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CPH first generation celebration returns on Nov. 8

On Nov. 8, Cal Poly Humboldt will be hosting the First Generation College Celebration Day. It will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Great Hall above College Creek Marketplace.

The university first put on the event in person in 2019, with the following two years having online celebrations. Gema Quiroz-Torres, Liz Silver and Jazmin Sedano organized the event. They are all Humboldt alumni and all first generation college students.

“We don’t want to only use this event to create community and talk about our successes,” Quiroz-Torres said. “But also to see and hear what other things we can do for the upcoming years so we can keep building this.”

Last year Congress deemed Nov. 8 to be First Generation College Celebration Day. It is also the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act which made education a possibility for so many. Currently, 43% of Cal Poly Humboldt students are first generation college students. The event provides a space for graduates to connect and hear other’s stories.

To kick off the celebration, there will be some history about the Higher Education Act, Lyndon B. Johnson’s role in poverty and information on Trio Programs, such as Upward Bound and EOP.

Several campus organizations will be tabling, offering different resources and possible job opportunities. There will be a photo booth, food and drinks for attendees. Two Humboldt alumni guest speakers will be talking about their experiences, adversities and triumphs. Due to popular demand from previous years, students who want a chance to talk will be able to during the open mic session.

The Trio Program helped put on a social media campaign highlighting first generation students, staff and faculty. If you would like to get highlighted on their Instagram page, follow @humboldtfirstgen, click the link in their bio and fill out the form.

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