Join us to #CelebrateFirstGen and recognize #UWFirstGen Scholars!

The UW School of Social Work is a proud home to many #UWFirstGen scholars, #UWFirstGenGrads, and passionate changemakers who value social justice, promote equity, and ignite social change. Every day #UWFirstGen students, faculty and staff make impactful contributions to our university community. We are proud to join colleges and universities across the country to recognize the National First-Generation College Celebration on November 8! Learn more at uw.edu/diversity/national-first-gen-day #CelebrateFirstGen #BeTheFirst

The University of Washington proudly supports the experience of first-generation students on all three campuses. UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses are coming together to join colleges and universities from across the nation to participate in the National First-Generation College Celebration on November 8! We invite all members of our community to celebrate the success and presence of students, faculty and staff who are the first in their families to attend college. 

 

Visit our table Nov. 8th, 2:00-3:30 p.m. for free snacks and swag!

Stop by our UW School of Social Work #CelebrateFirstGen table on Friday, November 8th between 2:00-3:30 p.m. at the UW School of Social Work building on the Seattle campus; our table will be setup in the "Gallery" (first floor of the building, between the ground floor and second floor). Grab free snacks and social work swag, and take a pin to promote and celebrate awareness for what it means to #BeTheFirst (while supplies last)! We invite you to take photos with us and share your quotes and encouragement to other first generation students, via our UW School of Social Work Instagram page.

#BeTheFirst: Charlotte's Journey


What does it take, and what does it mean to #BeTheFirst? Read Charlotte's story about her journey from Toppenish Sr. High School on the Yakama Nation Reservation, to Yakima Valley Community College, to the University of Washington and beyond. Charlotte Sanders is currently a Teaching Associate and the Field Lead for the Northwest Leaders in Behavioral Health Program (NLBHP) at the UW School of Social Work – she shares her experiences as a first-gen student in both her undergraduate and graduate programs. 

 

A National First-Generation College Celebration

In its third year, the National First-Generation College Celebration is led by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the NASPA Center for First-Generation Student Success. November 8 is significant because it marks the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 that recognized the experience of those who are first in their families to attend college. To promote the celebration and demonstrate that many in our community have experienced this pathway in higher education, students, faculty and staff on all three UW campuses who are first-generation college students are invited to wear “Celebration First-Gen” buttons.

Help UW to elevate the presence of our first gen scholars by:

  • Stopping by our UW School of Social Work #CelebrateFirstGen table on Friday, November 8th between 2:00-3:30 p.m. at the UW School of Social Work building on the Seattle campus; our table will be setup in the "Gallery" (first floor of the building, between the ground floor and second floor).
  • Sharing your own first-gen pride or showing your support for classmates and colleagues on social media, using the hashtags below.
  • Attending events or activities on any of the three campuses.
  • Reading about and/or amplifying your own stories about our first-gen community.
  • Displaying or wearing any first-gen pride swag you may already have.

For more details:

uw.edu/diversity/national-first-gen-day

Social media hashtags:

  • #CelebrateFirstGen (National Celebration Day hashtag)
  • #UWFirstGenGrads (Graduate Student programs hashtag)
  • #UWFirstGen
  • #TRIOworks (OMA&D affiliated TRIO programs)
  • I am proud to be a #UWFirstGen / #UWFirstGenGrads student because … #CelebrateFirstGen

November events for prospective social work students: