First-Gen College Celebration 2025

Join the Newbury Center and the entire BU community as we celebrate the achievements and experiences of our first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. While the official date for the National First-Generation College Celebration is November 8th, we’re celebrating for a whole week.

The Newbury Center and the entire BU community events:

Monday, November 3rd:

6:00-8:30PM: Women’s Basketball Home Opener Your Boston University Women’s Basketball team’s season is around the corner! The Terrier’s will host Quinnipiac University at Case Gymnasium on Monday, November 3rd at 6 PM! Students without a Sports Pass can receive FREE admission to the game using the provided ticket link! Be sure to arrive early and you could receive a FREE BU canvas tote bag, while supplies last! TICKETS HERE!

Tuesday, November 4th:

12:30-2:00 pm: Terrier F1RSTS Tuesday for Graduate & Professional Students (Instructional Building, L201 (2nd Floor), 72 E Concord St., Boston University Medical Campus) Join us at the Boston University Medical Campus for a special Terrier F1RSTS Tuesday to recognize First-Generation College Celebration Week. Food will be served so make sure you register ahead of time! Special giveaways.
5-6pm: First-gen Support Group (755 Commonwealth Ave Suite B04, Boston, MA 02215) This group offers a safe and supportive space for students who identify as first generation. Topics discussed may include navigating unfamiliar situations, balancing academics with social life, managing responsibilities and finances, and processing feelings, such as excitement, guilt, shame, confusion and pride. The group emphasizes building community supports and sharing resources.
6-8PM: Tri-Alpha National Honor Society Induction Ceremony (By Invitation Only–Livestream will be available)

Thursday, November 6th:

6-7pm: Color and Connections with Student Wellbeing (755 Commonwealth Ave Suite B04, Boston, MA 02215) Colors & Connection is a 1-hour workshop created by the Foundation for Art & Healing for students to address loneliness on college campuses. It uses color as a medium for self-expression, personal reflection, and connection. Grow your “creative intelligence” while exploring ways that color can express moods and emotions. The workshop promotes self-awareness, as well as fosters a sense of belonging and connection.

Friday, November 7th:

9-11AM: Fuel-Up Friday (755 Commonwealth Ave Suite B04, Boston, MA 02215)
5:00-6:00PM: First-Gen Friday for Graduate & Professional Students (755 Commonwealth Ave Suite B04, Boston, MA 02215) Join us for First-Gen Fridays for a chance to get to know your first-gen graduate & professional student community and win some Newbury Center Terrier F1RSTS swag! Food will be served so make sure you REGISTER ahead of time!

Monday, November 10th

12:00-4:00PM: National First-Gen College Celebration (George Sherman Union Metcalf Hall Ballroom, 2nd Floor, 775 Commonwealth Ave) The entire BU community (students, faculty, and staff) is invited to take part in this event–fun activities like writing 1,000 notes of encouragement, Research Poster Showcase, First-gen Art Exhibition, Photobooth, Tie Dye, Resource Tables with on and off-campus partners, and giveaways like Terrier F1RSTS swag AND Convenience Points, and free food!
- 12:00-4:00PM:
  - Resource tabling by various departments and organizations such as Aspire Institute, BU Initiative on Cities, BU Hub, BU Libraries, BU School of Public Health Graduate Student Life, Campus Store, Career Pathways Initiative, CareerSpring, CAS Advising, CAS Experiential Learning Connector, CAS Preprofessional Advising Office: Pre-Health, CAS Computer Science Advising Team, Computing & Data Sciences (CDS), College of Communication Undergraduate Affairs, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, Enrollment and Student Administration (ENSA)/BU PATH, Financial Assistance,/Smart Money, First-Generation/Low-Income Partnership (FLIP@BU), First-Year Success, Graduate & Postdoctoral Success, Graduate Affairs, Graduate Medical Sciences, Growbie, Innovate@BU, IST&T IT Help Center, LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, PERD/FitRec, Questrom Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Student Employment, Student Financial Services, Student Support Services for the Office of the Dean of Students, Study Abroad, Transfer Success, Undergraduate Pathways Programs, Office of the Provost, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, and more!
- 12:15-12:30pm:
  - A brief formal “Welcome” to kick off the event

Wednesday, November 12th

7:00-9:30PM: Men’s Basketball vs. Brown Your Boston University Men’s Basketball team’s season is around the corner! The Terrier’s will host Brown University at Case Gymnasium on Wednesday, November 12th at 7 PM! Students without a Sports Pass can receive FREE admission to the game using the provided ticket link! TICKETS HERE!

Friday, November 14th

7:00-9:30PM: Women’s Hockey vs. Boston College Your Boston University Women’s Hockey team’s season is around the corner! The Terrier’s will host Boston College at Agganis Arena on Friday, November 14th at 7PM! Students without a Sports Pass can receive FREE admission to the game using the provided ticket link! TICKETS HERE!

Click the “+” button to see the College/School-specific events!

BU Community-Specific Events:

Tuesday, November 4th:

12:00-1:30PM: ENG First-Gen Student Coffee Break (Outside 44 Cummington Mall, College of Engineering) First-Gen students in the College of Engineering come visit the College of Engineering’s staff outside our building for coffee, tea, and cookies! Grab a snack to refuel in between classes and say hi to the folks who work in academic and career advising – many of whom were also first-gen college students. We’re here to help!

Wednesday, November 5th:

12-1:00PM: GMS gFIRST First Generation Student Community Celebration Lunch (INS L-209, 72 East Concord Street) Graduate Medical Sciences First-gen students join the Community Catalyst Center gFIRST Community for a lunch to celebrate the achievements of our first-generation community at Graduate Medical Sciences! Register here! [need link]

Thursday, November 6th:

12-1PM: Questrom Community and Conversation Spotlight: First-Generation Celebration (HAR 205, 595 Commonwealth Ave) Join a Community & Conversation Hour to connect, engage in dialogue about what’s happening the world, and build community at Questrom. This week will have a special focus on celebrating Questrom’s First Gen Community – come for the opportunity to meet other First Gen Students, Staff, and Faculty at Questrom and share in the celebration of your accomplishments
5-6:30pm: School of Public Health First-Gen Association Alumni Panel (Talbot Building, Founder’s Room T 307C, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118) BUSPH’s First-Generation Association is hosting a panel with first-generation alumni from BUSPH! Join in on the conversation, enjoy some refreshments, and celebrate being a part of our first-generation community! Learn more here.

Friday, November 7th:

12-1PM: CAS Experiential Learning Connector: Mapping Your BU Experience Beyond the Classroom (LOCATION TBA): Undergraduate CAS first-gen students this session will help you discover the many ways to get involved and build your resume at BU and beyond —from internships to research to leadership to community engagement and more. You’ll also start mapping out a personalized plan to make the most of your time here and prepare you for your career goals. Register here!
BU PATH First-Gen Day at Our Schools (LOCATION TBA): Our 23 BU PATH Advisers will work with their schools to celebrate national first gen day through social media, in school marketing, and events and activities to commemorate National First Gen Day. Activities will take place in 26 high schools in Boston, Malden and Somerville.

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