward to reinforcing SLCC’s commitment to providing educational pathways for transfer and workforce that improve the lives of every member of our community,” Peterson said. “SLCC has an amazing future ahead, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of that journey.”   As part of its delegated duties and responsibilities, the SLCC Board of Trustees named an  11-member committee  in December 2023 to conduct a national search for the next president of SLCC. The committee is composed of representatives from the Utah Board of Higher Education and SLCC trustees, facul...
Post a Comment
Read more