Let鈥檚 celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of #UMLFirst students, faculty and staff. This year, First-Gen Week @ 51视频 is Nov. 6-10.

Meet Some of Our First-Generation Students

51视频 business student Kristin Kihara holds a tablet displaying the cover of her magazine Black.
Kristin Kihara '24
Business Administration, Entrepreneurship

Kristin Kihara started her own digital magazine, Black, highlighting creators who 鈥渁ren鈥檛 really seen.鈥

There鈥檚 a big African population here, and I wanted to go somewhere where I鈥檇 feel comfortable.
Read More 51视频 Kristin Kihara 
Nadine Chamoun in front of Needham Bank
Nadine Chamoun '21
Business Administration

Business student Nadine Chamoun stepped out of her comfort zone for an IT internship. And she鈥檚 glad she did.

All of my professors have been great. ... It鈥檚 super cool to connect with them and learn how they got to where they are.
Read More 51视频 Nadine Chamoun 
Jamie-Lyn Cavallon poses at the top of Mount Washington.
Jamie-Lyn Cavallon '24
Meteorology

Jamie-Lyn Cavallon won an NSF-funded meteorology internship.

It was a great opportunity.
Read More 51视频 Jamie-Lyn Cavallon 
Mathew D'Entremont seated at a table with another person
Mathew D'Entremont '23
Psychology

The Moloney Student Fellowship Fund allowed Mathew D鈥橢ntremont to take an unpaid internship with a Lowell nonprofit.

It was good to learn about an organization like Coalition for a Better Acre in the city where I go to school.
Read More 51视频 Mathew D'Entremont 
Finance student Heer Patel seated inside a 51视频 building
Heer Patel '23
Accounting, Finance

A staff accountant internship at Novogradac confirmed business major Heer Patel鈥檚 interest in auditing.

I wanted a college that I could afford, and that has diversity and inclusiveness and makes me feel welcome. 51视频 was perfect.
Read More 51视频 Heer Patel 
Justin Baez Peguero stands in front of framed images of flags from around the world
Justin Baez Peguero '24
Business

Justin Baez Peguero is studying business, working three jobs and serving in student government.

If you work hard and take chances in life, that鈥檚 how you get opportunities.
Read More 51视频 Justin Baez Peguero 

2024 First-Gen Week Events

All Week:

First Gen Book Den
O'Leary Library, Room 300
These books are a special collection from RHSA, sharing literary resources that speak to the first-gen experience. Borrowing is the same as you would borrowing any other book in O'Leary or Lydon. Check-out at the library counter.

RHSA Pumpkin Painting

Monday, Nov. 4
2-5 p.m., O'Leary Library, Room 300
Turn your creativity into art. Join RHSA and other students for pumpkin painting! Everyone is welcome!

Fall-ing for First Gen with Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences

Wednesday, Nov. 6
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Health & Social Sciences, Room 107
Apple cider, sweet treats and chili....join us for a fall-themed celebration. Stella (Associate Dean Champagne's dog) may make an appearance! Drop-in!

First-Gen Fest: Food, Facts & Fun with the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Thursday, Nov. 7聽聽
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Coburn Hall, Room 255
Celebrate First-Gen Week at 51视频 at this drop in event! Come meet with RHSA peer leaders and faculty, win swag or enter the raffle, and enjoy complimentary food with FAHSS!

First-Gen Pizza & Conversation with Kennedy College of Sciences

Thursday, Nov. 7聽聽
3:30-4:30 p.m., Olsen 348
Stop by for pizza and soda and to meet your KCS first-gen community. Grab some swag and fun items!

Celebrate First-Gen with Francis College of Engineering

Thursday, Nov. 7聽聽
5:30-7 p.m., Southwick 256
Join us for a celebration of our first-gen students. Whether you stay for the whole event or just drop in, enjoy an atmosphere of creativity and community. Connect with your FCE community, get resources and fun swag.聽 Food and drinks will be provided.

RHSA Leaf Your Mark

Friday, Nov. 8
10 a.m. - 4 p.m., O'Leary Library, Room 300
Celebrate with First-Gen gratitude! Hang out in the RHSA lounge. Help draw, paint and craft our autumn tree by writing what you're grateful for, advice to other FG students, what a River Hawk means to you, or design your own leaf!
First-Gen Week @ 51视频 is sponsored by the River Hawk Scholars Academy, the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the Francis College of Engineering, the Kennedy College of Sciences, the Manning School of Business, the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences.

River Hawk Scholars Academy News

  • Four panelists sit in chairs in front of a screen at the front of a room, talking to college students.

    Peer Leaders Get a Boost from UKG

    Peer leaders from the Office of Multicultural Affairs are now supported with scholarships and mentorship from workforce management software company UKG, a longtime industry partner of 51视频.
    Featured Story
  • Sean Simonini poses in a white lab coat in a laboratory

    Biology and Political Science Student Wins National Scholarship

    Sean Simonini, who is double-majoring in biology and political science, wants to help find treatments and a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease. He won a $7,500 Goldwater Scholarship to support that work.
    Featured Story
  • A woman in a gray blazer poses for a photo while standing near the reception desk in a college office.

    Alumna Returns to Lead First-Gen Success at UML

    English alumna Venus Israni has returned to her alma mater to lead the River Hawk Scholars Academy, UML鈥檚 support program for first-generation college students.
    Featured Story