Celebrate First Generation - Hennepin Technical College

Dr. Irving College President High School: South Charleston High School, South Charleston, West Virginia College: West Virginia state University – Bachelor’s in Political Science and History and a Master’s of Public administration.

University of Southern California – Doctorate of Education Psychology What First Generation means to me: As a first generation student I was blessed to have a mother who sacrificed, prayed, and believed in me with the support of a loving community.

Focusing on the positive things in my life led to persisting to degree completion. The quality of my education afforded me a prosperous future.

Oprah Winfrey American media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer and philanthropist.

High School: Lincoln High School, Milwaukee, WI, Nicolet High School, Glendale, WI, East Nashville High School, Nashville, TN College: Tennessee State University -Bachelor’s in Communications

Jess Lauritsen Interim Vice President of Student affairs High School: Dassel Cokato – Cokato, MN College: St Cloud state University – Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication and Geography University of St. Thomas – Master’s Degree in education; Leadership in Student Affairs What First Generation means to me: Being a First generation college student means that I figured out most things on my own. Although U know they loved me, my family didn’t have the experience to support me in college. I remember feeling alone.

Scared, and like I did not fit in. It would have ben easy to give up. Instead, I made friends, got to know my professors, and participated in activities. Thankfully, I completed college and went to graduate school. I am grateful to have found a career in Student Affairs where I can pay it forward and support students.

Barack Obama 44th President of the United States

Matt Gustafson HTC Counselor High School: Hutchinson High school – Hutchinson, MN College: Liberty University – Bachelor’s of Science in sport’s management Lynchburg college – Master’s of Education in School Counseling What First Generation means to me: Because I was first generation to pursue a bachelor’s degree, I did not ask my mom many questions to navigate the process she never followed. I sought the help of college faculty and staff to guide me on the right path.

2 Chainz

High School: North clayton High School, GA College: Alabama A & M – Bachelor’s in Psychology

Jeremiah Lanes HTC Culinary Arts High School: Robbinsdale Armstrong High school, Robbinsdale, MN College: Hennepin Technical College What First Generation means to me: It means I was pushed down a path of opportunity because of the support of my family before me. With their knowledge of an education in something I’m passionate about will help me become a better person.

It means to me that I started inspiration in myself but also the younger generations within my family. We can do it, we can push ourselves into something uncomfortable, and come out stronger, smarter, better not only as a person. But Professionally I’m better prepared for opportunities my degree will open for me.

Jonathan Aldana Director of TRIO Student Support Services High School: Bell Gardens High School, Bell gardens, CA College: St. Olaf college – Bachelor’s in Social Work St. Mary’s University – Master’s in Management What First Generation means to me: As a first generation college student you are afraid of walking into the unknown of the education world, but remember that by doing so, you are providing a light and a voice for those that follow behind you.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Harvard professor, directs the university’s Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, is a writer, filmmaker, historian, and critic. He grew up in West Virginia, where his father worked in a paper mill and as a janitor; his mother was a housecleaner. He started college at West Virginia University and graduated from Yale.

He then earned a Ph.D at the University of Cambridge in England. Gates was among the first to be awarded a “genius grant” from the MacArthur Foundation.

Vang Her TRIO ADVISOR High School: Wausau East High School, Wausau, WI College: University of Wisconsin at Steven's Point– Bachelor’s in Sociology with an emphasis in social work What First Generation means to me: As a first generation college student I faced many barriers throughout my college life. A Few of those barriers were including a language barrier, college expectation, guidance of how to be successful in college, academic planning, homework, finances, and family pressures. I was very self-motivated in pursuing my education.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg U.S. Supreme Court Nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court

by President Bill Clinton in 1993. She was raised by her parents, immigrants from Russia, in Brooklyn, NY. Even though Ginsburg’s mother was an excellent student, she didn’t have the opportunity to attend college; instead, Ginsburg’s mother had to work to help her brother (Ginsburg’s uncle) go to college. When it was Ginsburg’s turn, she attended Cornell University and Harvard Law School, where she was one of only nine women in a class of 500.

Alisha Woodson Eberhart Biology CLA High School: Anoka High School, Anoka, MN College: St. Olaf college – Bachelor’s in Biology with a concentration in Asian studies What First Generation means to me: If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear hardship today