First-generation Student Center

Signature Events

The Office of First-generation Students, in partnership with several campus partners, hosts events during the year to celebrate first-generation students.

August/January - Week of Welcome

At the beginning of each semester, K-State holds events during the first week of classes called Week of Welcome. The Office of First-generation Students hosts and partners with events to help connect with first-gen students during their first week at K-State.

 First gen cookout

October - Pumpkin Patch and Hayride

Join us for fall fun and smores for our annual event at Britts Farm! Hayrides, corn maze, and smores are all part of this great community event. Please keep a look out for more information about this event soon!

 smores

November 5-11 - National First-generation Student Celebration Week

Each November, colleges across the nation celebrate first-generation students through the National First-Generation Student Celebration. K-State hosts a week-long celebration with a wide range of activities/events that recognize our first-generation community.

Look for various activities throughout the week that celebrate first-generation students! In 2018, the First-generation Student Organization created a "Big Green 1" that traveled around campus for first-gen students, staff, and faculty to sign. Click the image to the right to see more photos from the event.

This is a picture of a calender representing the events of the 2022 first-generation student celebration week. The week of first generation stundent appriciation starts in November 5th and ends on Novemeber 11th.

This is an image of two first generation students celebrating by taking their picture with proud to be first signs and a proud to be first photo backdrop.

March - First-Generation Student Abroad Experience in Costa Rica (Spring Break 2023)

A group of first-generation students participated in a faculty-led service learning education abroad experience. Link to video: https://youtu.be/V1UnJvyqEqE.

Other Photos can be seen here: FotosforCostaRicapage

A group of students and faculty in Costa Rica posing for a photo.

May - First-Generation Student Graduation Reception

First-generation graduates and their supporters are invited to our annual First-generation Student Graduation Reception to honor the efforts of the students. Students are given green cords to signify resiliency in their first-gen status at their graduation ceremonies. Click the image to the right to see more photos from the event.

During COVID 19, the Office of First-generation students, in partnership with offices across campus, held the graduation ceremonies online.

The image is of an invitation with white corners on the top left and bottom right with the rest of the invitation being purple. The top heading reads please join us in cursive lettering. Then the sub heading following that reads at the 6th annual. Then the next heading reads first-generation student graduation celebration. In the left section underneath that heading the text reads May 12, 2023, 7:00-8:00pm, K-state student union forum hall. The middle section underneath the heading reads family and friends of first-gen k-state graduates are invited to join together in celebration! In the right section underneath the text is a first-gen logo. Then underneath all of this text is a description of how to RSVP through Qualtrics by April 28, 2023. Then at the very bottom there is a Kansas State University logo.

Link to RSVP

Kansas State University First-generation Student Graduation Celebration Spring 2022