ECTC celebrates First Generation Week

Published on Nov 9, 2023

For the second year in a row, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) has celebrated the tenacity and dedication of first-generation students through First Generation Week. Nearly one in five ECTC students is considered first generation, meaning neither parent holds a college degree. From Nov. 6-8, the college hosted events that raised awareness of the unique obstacles these students may face and fostered connections between students and community members with similar experiences.

“Being a first-gen student meant that I had opportunities I never considered for myself,” said Hollie Sexton Foy, ECTC alumna and director of financial wellness at Abound Credit Union. “Achieving a degree and developing new skills meant that I could change the trajectory of my life. That’s a powerful realization.”

The event, sponsored by Abound Credit Union, included a First-Gen Coffee and Conversation, where students mingled over breakfast, connecting with first-generation ECTC faculty and staff; a panel discussion and lunch that touched on challenges and successes first-generation faculty, staff, alumni and students have faced; and a Research Databases Workshop, which provided an overview of research databases and assisted students in completing research for writing assignments.

“We are committed to helping all ECTC students find success, including first-generation college students whose support systems at home may not understand the challenges students will face in college,” said ECTC Director of Program Facilitation Breanna Phillips.

ECTC offers several resources that encourage students to reach their goals, including the Student Success Hub, which provides a centralized location for tutoring, food insecurity assistance, and tools to achieve goals both inside and outside of the classroom.

“Many first-generation students are walking onto a college campus for the first time,” Phillips said. “These students deserve to feel at home as they gain knowledge and skillsets through the new experiences they have each semester, and that’s where we come in.”