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First-Gens Celebrate!

Published: November 08, 2019

Queensborough Community College celebrates First-Generation College Students Day, a national salute to students’ collective ambition, determination and drive to succeed.

Approximately 50% of Queensborough students are first-generation college students, according to recent surveys. 

“I was a first-generation student myself,” said Queensborough President Dr. Tim Lynch, a graduate of Brooklyn College, City College and the City College Graduate School.

“CUNY changed the trajectory of my life. And it is changing the lives of thousands of Queensborough students every day,” Dr. Lynch added.

Queensborough offers comprehensive services and programs to assist first-generation students, such as:

Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP); CUNY Edge; Single Stop; Academy Advisement; Extensive financial aid; College Now; CUNY Start; CUNY Language Immersion Program; College Discovery; Services for Students with Disabilities; Counseling, Career Services; the Transfer Resource Center; Military and Veterans' Services; and more

“Education is the engine of social mobility and each student is the driving force,” added Dr. Lynch.

Read some recent stories about first-gen Queensborough students:

  • Biling Chen, who came to America in 2016 and did not know English, is now a scholarship winner and chemist.
  • Julio Salas, from Corona, is now studying pre-med at Cornell University.
  • Dinajah Campbell started her studies at Queensborough Community College when she was 16.
  • Razieh Arabi was first-generation immigrant from Iran

The First-Generation College Celebration began in 2017 with colleges encouraged to hold rallies, panel discussions, listening sessions and other activities in recognition of their first-generation students. The day-long celebration is the brainchild of the Council for Opportunity in Education, a non-profit dedicated to uplifting low-income students, first-generation students and students with disabilities, and the Center for First-Generation Students, an advocacy organization.

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Contact:  Mike Donahue or Alice Doyle

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