Our Programs

We partner with Education Abroad to offer an affordable education abroad experience for first-generation students during spring break. For more information on other education abroad experiences, visit their website.

First-generation Student Study Abroad Experience: Costa Rica (Spring Break 2025)

Applications for Costa Rica 2025 are closed.

Watch the following videos to hear about previous First-generation Education Abroad Experiences.

Italy (2024)

Costa Rica (2023)

Awards and recognition during National First-generation Student Celebration Week in November of each year.

Award Criteria

• First-generation status, good academic standing (2.0 GPA or higher)
• Enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate program.
  • Consideration will be given to students enrolled part-time under special circumstances.
• Open to immigrant students not qualified to file for FAFSA.
• Commitment to pay it forward thorough community engagement such as participating in FGSC event planning, mentoring, or any other community contributions.
• Students may not be awarded this scholarship more than once.

Selection process

• Application with contact information.
• Essay, up to 750 words, answering the following prompts:
  • What does your first-generation identity mean to you and how do you wish to contribute to the first-generation community at K-State?
  • If you are a part-time student, elaborate on the circumstances related to your part-time enrollment status. Elaborate on your financial need and how you would use the scholarship funds if selected as a recipient.
  • Essay files are to be named LastName_FirstName_Essay
    • ex. Paz_Rebeca_Essay
• List one professional reference from an employer, faculty or staff with contact information.
• Committee led by the First-generation Student Center will select recipients.

Award amount or range of amount: $500 - $750

• Applications are closed for the 2024-25 School Year.
• Student recipients will be notified by Monday, October 28, 2024.
• Award can be used for Fall 2024 or Spring 2025
• Scholarships will be awarded on Thursday, November 7th, at the Proud to be First Scholarship Awards Reception

If you have more questions, email us at firstgen@ksu.edu

2024 First-generation Student Celebration Week

Join us for a week celebrating our first-generation students!

Monday, November 4

• Lunch with the Deans of Arts & Sciences
  • 12 PM - 1 PM
  • Calvin 301
  • First-gen ArtSci Students RSVP Here
• Education Abroad Student Panel
  • 4 PM - 5 PM
  • K-State Student Union Courtyar

Tuesday, November 5

• U.S.A. Election Day
  • No planned events
  • Follow this link to find your polling location

Wednesday, November 6

• K-State Salina First-gen Luncheon
  • 11:30 AM - 1 PM
  • Salina College Center Conference Room
• Online Teaching and Learning Workshop
  • 12 PM - 1 PM
  • Taught by Rebeca Paz and Eric Thompson
  • Follow this link for access to the Zoom Meeting
• Tri-Alpha Induction
  • 4 PM - 5 PM
  • Forum Hall (located in the lower level of the Student Union)

Thursday, November 7

• First-generation Student Celebration
  • 10 AM - 1 PM
  • K-State Student Union Courtyard
  • Nacho Bar: 11 AM - 1 PM
  • Scholarship Ceremony: 12 PM - 1 PM
• Bonfire at Britt's Farm
  • 6 PM - 9 PM
  • 1000 S Scenic Dr.

All Week

• Download First-gen Zoom Backgrounds from our website
• See First-gen Video Portraits around campus
• Proud to be First Coffee at Cornerstone locations in Wefald and Jardine

The First-generation Student Center Celebrates our first-generation graduates and their families each May. We recognize the significance of this milestone for our students, their families and support systems. Students will be given a green cord to wear to graduation as a symbol of their first-generation student identity and resilience. We are proud of our first-gen cats!

Ice Cream Social

Each September we welcome our first-gen students back to campus with an ice cream social. This event is held on the west lawn of Holtz Hall and is sponsored by Tri-Alpha.

Pumpkin Painting

This event has quickly become a favorite for our students. In partnership with the Academic Achievement Center, we host this pumpkin painting event in the Union each October.

Ice Cream Social

Come enjoy ice cream and connect with other first-generation students. This is a "come when you can" event!

September 4th | 11:30 am - 1:30 pm | Holtz Hall West Lawn

Workshop: A Winning Scholarship

Join us in learning how to write competitive scholarship essays. This workshop is led by TRIO Writing Specialist, Dylan Holt.

September 17th | 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm | MSC 120; Oneok Meeting Room

Pumpkin Painting

The First-generation Student Center, the Academic Achievement Center, and Tri-Alpha are excited to bring back pumpkin painting this year!

Octover 28th | 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Student Union Courtyard

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.

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.

First-Gen Friyays!

Join us on the first Friday of each month, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm, for snacks and fun with other first-gen students.

Friyay! events will also be available virtually! Please email us at
first-gen@ksu.edu for online access.

Check this page regularly for updated information on location of our First-gen Friyays!

Ice Cream Social

Study Abroad: Italy

Pumpkin Painting

The First-generation Student Center will be working with Scholar Services to host a Pumpkin Painting Party. The event will be held in the Union Courtyard on Monday, October 16th at 5:00 p.m.

First-generation Student Celebration Week

Come join us for a week-long celebration of our first-generation students, November 6 - 10. Check out our calendar of events below!

Special thanks to our campus partners for their collaboration and support:

Career Center, ​Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, Center for Risk Management​, College of Agriculture​, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Health and Human Sciences, Department of Agricultural Economics, Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences​, Housing and Dining, K State Alumni Association​, K-State Global Campus, Office of Recruitment and Admissions​, KSU Foundation​, Recreational Services, Scholar Services, TRIO Educational Supportive Services​ and Union Program Council​.

Tri-Alpha Induction Ceremony

Kansas State University First-generation Student Graduation Celebration Spring 2022