Today's Update: Thursday, November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Dear Student Life team,

Tomorrow (Friday, November 8) is a very big day for our university. We will celebrate the investiture of Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. as Ohio State’s 17th president. I encourage you to watch via livestream at 2 p.m. to engage in this momentous occasion for Ohio State and learn about President Carter’s vision for the future.   

Tomorrow is also National First-Generation College Celebration Day, which occurs annually on November 8. As a First-Gen college graduate myself, it’s an observance that is near and dear to my heart, and I know it is to many of our team members, too. I hope you will join in the celebration. 

Being a first-generation college student means you are the first in your family to go to college. This is an amazing accomplishment that can bring immense pride to the students themselves, as well as to their loved ones. Tomorrow will be an opportunity to celebrate first-generation college students, and a good way to do that is to share and talk about their experiences and outcomes. 

President Carter has recorded a message in support of First-Generation College Celebration Day. 

Tomorrow, there will be First-Gen swag and treats available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Center for Belonging and Social Change in the Ohio Union, Hale Hall and in the Student Academic Services Building lobby.  

At 1:15 p.m., those interested can take part in a First-Gen celebratory photo on the South Oval. If it’s raining, the photo will be taken in the Ohio Union’s Keith B. Key Center for Student Leadership and Service. 

You can also post on social media using the hashtags #CelebrateFirstGen, #OhioStateFirstGenForward and #FirstGenAdvocate. You can share your own first-gen story, highlight your first-gen students and staff, explain how you support first-gen initiatives or post images of celebration events you attend. I can’t wait to see your posts.  

You can find more First-Generation College Celebration Day events across all our Ohio State campuses online. It will be a Scarlet and Great day of celebration! 

 

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life 
The Ohio State University