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About FirstGen Society
Who We Are.
Engagement Driven. First Gen Focused.
The National Leadership Society of First Generation College Students, a.k.a. FirstGen Society, is a national social organization dedicated specifically for first generation college students and alumni.
We provide our members with support, leadership development, and fellowship, community, and friendship through our Student Clubs, Collegiate Chapter, and Professional Chapters.
What FirstGen Society Can Do For You.
By connecting first generatioin college students and alumni together through fellowship and organized chapters and clubs, we can strengthen and influence the student's experience and commitment in school as well as
build leaders and friendships in our schools and communities.
By doing so, we can create social and leadership opportunities for our members to engage, empower themselves and others, and grow together - all necessary for advancing the success of first generation college students and alumni.
Benefits of a Group.
There is strength in numbers. We can achieve more together than we can alone. Being a part of a goup or community with a shared purpose can give you a sense of belonging, pride, support, and encouragement. If you're looking to do more than you ever thought you could,
you absolutely can, but don't do it alone. Together we can support each other to achieve what we set out to do, while building lifelong friendships, reaching academic and professional achievements, and making a difference in the lives of others.
Our Reach.
To foster the success of first generation college students, we want to focus on supporting first generation college students during their transition into college, through college, and graduation and beyond. Therefore, membership is open to high school students and college students who are preparing to be the first or currently are the first in their families to go to college as well as first generation college student alumni who have graduated and are now in their early, mid, or senior career stages.
Friendship and Community.
Our members vary in age and backgrounds and can come from all walks of life. One thing we have in common is shared identity and experiences of being a first generation college student. At FirstGen Society, we are devoted to our personal growth, but we also commit ourselves to one one another to support and inspire each other, build confidence and leadership together, and participate in social, leadership, and community initiatives through the power of lifelong fellowship and friendship unique to each chapter and club.
Our Social Responsibility.
As an organization that serves first generation college students, we want to be able to give back to our first generation college student communities. We aim to provide student scholarships and paid internship opportunities to our members as well as give back to local programs and organizations that serve these students.
Our Mission & Values.
Our Mission.
To foster the success of first generation college students and alumni by providing our members with lifelong fellowship, community, and friendship, and a sense of individual and unified purpose and pride where we can connect, empower, and grow together.
Our Vision.
FirstGen Society will be essential to the first generation college student community by providing a national network and community where we can provide our members with opportunities to participate, lead, volunteer, network, build lifelong friendships, and encourage faculty-student interaction which helps connect them to their institutions and communities. FirstGen Society will also support the mission of colleges, universities, and other organizations that serve the first generation college student community through partnerships and collaboration.
Our Purpose.
Our purpose is to foster lifelong friendship, community, and opportunities for first generation college students and graduates to engage, build confidence and leadership as well as reach personal growth and success together through shared experiences and identity. In addition, we support and partner with organizations that serve the first generation college student community.
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Our Core Values.
Education > Education is the compass that drives our purpose. Education is something obtained, but can never be taken away from you or erased. It can offer access to new opportunities that can transcend a person academically, morally, intellectually, economically, and professionally. We obtain knowledge through our own personal experiences and in-classroom and out-of-classroom learning. We encourage our members to continue a lifetime of learning whether in the classroom or beyond.
Empowerment > When someone is empowered, they have the ability to accomplish something, giving them the confidence needed to succeed. Empowerment is the key to future development and inspiring leadership. Through empowerment, we hope to inspire generosity, leadership, and compassion for our members to empower others and to pay it forward so that we can continue to create positive outcomes in individual lives and in our communities.
Leadership > The best leaders lead from a position of their true selves in a way that is genuine and authentic. First generation college students already are remarkable leaders for being the first in their families to embark college. We encourage our members to find their voices and become authentic leaders by owning their own stories, having the courage to embrace themselves, and being understanding and compassionate of others.
Friendship & Community > Being part of a community where you can establish and nurture lifelong friendships is key to growth, learning, teamwork, and providing a strong support system. The benefits of friendship and community can help increase engagement, motivation, commitment, support, and collaboration. A community that works together well, bonds and performs well and helps them to know their purposes and how they can go about achieving it together.
Empathy > Empathy guides how we should show up for each other and our communities. We create space where every story matters, opening doors for those forging new paths. By listening deeply and supporting one another, we grow together. This shared understanding fuels innovation, strengthens bonds, and helps everyone feel seen, heard, and valued in meaningful ways.
Our Story.
My name is Anthony Surratt and together with my wife, Emily, we were inspired to start a new venture with a social mission dedicated to helping first generation college students.
As a former first generation college student, I understand the challenges and anxieties that first-gen college students experience. I have served in higher education for over 20 years in the areas of Enrollment Management, Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrars, New Student Programming, Orientations, Residence Life, as well as leadership.
Throughout my personal and professional life, I have recognized there are a lot of valuable and beneficial resources and programs available to first-gen college students. However, many of them operate in silos and are only unique and available to a particular college or local area. So, we thought what if we could connect first generation college students and colleges on a broader scale while aligning various resources and programs together through one central platform.
With that idea in mind, Emily and I took the liberty to learn more about first generation college students. In our research, we discovered that many first-gen students do not obtain the necessary and fundamental accumulated knowledge or cultural capital that one needs in order to set basic expectations of college and be better prepared for college.