BU Today Close Up: Brianna Bourne
Briana is a first-generation college graduate and worked at the Newbury Center during her undergraduate degree. She has now graduated from BU twice within the past three years.
A goal of the Newbury Center is to foster a sense of community among first-generation students, alumni, faculty, and staff. We are eager to hear from former first-generation students among BU faculty and staff who are interested in becoming mentors for current first-generation BU students. Please contact us if you would like to participate.
Briana is a first-generation college graduate and worked at the Newbury Center during her undergraduate degree. She has now graduated from BU twice within the past three years.
BU Photographer Cydney Scott highlights a moment where the undergraduate student speakers shared what graduating means to them and their families through a photo at the first-generation pinning ceremony on May 15, 2026.
Kim Nguyen (CAMED’26) & Kim Ta (CAMED’26) share their experiences at BU and finding community at the Newbury Center as graduate students. Read the BU Today article.
Newbury Center Summer Fund Application Now Live for 2026 The Newbury Center Summer Fund is a selective program designed for a small cohort of first-generation undergraduate students. It provides a living allowance stipend of $4,500 to support participation in experiential learning opportunities during the summer. It is funded from a generous donation to the Newbury Center. […]
First-Generation Graduation Pinning Ceremony 2026 Graduation is always a reason to celebrate, but it’s an especially proud occasion for first-generation students. Before Commencement each May, we hold a pinning ceremony to celebrate BU’s first-gen graduates. Each student participating in the ceremony invites a guest—a family member or other supporter—who will have the honor of “pinning” […]
By Maha Uddin Just last week on March 26, the Newbury Center celebrated the launch of Elevate Magazine, created by and for first generation college students at Boston University. The event was intimate and the audience was full of artists and writers who had graciously contributed to the magazine. It was refreshing to finally put […]
Boston University's Spring Induction Ceremony for the Gamma Iota Chapter of the Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor Society took place on April 7, 2026 at 6PM EDT. We welcome these inductees to the Boston University Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha Honor Society: Undergraduate Student Inductees Undergraduate Student Inductees Graduate & Professional Student Inductees Graduate & […]
by Maha Uddin Unlike the harsh winter cold outside, the Newbury Center was warm and welcoming, especially on its birthday. Last Thursday, on February 5, 2026, the Newbury Center celebrated its 5th birthday alongside students and staff. There were cupcakes to celebrate, warm wishes to write onto the community art project, and games to […]