Wellesley College Hosts Summit For First Generation College Students, March 7

The third annual summit, which will convene first-generation college students from 32 institutions, will include a virtual visit and speech by Senator Elizabeth Warren

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Wellesley College

Mar 02, 2015, 05:45 ET

WELLESLEY, Mass., March 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Wellesley College First Generation Network is proud to host the third annual Class Action First Generation College Student Summit on Saturday, March 7. The summit, which will convene 175 attendees representing 32 colleges and universities and 4 organizations, aims to provide a forum in which first-generation college students can share their experiences and discuss challenges, and to facilitate dialogue between students and the administrators and faculty on their campuses.

Senator Elizabeth Warren will speak to summit attendees about her experiences as a first generation student.

"I was the first person in my family to graduate from college, and it opened a million doors for me. That's why I think the First Gen College Student Summit is a great idea," said Warren. "It's a chance for students from across Massachusetts and around the Northeast to come together, share their experiences, and help each another succeed."

Warren will join the summit via video.

The event keynote will be a joint presentation with Alex Montes from the University of Rochester and Bobby Brinson from the College Board's Access To Opportunity team. Montes will talk about his experience as a first generation and undocumented student and his journey with Road Trip Nation. Brinson will share his perspective on working with Montes and other students.

Other presentations, workshops, and panels include discussions of, "The Pros and Pros of Being First Generation," "Navigating Graduate School as a First Gen," and "Impact of the First Gen Experience on Mental Health/Improving Mental Health," among others. I'm First, an online community for first-generation college students, will also be on campus collecting video stories from attendees.

About 12 percent of Wellesley College students are first-generation. The Wellesley College First Generation Network was launched in 2013 to foster a strong first-generation community and increase the awareness and quality of services for first-generation students.

Wellesley's Donald Leach, Associate Director of Residential Life, Karen Shih, Assistant Director of Intercultural Education at Wellesley, and Joy Playter, former Class Dean, spearheaded the efforts to launch the First Generation Network. Wellesley students Elizabeth Cho, class of 2016, and Isabel Staccuneddu class of 2017, who are both first generation students, are the network's student coordinators.

"Class Action has taken point in organizing an area conference for first gen students," Leach said. "Their work in raising awareness of issues of class is an important part of the work to be done with first gen students, and really with all students."

2015 marks Class Action's third annual summit; past hosts include Brown University and Amherst College. Joining Wellesley as co-hosts this year are Amherst College, Smith College, Tufts University and Williams College. This year's theme is "Exploring the 1st Gen Identity."

Members of the press are invited to cover the event. Photos available upon request.

About Class Action

Class Action is a national nonprofit that inspires action to end classism by providing a dynamic framework and analysis and well as a safe space, for people of all race and class backgrounds to identify and address classism. Class Action works with colleges, foundations, non-profits, churches to facilitate powerful interactive trainings, workshops, presentations, organizational consulting, and public education.

About Wellesley College

Since 1875, Wellesley College has been the preeminent liberal arts college for women. Known for its intellectual rigor and its remarkable track record for the cultivation of women leaders in every arena, Wellesley--only 12 miles from Boston--is home to some 2400 undergraduates from every state and 75 countries.

Press Contacts
Anne Yu, Wellesley College, [email protected], 781-283-3201
Anne Phillips, Class Action, [email protected], 617-477-8635

SOURCE Wellesley College