Greenfield Community College Celebrating First-generation Week

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College (GCC) is hosting its fourth annual celebration of first-generation college students with a week full of activities and recognitions running through Nov. 15.

More than half of all GCC students are first-gen, meaning their parents do not have a bachelor’s degree, or they self-identify as the first in their immediate family to attend college.

National studies consistently show that attending college is a critical factor in earning potential. In fact, first-generation students who obtain a college degree earn nearly double what high-school graduates make over a 40-year career, and they also experience lower unemployment rates.

While Nov. 8 was national First-Generation Day, GCC is stretching its celebration of first-gen students through Nov. 15 with fun activities and food. GCC will also display mini-profiles of its first-gen faculty and staff throughout the campus to build a sense of community and solidarity with first-gen students.

Current GCC student Lindel Hart describes his experience as a first-gen GCC student: “I went to a music conservatory in the early 1980s but didn’t finish my degree program. Lack of time and financial resources simply didn’t allow me to return to college. I’m now in my early 60s, and I’m excited to be pursuing a liberal arts degree at GCC. Despite the fact that I haven’t been in a college classroom in four decades, I feel confident, challenged, and excited to engage with new material and a variety of students and instructors. I know my parents would be proud.”

Shanni Smith-Arsenault, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Success, added that “we are thrilled to celebrate our first-generation students. Their determination and resilience are constant sources of inspiration. As a first-generation college student myself and a beneficiary of Massachusetts public higher education, I know just how meaningful this opportunity is for our students.”