Boston University First-Gen College Celebration 2023

Join the Newbury Center and the entire BU community as we celebrate the achievements and experiences of our first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. While the official date for the National First-Generation College Celebration is November 8th, we’re celebrating for a whole week.

The Newbury Center and the entire BU community events:

Thursday, November 2nd at 1:00-2:00pm:

• First-gen College Celebration National Broadcast (Online) Join the Center for First-generation Student Success and the Council for Opportunity in Education on November 2nd at 1:00pm OR November 8th at 6:00pm for the 2023 First-Generation College Celebration National Broadcast, featuring a panel moderated by President Tracy D. Hall, Ed.D., President, Southwest Tennessee Community College. Tinisha Agramonte, Vice President, DEI Talent Outreach and Development, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products; Jessica Cipolla-Tario, Vice President, Global Creative Services, Sony Interactive Entertainment; Marge Jackson, Senior Vice President—Head of Sales, Comcast; and Leticia Silva, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Minnesota Twins round out the panel and will discuss their journeys and how they create opportunities for future first-gen leaders. Broadcast #1: REGISTER

Friday, November 3rd:

• 12:00-1:30PM: First-gen Friday for Grad & Professional Students (BU Medical Campus) (Hiebert Lounge, 14th flr INS Bldg, 72 E Concord St.) Join the Newbury Center for an extra-special First-Gen Friday extravaganza in honor of National First-Gen College Celebration Week! Drop in for free lunch with your fellow first-gen graduate and professional students. We will be giving away all kinds of Newbury Center swag, including free Terrier F1RSTS t-shirts to celebrate being a first-gen in style. Stop by so we can celebrate you! Supplies are limited so be sure to REGISTER!
• 5:00-8:00PM: First-gen Flicks: Dinner & a Movie (Newbury Center, 755 Commonwealth Ave, Suite B18) Join the Newbury Center for First-Gen Flicks, a film series showcasing first-gen students on the silver screen! This month, we will be showing “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”. Dinner will be served, so please REGISTER!

Saturday, November 4th:

• 8:00AM-4:00PM: First-gen Summit (Babson College, 231 Forest St, Babson Park, MA – Exact Location TBA) Attend a first-gen conference for FREE! In honor of National First-Gen College Celebration week, the Newbury Center invites Boston University’s first-gen undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to join us at the 11th Annual First Gen Summit. REGISTRATION IS CLOSED DUE TO REACHING CAPACITY.

Monday, November 6th:

• 5:00-6:00PM: First-Gen Study Abroad Panel and Dinner (Newbury Center, 755 Commonwealth Ave, Suite B18) A panel with first-gen study abroad student ambassadors—grab free dinner and get the inside scoop on the study abroad experience! REGISTER HERE
• 6:00-8:00PM: BU Women’s Basketball Home Opener (Case Gym, 285 Babcock St) Join us on Monday, November 6th for Terrier Tip-Off when Boston University hosts UMass Lowell in the women’s basketball season opener at Case Gym! There will be free food, giveaways, music and more! Be sure to wear your BU Newbury Center t-shirt or your Terrier F1RSTS buttons so you can spot other first-gen students at the game! Students who have the BU Sports Pass can get in with their BU ID. No sports pass? No problem! Space is limited, so REGISTER to reserve a ticket! Go Terriers!

Tuesday, November 7th:

• 11:30AM-1:00PM: Seeking and Belonging: Navigating Faith and Religious Identity as First-Gen Students (Marsh Room, Marsh Chapel) Join Marsh Chapel Office of Religious Life for a conversation exploring both the role and challenges of faith, spirituality, and religious identity for first-generation students. Lunch will be provided, and students are invited to stay the entire time or come-and-go as needed. Registration (link here) is not required, but helpful for planning food accommodations.
• 7:00-8:00PM: First-Gen Ice Cream Social (West Campus, Rich Hall Cinema Room, 277 Babcock Street) I scream, you scream, all First-Gen’s scream for Ice Cream!! Come enjoy some ice cream in the Rich Hall Cinema Room after dinner with Residence Life and your fellow West Campus First-Gen family! We will have vegan-friendly ice cream on-hand, as well as some West Campus T-Shirts!

Wednesday, November 8th:

• 12:00-4:00PM: National First-Gen College Celebration (George Sherman Union Metcalf Hall Ballroom, 2nd Floor) The entire BU community (students, faculty, and staff) is invited to take part in this event–fun activities like writing 1,000 notes of encouragement, games, Research Poster Showcase, create a first-gen mural, and giveaways like Terrier F1RSTS swag AND Convenience Points, and LOTS OF FREE FOOD!
  • 12:00-4:00PM:
    • Resource tabling by various departments and organizations such as Alumni Engagement, Aspire Institute, Behavioral Medicine, BU Hub, BU Libraries, BU Sustainability, BUMC Student Financial Services, CAS Preprofessional Advising Office: Pre-health, Center for Career Development, College Access & Student Success, College Advising Corps, Dean of Students, Educational Resource Center, Engineering Undergraduate Programs Office, Financial Assistance, FirstPoint – University Service Center (ENSA), First-Year Success Office, Generation Conscious, Growbie, Innovate@BU, Leadership Brainery, Marsh Chapel Office of Religious Life, Student Activities Office, Student Health Services, and more!
    • Professional Clothing Closet Pop-Up
    • Research Poster Presentations by first-gen students
• 12:00-4:00PM: First-gen Art Exhibition in the BU Arts Initiative (George Sherman Union, 2nd Floor) Stop by the BU Arts Initiative and check out the First-gen Art Exhibition which is comprised of art by our first-gen students. Snacks provided, too!
• 5:30-7:00PM: Career Potential & Imposter Syndrome: A First-Gen Alumni Panel Event (Leventhal Center, BU Admissions building) The Center for Career Development (CCD) presents an in-person speaker panel of first-generation voices in honor of First-Gen Student Week. Panelists will discuss their journeys to career success, life within their professions, and the career-related challenges they have faced or continue to face as trailblazers. This event will confront and challenge imposter syndrome, reminding students that success is the product of hard work, is earned, and is rightfully deserved. REGISTER HERE on Handshake
• 6:00-7:30PM: BU Alumni “Disruption” Series featuring Jashin Lin (BUild Lab – 730 Commonwealth Ave.)
  Join us for the 3rd installment of the BU Alumni Disruption Series, featuring BU Questrom Alum Jashin Lin, CEO & founder of Growbie, a platform that helps first-generation immigrants, such as international students and working professionals to unlock career success. Learn more about the FIRST career development platform for international students that bridges the cultural gap, develops career readiness, and fosters a STEM talent pipeline from Jashin Lin, a social entrepreneur, community builder and honorable BU Alum. REGISTER HERE
• 6:00-7:00PM:  First-gen College Celebration National Broadcast (Online) Join the Center for First-generation Student Success and the Council for Opportunity in Education on November 8th at 6:00pm for the 2023 First-Generation College Celebration National Broadcast, featuring a panel moderated by President Tracy D. Hall, Ed.D., President, Southwest Tennessee Community College. Tinisha Agramonte, Vice President, DEI Talent Outreach and Development, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products; Jessica Cipolla-Tario, Vice President, Global Creative Services, Sony Interactive Entertainment; Marge Jackson, Senior Vice President—Head of Sales, Comcast; and Leticia Silva, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Minnesota Twins round out the panel and will discuss their journeys and how they create opportunities for future first-gen leaders.
  Broadcast #2: REGISTER

Thursday, November 9th:

• 6-7:30PM:  Tri-Alpha National Honor Society Induction Ceremony (By Invitation Only–Livestream will be available)

Friday, November 10th:

• 9-11AM:  Fuel-Up Friday (Newbury Center)

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