Celebrating First-Gen College Students at ORU
To be the first takes courage, and Oral Roberts University (ORU) will be celebrating that courage Nov. 8, 2021, as part of the fifth annual National First-Generation College Celebration. A first-generation college student refers to a college enrollee whose parent(s) do not have a bachelor’s degree. For a first-gen student, a college degree can be transformational, and next week, ORU will be recognizing first-generation students, staff, and alumni who have been transformed by an ORU education.
“I was a first-gen student, and I came to ORU from a small town,” said Juli Atkinson, ORU’s Director of Student Success. “It was a stretch for me to come to a large university, but it helped me see how big the world truly is and the impact I can make even coming from a small town. As a first-gen student, ORU helped me connect with people from all over the world.”
According to the American Council on Education, of the 20 million college students who returned to college campuses this fall, roughly one-third are first-generation. These talented students often face challenges in their education journey, both financial and social. ORU is committed to helping these students become first-generation graduates through scholarships, dedicated resources, and ongoing support.
“On Nov. 8, ORU will be celebrating and recognizing our first-gen community,” said Alison Vujnovic, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management – Residential. “For 13 straight years, ORU’s enrollment has increased, and as our student body expands so does our first-gen enrollment.”
This fall, ORU experienced the largest year-over-year recorded percentage growth in over 25 years, and these historic numbers included an increase in first-gen enrollees. As enrollment continues to grow, ORU has committed to expanding first-gen access with the launch of the Quest First Scholarship, a new scholarship offered to ORU students who are the first generation to attend college in their family. Along with this new scholarship, ORU recently launched Quest First, an on-campus event that brings first-gen students to ORU and offers them an opportunity to learn more about ORU’s admissions process.
“First-generation students are resilient and hardworking, and we want to recognize their successes,” said Stephanie Ottman, ORU’s Director of New Student Relations. “ORU is committed to serving our first-generation college students from start to finish. Part of this service involves our new Quest First Scholarship, our Quest First events, and our travel assistance program, which benefits a number of students including first-gen students.”
During the National First-Generation College Celebration, ORU will be celebrating its first-gen community through highlights and personal stories. And on March 25, ORU will be hosting another Quest First event for first-gen students, providing an on-campus opportunity to explore ORU and learn more about the Quest First Scholarship.
As ORU continues to grow, receiving national recognition as one of America’s Top 5 universities for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), more and more first-gen students are finding their home at ORU. At ORU, these first-gen students and first-gen graduates are finding their passion and their ability to impact the world.
“I was the first in my family of seven to graduate with an undergraduate and then a master’s degree,” said Jonathon Baker, ORU’s Director of Student Experience. “I discovered my passion in college, and what I learned about leadership occurred at ORU. I learned how to lead, serve, and change the world, and it’s because of this amazing college community that I’m working here today.”