Over 50 percent of students at Bemidji State University are first-generation college students, meaning they are the first in their family to attend a four-year college or university. Bemidji State celebrates the strengths, assets, and leadership that all first-generation students, faculty and staff bring to campus.
In honor of First-Generation Celebration Day on Nov. 8, BSU will hold an ice cream social from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Lakeside Lounge in Hobson Memorial Union, sponsored by TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS). Students will have the opportunity to share why they are proud to be a first-generation college student, enjoy some tasty treats and connect with other first-generation students and resources at BSU.
“When I came to BSU I didn’t understand much about registering for classes, the best ways to study, or how to get help with classes,” said Lacie Hines, a junior from Pillager, Minn. “The TRIO program has been a huge help to me in my college journey and I would definitely recommend that incoming freshman take advantage of this program.”
The mission of TRIO SSS is to increase retention and graduation rates of low-income, first-generation and/or disabled students. The program provides opportunities for academic and personal development while promoting persistence through to graduation.
Kelli Steggall, director of TRIO SSS at BSU said, “I am a first-generation college student and have seen the struggles of first-generation students over the past 11 years working with BSU students as well as local high school students. All first-generation students and their parents deserve to be recognized for their commitment to education because it is not easy.”
CONTACT
- Kelli Steggall, director of TRIO McNair/SSS, Upward Bound; (218) 755-2504, kelli.steggall@bemidjistate.edu
LINKS
Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding.
2019-B-056