The day recognizes the contributions and identities of first-generation college students, faculty, and staff.
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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Micah Sanders, BFA Animation student.
Micah Sanders, BFA Animation student.
Micah Sanders, BFA Animation student from Detroit, Michigan.
What is your favorite thing about SVA?
“The Undies!” (BFA Animation’s annual underclass student showcase).
What is challenging about being first-gen, and how are you overcoming some difficulties?
Networking from scratch, [with] no legacy or prebuilt reputation to hide behind. I’m just going out there and taking any opportunity that comes up. ‘Closed mouths don’t get fed’ and all that.
Dr. Caryn Leonard-Wilde, associate director of Disability Resources at SVA’s Office of Student Affairs from Perth, New York. She graduated from the University at Albany in 2003 with a degree in Psychology focusing on Rehabilitation Counseling.
What is your favorite thing about SVA?
Seeing students grow and develop confidence in their identities as artists and in their identities as adults.
What is challenging about being first-gen, and how are you overcoming some of the difficulties?
Finances and student loans are the most significant challenge now, but grants have helped. It was also challenging to convince my family of the importance of higher education and then also a degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Counseling, and a Ph.D in Counselor Education and Supervision. It got easier with each degree. Seeing me graduate and walk across the stage made them realize the importance of the degree, and then hearing about all the work I am doing and have done. After completing my PhD, they were incredibly proud to not only have a college graduate but to have a ‘Dr.’ – PhD– in the family. They have also become more open to the work I do and to recognizing its importance and value.
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Emily Sharpe, BFA Comics student.
Emily Sharpe, BFA Comics student.
Emily Sharpe, BFA Comics student from Dallas, Texas.
What is your favorite thing about SVA?
I love how they encourage creativity and cartoony art styles. Being connected with the industry is also a plus.
What is challenging about being first-gen, and how are you overcoming some of the difficulties?
The most difficult thing is the self-pressure I feel to make it big and do amazing things so my parents’ hard work doesn’t go to waste. To overcome this, I try to take one day at a time and remember that my parents are proud of me for attending school.
William Rednour, Humanities and Science faculty member from Brooklyn, New York. Graduated in 1999 with a degree in European History from CUNY Graduate Center.
What is your favorite thing about SVA?
The youthful spirit.
What is challenging about being first-gen, and how are you overcoming some of the difficulties?
Balancing time, which meant figuring out an order of importance.