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Student Success • Campus Announcements

CAS celebrates National First-Generation Day 2024 by recognizing first-generation ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs and their faculty/staff advocates and allies

Published •
From left to right: Krist Ha, Kelsie Jackson, and Tarashea Nesbit
From left to right: Krist Ha, Kelsie Jackson, and Tarashea Nesbit
Student Success • Campus Announcements

CAS celebrates National First-Generation Day 2024 by recognizing first-generation ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs and their faculty/staff advocates and allies

From left to right: Krist Ha, Kelsie Jackson, and Tarashea Nesbit
Published •

In observance of National First-Generation Day on Nov. 8, Dean Reneé Baernstein has announced the winners of the 2024 CAS first-generation awards: Associate Professor of English TaraShea Nesbit (a first-generation advocate), and two CAS first-generation ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, Physics major Krist Ha (undergraduate) and Physican Associate Studies program graduate ºÚÁÏÉçÇø Kelsie Jackson.

The 2024 Outstanding First-Generation Advocate Award, given to Nesbit, recognizes an outstanding member of the College of Arts and Science faculty or staff who has made significant contributions to the success of first-generation college ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs through mentorship/advising, pedagogical approach, scholarly research, first-generation focus programming, and initiatives, incorporation of first-generation ºÚÁÏÉçÇø success strategies into their daily work, and/or service on committees whose mission is directly related to first-generation ºÚÁÏÉçÇø success.

Ha and Jackson are the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding First-Generation Student Award, which recognizes an outstanding undergraduate or graduate ºÚÁÏÉçÇø from the College of Arts and Sciences who will be the first in their family to earn a four-year degree. The ºÚÁÏÉçÇø selected is someone who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service, as well as an unwavering determination to overcome obstacles in their pursuit of an education.

Outstanding First-Generation Student Award

Krist Ha (Undergraduate)

Physics major 

"What does being first generation mean to you?"
Being first generation has impacted my perspective on college and higher education. That I approach my education in a different way as not something I have or am expected to do but something that I want to do. I have a deep desire for learning and passion to pursue that. Being first generation also means that I lack a lot of knowledge on what higher education entails. That college wasn't something I considered until high school and especially not graduate school. Being first generation isn't only an obstacle to my education, it has made me have a more positive outlook on my future. That I know there are so many opportunities that I must take advantage of. I am incredibly excited for my future and opportunities because I see the impact of my college education. I am grateful everyday for the ability to pursue my education and learn what I want.

Kelsie Jackson (Graduate Student)

Physician Associate Studies Program 

"What does being first generation mean to you?"
Being a first-generation college ºÚÁÏÉçÇø has brought me closer to the future my parents have always envisioned for me. The knowledge I have gained and the steps I have taken have led me to fulfill my own aspirations of becoming a physician assistant. This will allow me to leave a lasting impact on the lives of others and pave the way to create opportunities for future generation

 

Outstanding First-Generation Advocate Award

 

Associate Professor of Creative Writing, Department of English

When I attended college, I didn’t know the term “first-gen,” though it applied to me. Whenever someone identifies as the first in their family to go to college, I take notice. My approach to supporting first-gen ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs aligns with how I support all ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs: illuminating the sometimes-invisible-seeming paths to thriving in college. How ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs engage with their major can often matter more than the major itself, and part of my role as a professor and advocate is to help them navigate that engagement. I take a personal interest in ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs’ success and well-being, providing an empathetic ear to the challenges first-gen ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs face. My role is to help ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs work through such experiences and see their own resilience. In my creative writing classes, ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs not only learn to write stories, essays, and poems but often use these forms to explore their internal struggles. This process fosters connections and builds community among peers. By enhancing ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs’ sense of belonging—something writing and other liberal arts classes excel at—we improve retention rates and help ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs flourish. First-generation ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs arrive at Miami with valuable perspectives and an impressive drive to succeed. I am continually inspired by the trust they place in me and feel privileged to celebrate their wins, big and small.

 

 

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CAS Feature Physician Associate Studies Program CAS Student Stories Department of Physics Department of English College of Arts and Science