First-generation students – the first in their families to earn university degrees – are at the very heart of Colorado State University’s founding land-grant mission: educating the children of working-class families with the aim of boosting the economy and quality of life. Today, these students make up more than 25 percent of the University’s undergraduate population and reflect CSU’s ongoing dedication to educational access and student success.
To highlight the challenges first-generation students overcome in pursuit of higher education and its benefits, the CSU System produced a documentary film series called First Degree. The inspirational docuseries features eight students and alumni from CSU System campuses and demonstrates that academic achievement is possible with talent, tenacity and support.
First Degree helped mark the 40th anniversary of CSU’s First Generation Award Program, the first program in the nation to offer scholarships for first-gen students. The project became a nationwide model and has blossomed into an institutional priority.
The stories presented in this Special Report spotlight what’s at stake for first-generation students – and what it takes to succeed.
Complete Special Report: https://source.colostate.edu/first-degree-the-journeys-of-first-generation-college-students
Art and science: From high-school intern to first-generation CSU student [College of Agricultural Sciences / landscape architecture]
Rebekah Buena is a graduate of Bruce Randolph School in Denver who got hooked on higher education through nearby CSU Spur, became a horticulture research assistant there and recently entered CSU as an honors student in landscape architecture.
Story and video: https://source.colostate.edu/first-degree
Video alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkey7285ViQ&t=2s
Turning the tides: First-generation student overcomes adversity to earn college degree [Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering / environmental engineering]
Partial blindness and other struggles made Robert Lamm’s path to college challenging. Now, this student from Wheat Ridge is studying environmental engineering at Colorado State University while serving as a Presidential Ambassador and planning a career in sustainable water management.
Story and video: https://source.colostate.edu/turning-the-tides-first-generation-student-overcomes-adversity-to-earn-college-degree
Video alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Go6sN9GFw4&t=1s
Sprinting into a nursing career: CSU Pueblo alumna embodies first-generation success [CSU Pueblo / nursing]
Yasmine Hernandez, from Johnstown, is a young alumna of CSU Pueblo who excelled as a nursing student and track-and-field athlete, earning two degrees with honors. Now, she competes in national races while working as a nurse and striving to become a hospital executive.
Story and video: https://source.colostate.edu/sprinting-into-a-nursing-career-csu-pueblo-alumna-embodies-first-generation-success
Video alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fDI75S74EQ&t=1s
‘Just keep trying’: First-generation student musters grit to graduate [CSU Pueblo / computer information systems & MBA]
His family faced financial hardship in Pueblo, yet Jesse Vido made it to CSU Pueblo to study cybersecurity and compete on the nationally dominant CyberWolves team. He is active in student government, works on campus and aims to be a role model for his five younger siblings.
Story and video: https://source.colostate.edu/just-keep-trying-first-generation-student-musters-grit-to-graduate
Video alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-_h_lEwuXc&t=2s
Going home: Cattlewoman applies first-gen education on the Navajo Nation [College of Agricultural Sciences / animal science]
Justina Slim is a cowgirl from the Navajo Nation who came to CSU to study animal science and methods to improve beef cattle production. Now, Slim has returned to Tribal land and works as a livestock Extension agent, hoping to improve the economy and food security for her Nation.
Story and video: https://source.colostate.edu/going-home-cattlewoman-applies-first-gen-education-on-the-navajo-nation
Video alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIBhiv370BI&t=2s
Warrior mentality: First-generation CSU student excels as ROTC leader [College of Health and Human Sciences / health and exercise science]
A fierce squadron leader for the Ram Battalion, Ashley Magee is an Army ROTC cadet from Manitou Springs who decided as a teenager that she wanted to serve our country. She is studying health and exercise science at CSU with the goal of becoming an Army helicopter pilot.
Story and video: https://source.colostate.edu/warrior-mentality-first-generation-csu-student-excels-as-rotc-leader
Video alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kY5-z3um3I&t=1s
Fruitful career: First-gen alumna goes from orchard to entrepreneurship [CSU – College of Liberal Arts / interdisciplinary liberal arts; CSU Global / master’s degree, teaching and learning]
Christina Horn grew up running around her family’s peach orchards in Palisade. That experience serves her well: Horn, a CSU and CSU Global alumna, is a businesswoman on the Western Slope who trains restaurateurs and health officials in food safety measures, with expertise in produce.
Story and video: https://source.colostate.edu/fruitful-career-first-gen-alumna-goes-from-orchard-to-entrepreneurship
Video alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvmq7yw8ek8&t=1s
Bringing a light: First-gen student strives to support others through hardship [College of Liberal Arts / political science and history]
Kenan Thomas was going nowhere fast when he was expelled from middle school. But Thomas transformed from an at-risk student into the salutatorian of his Fort Collins high school – then became a promising first-generation student at Colorado State University. Now studying history and political science at CSU, he hopes to be a teacher and serves as a mentor for other first-gen students of color.
Story and video: https://source.colostate.edu/bringing-a-light-first-gen-student-strives-to-support-others-through-hardship/
Video alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz12NsUFdZI&t=3s
Resources
- Donors may contribute to CSU Pueblo first generation student scholarships.
- Check out all First Degree videos and stories.
- Read CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank’s thoughts about first-generation students.
