SVA always strives to recognize and celebrate all identities and embrace them as they make our community unique and diverse. One distinctive identity is the designation of “first-generation,” meaning that the student will be the first person in their family to earn a college degree.

Today, 42% of all students attending and graduating from college are first-generation, making them a larger population at colleges and universities nationwide than any minoritized group. Of those students, over 50% are enrolled at a for-profit institution like SVA. These factors make it more crucial that we celebrate and support these members of our community as they embark on a remarkable journey for themselves and their families.

This year, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at SVA commemorates National First-Generation Celebration Day on November 8 by highlighting members of the SVA community who identify as first-gen. Below, several of these students, faculty, and staff tell us a bit about themselves as we celebrate their accomplishments. If you want to see all of this year’s honorees, please check out @sva_dei on Instagram and reshare your friends, classmates, faculty, and staff who identify as first-gen.

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The day recognizes the contributions and identities of first-generation college students, faculty, and staff.