Celebration Week
The Office of Undergraduate Education invites the UT Dallas community to participate in our fifth annual First-Generation Celebration Week! The celebration begins on Monday, November 6th and continues through Friday, November 10th. Join us to meet first-generation students and supporters, hear from guest speakers, network with professionals, participate in a resource fair, and engage in our social media campaign! Raffle prizes include graduation regalia, a wireless printer, and more!
First-Generation Celebration Week 2023 Events
First-Generation Visibility Walk
Monday, November 6th
UT Dallas Plinth
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Join us as we kick off First-Generation Celebration Week with our First-Generation Visibility Walk around campus! We will gather at the plinth for a precession around the UT Dallas campus to celebrate our First-Generation Comet Pride. Bring your signs, t-shirts, bells, whistles, costumes, and your smiles! The procession begins at 12:15pm. The path will end back at the plinth where attendees can enjoy music and snacks. Current first-generation students are invited to serve as social media ambassadors and live stream the walk via Instagram. Students, parents, younger siblings, and other family members are welcome to join in the celebration! The event is come and go, and there will hot cocoa and sweet treats!
Leadership Listens
Deadline to apply: Wednesday, November 1st
Tuesday, November 7th
11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
Competitive leadership opportunity. Selected students provided letter requesting instructor flexibility. Apply here
Students will have the opportunity to share their educational story and insights about their undergraduate experience from a first-generation student lens with senior leadership during our annual Leadership Listens event. Applicants will be selected on a competitive basis. Students can apply to represent the UT Dallas first-generation student community in conversation with UT Dallas upper administration (i.e., UT Dallas President, Vice President, Provost) and will have the opportunity to share their story with administration uninterrupted, while they listen. After listening, the group will engage in facilitated dialogue designed to provide administration insights about the first-generation student college experience and the first-generation journey at UT Dallas.
Connecting with First-Generation Students using Pop Culture (Faculty and Staff)
Wednesday, November 8th
Cecil H. Green Hall, GR 2.302
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Register here
Each year, during First-Generation Celebration Week, we provide a presentation focused on professional development to continuously enhance how we serve and advocate for first-generation students. UT Dallas faculty and staff are invited to join the Office of Undergraduate Education for a special presentation on how higher education professionals can use popular culture to amplify the first-generation student experience. Special guest speaker Bertrand Gervais joins UT Dallas for a lively discussion on how to incorporate pop culture into courses, programming, and individual support for first-generation students!
First-Generation Professional Networking Event
Thursday, November 9th
Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Register here
The newest addition to First-Generation Celebration Week is a dedicated First-Generation Student and Alumni Networking event sponsored by Capital One! The event will feature a panel of first-generation professionals from Capital One and a networking reception designed to facilitate connections between current UT Dallas first-generation students, alumni, and corporate supporters. Current first-generation students will expand their professional networks, gain insights about internship and career opportunities, and learn from the experiences of first-generation professionals. First-generation alumni and corporate supporters will share advice with current students, including those close to graduation and seeking internships, you never know who is looking for interns or full-time team members! Other event activities will include a photobooth for professional headshots, a ‘tell me about yourself’ elevator speech challenge, and résumé reviews. FOOD, GIVAWAYS, and RAFFLE tickets provided!
Resource Fair | Raffles and Games
Friday, November 10th
Visitor’s Center Atrium (across from the bookstore)
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Campus departments register here
First-Generation UT Dallas students are invited to our signature event of First-Generation Celebration Week: The First-Generation Celebration Week Resource Fair! The event will take place in the Visitor’s Center Atrium (the area outside the bookstore). We know dedicating time to visiting various campus offices, asking questions, and learning about services and opportunities can be stressful when balancing classes and other commitments. So, we are bringing the faculty, staff, campus departments, leadership programs, research groups (that’s right!), etc. to you! This event is come and go, and will feature FOOD, music, SWAG, and, of course, raffle PRIZES! It’s our biggest event of the week!