A sense of pride, resilience, and community filled the room as the University of Georgia celebrated its 2025 First-Generation Graduation Celebration on April 27.
Around 80 graduates gathered to mark the milestone, hosted by UGA’s Office for Student Success and Achievement (OSSA). The event is one of several campus-wide efforts to support the university’s more than 4,500 undergraduate students who identify as first-generation — the first in their families to attend college.
“This annual celebration is one of my favorite events to be a part of,” said Lastasia Ramsey, program manager for TRIO Student Support Services & STEM-H at OSSA. “It brings together first-generation students to honor their achievements alongside peers who truly understand the journey. This year felt especially meaningful, as students were draped with cords by their chosen supporters, who were also recognized for the vital roles they played. College success is rarely a solo effort; it’s a shared accomplishment built on a foundation of community and support, and this year’s celebration beautifully highlighted that truth,” she said.
The event began with welcoming remarks from Dr. Cara Winston Simmons, director of OSSA and first-generation college graduate. She recognized the significance of this academic achievement and acknowledged first-generation students as “boundary-crossers — individuals who move between different spaces, connecting past and future, family and opportunity, community and possibility.”
Student speakers at the event included Amina Konateh, Linda Le, and Daniel Zavala-Palafox. Palafox, a Management Information Systems major, offered encouragement to the graduates. “Being the first means making mistakes — and that won’t stop here. The question is: Will you keep getting back up and moving forward?… May we walk boldly into the future — not just as graduates, but as leaders, changemakers, and the living proof of our families’ dreams,” he said.
The First-Generation Graduation Celebration is held each spring and complements UGA’s official commencement activities by recognizing the accomplishments of first-generation students.
About OSSA
The University of Georgia’s Office for Student Success and Achievement, a unit of the Office of Instruction, supports students throughout their academic journey by providing free peer tutoring, academic coaching, targeted support for rural and first-generation students, instructional programs and more. For more information, visit ossa.uga.edu.
