The Office for Student Success and Achievement and Graduate School hosted its annual end of year events honoring first-generation students on April 23, 2024 at the Georgia Center. The first half of the event centered around the Alpha Alpha Alpha honor society and the second part of the event honored graduating first-generation students.
Alpha Alpha Alpha Honor Society Induction
Alpha Alpha Alpha Honor Society was established in 2018 and honors the academic achievements of first-generations students, staff, and faculty at the University of Georgia. UGA is home to the Beta Gamma chapter of Tri-Alpha. In order to qualify, undergraduate students must have at least 30 credit/semester hours towards an associate’s degree or baccalaureate degree AND have an overall GPA of at least 3.2. Graduate students must have completed at least one term of study, nine credit hours, and a cumulative GPA of 3.5. This year, Tri-Alpha inducted 30 students into the Beta Gamma chapter.
First-Generation Graduation Celebration
The First-Generation Graduation Celebration was designed to create a sense of community and belonging among first-generation college students as they accomplish this monumental achievement. The ceremony provides an environment where students connect with peers who share similar experiences, challenges, and triumphs. During the celebration, students’ perseverance, hard work, and dedication in pursuing their degree was recognized. This year, the ceremony recognized 137 graduating first-generation students. Jimena Somilleda, president of First Gen Dawgs, and Alondra Lopez, graduate assistant for TRIO Student Support Services featured as students speakers for the combined event.
For more information on first-generation programming, visit https://ossa.uga.edu/initiatives/first-generation-students/
