Students, faculty, family, and friends gathered at the inaugural First Generation Luncheon last week. (Photo by Daniel DeVries)
It started with one student standing to thank her family for their support at the inaugural First-Generation Luncheon during commencement weekend.
“I think I’m here to thank you, not just for your sacrifices in the past four years, but for everything you’ve done in my life,” said the political science major from the Bronx, N.Y.
What followed was a moving tribute, as more students took the microphone to thank those closest to them for the love and support that culminated in their graduation from Colgate.
At the semi-formal luncheon on the Merrill House lawn, students spoke directly to their families in whatever language was most comfortable — Spanish, English, Russian, or Chinese — in front of a crowd of more than 200, gathered to celebrate the achievements of all first-generation graduates in the Class of 2015.
Vice President of Institutional Advancement Murray Decock ’80, a first-generation college graduate himself, encouraged students to reflect on the moment and on the fact that their achievement goes far beyond receiving a diploma and moving into the workplace or graduate school.
“You’ve been able to alter your family’s story and legacy forever,” Decock said.
Their legacies were forever changed. One student, a peace and conflict studies major from California, told of his family’s difficulties while he was growing up, recounting a time when they were forced to sleep in a public park because of financial problems.
Another student, through tears, thanked her mother for adopting her, and making her the star of their family, while another talked about the sacrifices her parents made after coming to America as immigrants in search of a better life for their children.
Vice President and Dean of Admission Gary Ross ’77 read a portion of the original application essay submitted by one of the students at the event.
“Even while being the first person in my family to go to college, I know that I will be able to break even more borders with that degree in my hands,” Ross read from the essay of the student from California who would graduate with honors as a double major in Spanish and sociology and anthropology. “I know now that anything is possible as long as we put our heart and soul into it.”
With admiration for the students attending the lunch, Ross said, “Most, if not all of you, knew your journey through college would not be easy. However, you considered academically demanding colleges and universities like Colgate not because you thought it would be easy, but rather because of the fact that you knew it would be hard. You, too, were ready to pour your heart and soul into the journey.”
Slideshow photos by Tommy Brown ’79.