Peru, Nebraska - On November 8, first generation students were celebrated on the Peru State College
campus and on campuses across the nation. The date is the anniversary of the signing
of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Student Success Services, a part of TRiO, provided Peru State a way to celebrate first
generation students, and to recognize faculty and staff who are also first generation
college graduates. Student Success Services provided “Proud to Be a First Gen Bobcat”
buttons to wear the week of November 8.
Peru State’s Student Intervention Coordinator, Michelle Kaiser, oversaw the program
and adds, "I think it’s so important for first generation students to feel a sense
of community when they come to college."
"Providing a way for students to easily identify other First Gen students enables
them to make connections with their peers. We’ve had a tremendous amount of staff
and faculty support, and that is also so important as First Gen students are able
to identify possible mentors and role models with life experiences similar to their
own."
The term TRiO refers to the collection of seven different federal programs created
by the U.S. government to help Americans overcome social and economic barriers to
higher education. Peru State College houses one TRiO program on campus—Student Success
Services. While the other TRiO programs help students prepare for college or pursue
graduate degrees, Student Success Services specifically aids undergraduate college students to persist
in their studies and continue to graduation.
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Quentin Victor assisted with this press release.