UC celebrates first-generation college students throughout November
Her parents were both born in Guatemala and neither had any formal education. But Gabriella Mendez is now the first in her family to go to college and has made the University of Cincinnati home.
"It's OK to be afraid," Mendez said. "You're going to be the one to kind of put the blueprint (on education for your family).”
The third year finance and marketing major found community in UC’s 1MPACT House and the Gen-1 program, which together offer support to about 200 students. The 1MPACT House provides a focused residential community for first-gen students. The Gen-1 program offers scholarships, has a service-learning component, and was the nation’s first living-learning community supporting Pell-eligible, first-generation students in their transition to college life.
Mendez and Courtney Ware, a second-year criminal justice major, spoke with WLWT about UC’s efforts to assist first-gen students.
“I would definitely say persevere and advocate for yourself,” explains Ware, also a first-gen student.
Individuals who are the first in their family to attend college, or first-generation students, now account for 10,198 students at the University of Cincinnati. That’s an increase of more than 10% accounting for nearly 1 in every 5 Bearcats.
Courtney Ware and Gabriella Mendez shown on WLWT segment. Photo provided.
“You are the first in your family to really set a new course,” explains Jack Miner, vice provost for enrollment management. “It’s really incredible because you end up becoming a role model for others in your family and others in your neighborhood.”
Suzette Combs, director of the Gen-1/1MPACT House, says UC is continuing its efforts that specifically target first-generation students.
“If given the proper tools and support our first-gen students do succeed,” says Combs.
The six-year graduation rate for UC undergraduate students overall is 75% while that of students participating in the 1MPACT House is 78%. For first-generation students overall at UC that six-year undergraduate grad rate is about 64%.
UC is waiving the application admissions fee for an undergraduate program throughout the month of November in hopes of encouraging more first-generation college students to consider becoming a Bearcat.
Listen to a segment on WLWT featuring first-gen students at UC online.
UC students Sofia Rodriguez, Kangan Bawa, Brandon Mapp Jr., Isabel Lewis, Danielle Hall and Ramatoulaye Diallo are shown in front of the 1MPACT House. on the UC campus. Photo by Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.
Latest UC News
- UC graduates strike gold as leaders of precious metals companyBowen and Finn Alexy found their University of Cincinnati education worth its weight in gold as they’ve become angel investors, entrepreneurs and leaders of a precious metals firm.
- Beyond the Classroom: Perspectives on Long-Term Study AbroadMore than 1300 UC students studied abroad in 2023-24. Most students tend to sway towards the most popular option of faculty-led programs, because of its shorter duration and high level of faculty support. But some UC students strike out on their own, choosing to fly solo for a semester to a year with long-term study abroad programs.
- Family honors late Cincinnatian with transformative investment in cancer researchA family with Cincinnati ties wants patients and their families grappling with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis to experience the gift of time.
- Celebrate the holiday season with upcoming CCM concertsCCM's collegiate and preparatory ensembles celebrate the winter holidays with a variety of upcoming performances!
- This UC student sees success in the checkpointsSiinboon Daba, a fourth-year cybersecurity major in the University of Cincinnati's College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology, found the secret to effective time management and a full life at UC.
- ‘Undisciplined by Design’ podcast dives into the power of unbridled innovationUniversity of Cincinnati professor Aaron Bradley uses his “Undisciplined by Design” podcast to interview high-profile innovation leaders from across the United States.
