EKU Builds Community With First-Generation Students

“Being a first-generation college student means I’m a trailblazer,” said Sheridan Nash, a senior nursing major from London, Kentucky. “It means I’m able to have this opportunity that my parents didn’t.”

First-generation students, whose parents have not completed a four-year degree, continue to shape Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), making up more than half of the incoming freshman class for three years in a row. At spring graduation, 40% of the Class of 2025 were the first in their families to earn a college degree. To celebrate and support this growing community, EKU hosted the Gen1 Mixer in early September, bringing together students, faculty and staff who share the same experience.

“We are reaching more students today than we ever have before to make college possible. The opportunity of a college degree is truly transformative—not only for our students, but for their families, our region and state and for generations to come,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “As a first-generation college graduate, I know the importance of finding connection and support. EKU is a place where first-generation students belong and find opportunities and resources to succeed.”

Angela Hillary, a senior social work major from Louisville, Kentucky, said the absence of family experience in navigating college makes it especially important to find guidance and community on campus.

“I had nobody to do it for me or tell me what to do,” said Hillary. “That was really challenging at first because I didn’t know how to speak up for myself, but I learned and adapted.”

While she entered college without family guidance, Hillary quickly discovered a strong support system at EKU that made her feel at home.

Nash had a similar experience, saying, “At first, I worried about finding a community, but I credit NOVA for helping me get started.”

Nash found friends, mentors and support through EKU’s NOVA Program, a TRiO initiative supporting first-generation and low-income students. Seeing faculty and staff with a similar experience reminds her of what she’s capable of and shows her that success is possible.

Staff like Sierrah Anderson, director of EKU’s NOVA Program, play a key role in guiding students through college. Anderson, a first-generation college graduate, now uses her experience to help others. She knows the transition from high school to college can be difficult, making it essential for students to find their community on campus. The program currently serves more than 200 EKU students.

“I get to know these students and support them throughout their time at EKU,” Anderson said. “It’s a source of pride to see them succeed, and it means so much to be part of a transformative time in their lives.”

EKU offers a variety of resources to help first-generation students succeed. The NOVA Program provides academic advising, financial aid counseling, leadership development, life skills workshops, cultural trips and more. The Student Success Center offers guidance on coursework, financial aid and study skills, while the student organization FirstKerns hosts events to connect and support first-generation students across campus.

Recognized for a commitment to improving the experiences and outcomes of first-generation students, EKU has been designated a First-Gen Forward Institution by the Center for First-generation Student Success. EKU has also been named an “Opportunity College and University” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a distinction that highlights institutions providing higher-than-expected levels of student access and post-graduation earnings.

By Jake Hall