{"id":153133,"date":"2025-11-03T11:19:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T17:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=153133"},"modified":"2025-11-03T11:24:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T17:24:06","slug":"university-of-mississippi-celebrates-sixth-annual-first-generation-college-students-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/university-of-mississippi-celebrates-sixth-annual-first-generation-college-students-week\/","title":{"rendered":"University of Mississippi Celebrates Sixth Annual First-Generation College Students Week"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Celebrations, community-building events scheduled for week of November 3<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>University of Mississippi<\/strong> will kick off its sixth annual First-Generation College Student Week celebrations on Monday, November 3, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Flagship First-Gen, <strong>Ole Miss<\/strong>&#8216; hub for students who are the first in their families to attend college, has organized a week of activities ahead of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tracking.us.nylas.com\/l\/de7535c86a6c4347963374515f9a0593\/1\/6ec6704054039a788df1f70f1457b21b391ccb53f4c2fab3dee98017139786f0?cache_buster=1762106942\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National First-Generation College Student Day<\/a>\u00a0on Nov. 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year&#8217;s event, themed, &#8220;Flagship First-Gen Forward: Together We Thrive&#8221; is focused on building community, said <strong>Seneca Crump<\/strong>, program director for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tracking.us.nylas.com\/l\/de7535c86a6c4347963374515f9a0593\/2\/cd85610ce2b7f11b8d7d5e669ff5153eddeb919de403b84c5743e59a86ee35f7?cache_buster=1762106942\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ole Miss Opportunity<\/a>\u00a0and first-generation programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This week is going to give us an opportunity to build awareness, create connections and foster belonging,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s not just about celebration, it&#8217;s about visibility and empowerment for our students, faculty, staff and even alumni who are first gen.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The week&#8217;s events include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Monday \u2013 Campuswide Networking Reception, 5-6:30 p.m., Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement, Student Union<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tuesday \u2013 &#8220;Stories That Inspire&#8221; First-Gen Career Journeys Panel, 4-5:30 p.m., Career Center, 303 Martindale-Cole Student Services Center<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wednesday \u2013 Pastries on the Plaza, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Student Union Plaza<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thursday \u2013 First-Gen Block Party and Resource Fair, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Circle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Friday 7 \u2013 &#8220;First Down&#8221; Pre-Game Day Celebration, noon-3 p.m., Flagship First-Gen Student Suite, Martindale-Cole Student Services Center.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Crump, who was named program director over the summer, said the celebration is special to him as a first-generation staff member. Crump graduated from Ole Miss in 2017 with an undergraduate degree in political science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Being a first-generation student from Terry, Mississippi, I had no idea of all the different opportunities and possibilities here,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I had no idea I could build a community here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I want to do: I want to open doors for other students.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Flagship First-Gen office provides support for students year-round, including resume workshops, academic counseling and the annual First-Gen Evening of Excellence, which celebrates graduating students each spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students can also get involved with the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/tracking.us.nylas.com\/l\/de7535c86a6c4347963374515f9a0593\/3\/d6f3d4de2779153e0dc9c2b2de82965a9c907e3fd43abefad7da39e71ad41efe?cache_buster=1762106942\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">First-Gen Student Network<\/a>, which meets every other Monday, and join Alpha Alpha Alpha,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/tracking.us.nylas.com\/l\/de7535c86a6c4347963374515f9a0593\/4\/013349d41308eb39f7f5f2482376642bf3c67d30939cf66bc46f2739d2dff495?cache_buster=1762106942\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the nation&#8217;s only first-generation student honor society.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;When we think about access to higher education, it&#8217;s not just getting them here, but getting them access to all the resources that are available to them to elevate their experience here,&#8221; Crump said. &#8220;We want first-gen students to see that they are not alone, that there are faculty, staff and other students walking this same journey with them.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>By Clara Turnage<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/TheLocalVoiceLigature-25web.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"25\" height=\"16\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/TheLocalVoiceLigature-25web.jpg?resize=25%2C16\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14544\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0321-BA-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0321-BA-1024x683.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-153134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0321-BA-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0321-BA-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0321-BA-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0321-BA-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0321-BA-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0321-BA-scaled.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0321-BA-scaled.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The annual Evening of Excellence at the Union Ballroom celebrates first-generation students graduation and is one of the many ways Seneca Crump, director of first-gen programming, said he hopes to create community. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay\/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0561-BA-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0561-BA-1024x683.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-153136\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0561-BA-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0561-BA-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0561-BA-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0561-BA-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0561-BA-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0561-BA-scaled.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0561-BA-scaled.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">University of Mississippi students receive their graduation cords for Alpha Alpha Alpha, an honor society for first-generation students. The university recently joined the honor society. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay\/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Seneca-Crump.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Seneca-Crump-683x1024.jpg?resize=640%2C960&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-153135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Seneca-Crump.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Seneca-Crump.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Seneca-Crump.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Seneca-Crump.jpg?w=953&amp;ssl=1 953w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Seneca Crump. Submitted photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Celebrations, community-building events scheduled for week of November 3 The University of Mississippi will kick off its sixth<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123462,"featured_media":153136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17687],"tags":[30616,5,7067,32955,32956,655],"class_list":["post-153133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-university-of-mississippi","tag-first-generation-college-student-week","tag-mississippi","tag-ole-miss","tag-seneca-crump","tag-terry","tag-university-of-mississippi"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SC_0561-BA-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/123462"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153133"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":153137,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153133\/revisions\/153137"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=153133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=153133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}