Being the first in your family to get a college education is something to celebrate at Saint Augustine’s University. That was the idea behind an event last week in which first-generation students gathered to hear inspirational speeches and prayers, pose for pictures and – to end on a sweet note – enjoy cupcakes topped with a special message just for them.
Speakers at the “First Generation Celebration,” held Thursday, Nov. 21, in the theater at the MLK Student Center, lauded students for being pioneers and exhorted them to be strong and to be appreciative of the opportunity they had been given and to take full advantage of it.
Ophelia Johnson, a professor of Film and Interactive Media, set the tone in the invocation: “We gather here today with hearts full of gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate this program which uplifts and empowers first-generation college students. We are grateful for students who are trailblazers in their families, pursuing education with courage, determination and hope.”
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