MEET VANESSA First-Generation, Non-Traditional College Student I am a proud UNG student who attends classes during the day and works night shift at a local warehouse. I’m studying management and aspire to work in healthcare after graduation. “I encourage my co-workers to start college and begin working toward a degree. It’s been a long road, but will be worth all the hard work.” I became a single mother early in life and have worked several jobs for 18 years to ensure that my two sons and daughter could be successful in school and earn their own degrees. Despite the odds being against us, we are succeeding in our careers and as a family. One of my sons is a Software Developer and the other works for a university in Cybersecurity. My daughter earned a basketball college scholarship and is now an Accountant. Being first means that you may experience challenges navigating college and its confusing roadmap of new terminology, processes and procedures. UNG is one of only 10 institutions in Georgia with this designation. First-Gen Forward acknowledges UNG’s dedication and commitment to applying and sharing evidence-based practices by providing resources, addressing challenges, and developing knowledge to continue to advance the success of first-generation students. In the 2021-2022 academic year, the Gen 1 Mentoring Program added another freshman cohort of 30 students. The program connects first-generation faculty and staff with first-generation students for formal mentoring relationships. Students in the mentoring program have an average GPA that is a half-point higher than their first-generation peers. FIRST GENERATION ACHIEVERS
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