Pioneering the Path: ORU Celebrates the Personal Resilience of First-Gen Students
ORU ranked as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America (Niche)
In honor of today’s National First-Generation College Celebration, ORU recognizes the transformative impact of its education on first-gen students, staff, and alumni. Through scholarships, dedicated resources, and ongoing support, ORU remains steadfast in its commitment to helping students conquer their challenges and emerge as accomplished first-generation graduates.
ORU's unwavering commitment to first-gen students is exemplified by the Quest First Scholarship, exclusively available to ORU's first-gen enrollees. The University also hosts First-Gen Quest Day, an event that invites students to explore the campus and receive guidance throughout the admissions process. To provide an individualized experience for first-gen students, ORU offers specialized sessions to assist them and their families with the enrollment journey.
First-gen students and graduates at ORU are discovering their passions and recognizing their potential to make a profound impact on the world. As part of the National First-Generation College Celebration, ORU’s first-gen students shared their experience as the first college enrollees in their families:
"To be a first gen, to me, means greater opportunity to reach others,” said Saige
Freeman, “from people I choose to help in my profession, to my family. My goal is
to show people how good God is and what He can do for those who are willing. To me,
I think that this could be an amazing example to people I encounter, including my
siblings. As I follow God’s plan for my life, I hope to impact those around me and
change the dynamic of my family.”
“Being a first-gen student is like starting a mile race where every starting point is different for each person,” said Ricardo Fuentes. “Some people in the race might already be halfway to the finish line, and you have two choices: try and run the race or stay at the starting line. I’m sprinting through that whole mile because this race is a culmination of all the sacrifices my parents and family endured to get me there. I’m not the smartest nor the most athletic, but I understand the opportunity I’ve been given, and I’m determined not to let it go to waste.”
UNIVERSITY BRIEF
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 15 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 150 nations (from 2019 to 2023) to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2024). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the #1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.