"I AM THE FIRST!"
Calling all first-generation Broncos! Right click to save and use for the first eight days of November! Displaying this photo frame over your profile image on social media helps raise awareness about just how large and proud the first-gen community is at WMU.
Make your own profile pic in Canva, Photoshop Express or even using Instagram stories.
Celebrating WMU's First-Generation Students
Western Michigan University has a long tradition of welcoming and supporting first-generation university students.
Our alumni are an important part of the story, too. They are living inspiration for current students who are among the first in their families to work toward obtaining a degree.
Join us in November as we celebrate the first-generation student experience at WMU. Please check back in at this page to learn more about how we plan to lift up the voices of current and past first-generation students.
Are you a current first-generation student at WMU, or a first-generation WMU alumni, interested in sharing your experience? Share your story.
Get your WMU First-Generation sticker! Just stop by the front desk at Heritage Hall between now and Nov. 8.
WMU's First-Generation Celebration Events
Wednesday, Nov. 1 to Nov. 8
Wear your {"I AM THE FIRST"} sticker or button for the first eight days of November! Keep your eyes open for other members of the first-generation club around campus and the community!
Stickers and buttons (out of stock) are available for pickup at the front desk of Heritage Hall.
Wednesday, Nov. 8 (National First-Generation College Day
First Generation Student Fiesta (Sangren) from noon to 3 p.m.
brought to you by WMU CEHD, TRIO Future Educator Success Program and TRIO Student Success Program
First Generation College Student Celebration (Heritage Hall) from 4 to 6 p.m.,
brought to you by WMU Alumni, Multicultural Affairs for Students, and WMU Admissions
What does it mean to be a first-generation student?
Children of individuals who do not have a four-year degree or higher from a college or university are considered first-generation students. This can also include students whose parents obtained degrees outside of the U.S. First-generation students are an important part of the student population at WMU and at colleges and universities across the U.S. Aside from changing the educational history within their families, students who identify as first-generation contribute to healthy graduation rates and a better prepared workforce.
Students who are among the first in their families to obtain a higher education may also have a different experience, as they may not have a good understanding of collegiate jargon, traditions, or general knowledge that students with parents or guardians with degrees may have. This is part of the reason why it's important for colleges and universities to provide resources and support to help fill these gaps, so first-generation students have everything they need to pursue, thrive, and prosper in college.
First-Generation Student Resources:
TRIO Student Success Program
The Center for First-Generation Student Success
First-Generation College Student Scholarship
Mary Lu Light is a native of Southwest Michigan. When she was a young girl her family hosted foreign students who were studying at Kalamazoo College and needed housing when the dorms were closed. So, she became aware, at an early age, of the value of knowing and interacting with other cultures and the value of education.
As a high school student, Mary Lu was able to study in Mexico and continued to learn about cultures and languages other than her own. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Universidad de Las Americas in Puebla, Mexico in 1971, and after earning a Master’s degree from Indiana University in Applied Linguistics, Mary Lu returned to Kalamazoo to work in Western Michigan University’s newly founded Center for English and Language and Culture (CELCIS) in 1975.
During her tenure at CELCIS, she taught academic communication skills to students from many different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In addition to her work at WMU, Mary Lu was involved with the Hispanic American Council of Kalamazoo where she coordinated English as a Second Language classes for Spanish-speaking adults from 2006-12. Since her retirement in 2012, she continues to work with non-native English speakers in Kalamazoo including recent refugee immigrants. Mary Lu’s life work has made her aware of the value of the interaction of people from different cultures and educational backgrounds.
Recently, Mary Lu established an endowment to provide scholarships for first generation, immigrant, or refugee students. With this scholarship, she seeks to provide funds for WMU students who have experienced the value of knowing cultures and languages other than that of their ancestry, and who are the first in their families to attend college.