Torolink Event: https://torolink.csudh.edu/event/9456049

5th Annual First Gen College Celebration

November 8 is reserved to honor the signing of the 1965 Higher Education Act (HEA).

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (“HEA”) emerged out of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. Much like other hallmark legislation of that era, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, HEA was intended to help level a playing field that for too long had been weighed against Americans from minority and low-income backgrounds. In addition to creating federal grants and loan programs to help students finance their educations, the legislation made key investments in institutions of higher education. Additionally, HEA ushered in a set of programs designed to provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance and other supports necessary for postsecondary access, retention, and completion for low-income, potential first-generation college graduates.

The first such program in HEA – Talent Search – was united with another program – Upward Bound – that had been authorized as part of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. A few years later, a third such program, Special Services for Disadvantaged Students (later known as Student Support Services), was launched in 1968. Together, this “trio” of federally-funded programs encouraged access to higher education for low-income students.

Today, TRIO serves more than 800,000 students at more than 2,300 institutions of higher education and community-based agencies across the United States and in several U.S. territories. Through TRIO, more than 5 million Americans have become the first members of their families to earn baccalaureate degrees.

Click here to learn more about the HEA, the creation of Federal TRIO programs, and the history of National First-Generation College Celebration.

Purpose

• Increase awareness of First Generation folks at CSU Dominguez Hills
• Increase awareness of the Higher Education Act of 1965
• Participate in the national celebration for first generation college students
• Create a space to celebrate and honor First Gen narratives and all who identify & support First Gen folks

First Gen College Celebration Events

Wednesday, November 8th 

Join us at the CSUDH Sculpture Garden from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and at the following events below: 

Veterans Resource Center, From a Fellow First-Gen to Another, 10:30am-11:30am, LSU 323

BRC, Black Like Me Honoring Black First Generation College Going Students,12:00pm, Ballroom B

Toro Guardian Scholars, First Generation Scholar Lunch & Share Out, 12:00pm-2:00pm, Welch Hall 363

Career Center, First Generation Fireside Chat: A Conversation on Navigating Professionalism and Wellness as First Gen, 1:30 pm-2:30 pm, WH 200

Thursday, November 9th

November 9th 2023, I'm First: First Generation Support Group, La Casita: Latinx Cultural Resource Center, 2:30-3:45pm

Highlights include:

• First Gen Resource Fair Booths with 15+ Departments confirmed
• Remarks from ASI President, Edgar Mejia-Alezano 
• Teddy, The Toro 
• Performance by CSUDH PepBand
• Churros, hot chocolate, sweets & aguas frescas giveaways
• First Gen merch giveaways
• KDHR and More!