San Bernardino Valley College honored the hard work and dedication of its first-generation students during the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration Day.

  This is a new national event, held on Nov. 8 to coincide with the anniversary of the day President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Higher Education Act of 1965. This legislation strengthened the United States' colleges and universities, making higher education more accessible for people from underserved communities.

SBVC's inaugural First-Generation College Celebration Day event was attended by about 35 people. First-generation students are exactly that — the first in their immediate families to attend or graduate from a college — and the celebration recognized not only SBVC's current first-generation students, but also employees who were the first in their families to continue their educational journeys after high school.

The highlight of the event came courtesy of the speakers who shared their stories during two panel discussions. The first panel was comprised of a diverse group of professionals from the Inland Empire, including many who attended SBVC, who spoke about their career paths and experiences as first-generation students. The second panel was made up of current and recent first-generation students, who shared what it's been like for them to navigate the uncharted waters of higher education.

"They touched upon a number of topics, including overcoming imposter syndrome, the importance of the campus and the services provided, and dealing with the pressure of being the first college student in their family," Oscar Rodriguez, Student Success and Support Program Coordinator with First Year Experience, said.

After a successful inaugural event, SBVC is looking forward to celebrating the next First-Generation College Celebration Day in November 2022.