UCA First Gen Scholars Society celebrated First 2 Go Week, a week honoring first-generation college students, around campus the week of Sept. 12-16.

First 2 Go Week is an annual event put on by the First Gen Scholars Society. This year, the First Gen Scholars had two committees to create ideas for the week.

“Our first committee included UCA faculty and staff from Student Success, Department of Student Transitions and Student Affairs,” Nadia Eslinger, adviser to the First Gen Scholars Society, said. “The second committee was the executive board for the First Gen RSO.”

Eslinger said the event has been going on at least six or seven years.

This year, the First Gen Scholars Society upped the event by not only having events around campus but partnering with UCA Dining, too.

Events around campus included an affirmation table Monday, involvement in the RSO fair Tuesday, a library tour Wednesday, a student-led panel discussion Thursday and lunch in the cafeteria with first-generation students, staff and advocates Friday.

The partnership with UCA Dining allowed the First Gen Scholars a chance to promote First 2 Go Week and the First Gen Scholars Society while letting the campus community treat itself. 

The First Gen Scholars and UCA Dining crafted coupons for Chick-fil-A, specialty drinks at T.H.I.N.K. Coffee and Starbucks and a “First Gen Rocks!” rock candy scavenger hunt with free food court vouchers during the week.

Each day of the week had a theme. Besides Thursday’s “First Gen Rocks!”, there was “It’s Sweet to be a First Gen” Monday, “How it all Started” Tuesday, “Appreciate your First Gen Hero” Wednesday and “UCA Original Creation” Friday.

UCA Dining’s Chef Jay Wright crafted the original creation Friday, a Cheeto-encrusted chicken with three cheese sriracha mac and cheese, served at the Christian Cafeteria in honor of first-generation students and faculty.

Members of First Generation Scholars Society say it’s important to celebrate First 2 Go Week to honor those who are first generation and spread awareness to those who are not.

“First 2 Go Week is important to UCA because a huge percent of students here are first generation and it allows those students to have a community in which they belong and have access to come to if in need,” sophomore Madison DuPriest, psychology major and vice president of First Gen Scholars Society, said. 

“It’s also nice to have events to get not just first-generation students but other students around campus to participate in and spread the word about First Gen,” she said.

Eslinger said the event helps foster community, “First-generation students need to know that there is a community here to support them. They need to hear the stories of other first-generation people at UCA so they know that they are not alone.”

The First Gen Scholars Society will also celebrate National First Gen Day Nov. 8. 

The First Gen Scholars Society has more events planned before then. 

On Oct. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m., the First Gen Scholars will host a Halloween themed paint party. More information can be found on CubConnect.