Three FSU leaders who were the first in their families to attend college — Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins, President Richard McCullough and Head Football Coach Mike Norvell — shared their inspiring journeys of resilience and achievement, encouraging current first-generation students to pursue their dreams during Florida State University’s third annual Horizons Unlimited Conference on Tuesday, March 3.

Led by FSU First Lady Jai Vartikar, the conference brought together first-generation students, alumni and university leaders for a day of personal stories and practical guidance aimed at helping students succeed in college and beyond.

Participants attended sessions on topics such as overcoming adversity, building a professional brand and reflecting on personal journeys, while also connecting with fellow first-generation students, faculty and mentors.

“I believe in you, Florida State University believes in you,” Vartikar said. “But most importantly, you have to believe in yourself. So, believe that you belong here and in every room that you want to be in. Your voice matters. Your horizons are unlimited and we can’t wait to see what you become.”

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Florida State University is ramping up its efforts to help first-generation college students participate in study abroad programs, offering new resources and targeted support. These initiatives coincide with the university’s annual Celebration of International Education and its participation in the national First-Generation College Celebration Nov. 5-12. 

A centerpiece of this expansion is the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement’s (CARE) new Global Learning Community, a cohort-based program launching in Summer 2026.  

Led by instructional specialist Emily Leyava, the program will send 10 CARE students to South Africa for eight weeks of internships, Zulu language classes and cultural immersion. The initiative is designed to lower barriers for first-generation students, who often face financial and informational hurdles when considering international experiences. 

“We will be working with financial aid to see what opportunities are available to our students, including experiential learning grants and private donations,” said Leyava, who will accompany the group as faculty leader. “We don’t want cost to be prohibitive.”  

The program includes a preparatory spring course on global citizenship and international higher education, followed by an immersive summer experience. Students will be matched with internships in sectors like public health, community development and education, and will participate in weekly debriefs, reflective journaling and excursions outside of their home base in the coastal city of Durban. 

“We want our students graduating, going into the job market, going to grad school, whatever they want to do,” Leyava said. “We want to offer them every opportunity possible.” 

The Global Learning Community is coordinated with and supported by FSU International Programs, which operates three study centers in London, Valencia and Florence, a regional branch campus in the Republic of Panama, and faculty-led programs in places such as Croatia, Costa Rica, France, Switzerland, and more.   

“We understand the importance of providing intentional and creative ways to support first-gen students who wish to have an international experience,” said Interim Director of International Programs Louisa Blenman. “We are so pleased that our first partnership with CARE helps us diversify the locations offered by International Programs. Further, this partnership is a vivid demonstration of a transformative program coming to fruition through collaborations among several divisions of the university.” 

Funding opportunities such as the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, the Tyler Center for Global Studies Fellowship, Dr. Jai’s First-Gen Explorers Fund from FSU First Lady Jai Vartikar, FSU International Programs scholarships and other resources — both across FSU’s campus and externally — can help first-generation students defray costs associated with studying abroad.

Yasmeen Masanti, a senior dance student, studied in Paris through FSU’s Dance in Paris summer program, a four-week immersive experience for dance majors. She said scholarships, including a Gilman Scholarship, made her trip possible. 

“Having the opportunity to dance in Paris and seeing the French culture was a completely different experience than I’ve ever had,” she said. 

Masanti spent her time taking dance and film classes, exploring the city, attending performances and living at Cité Universitaire, a student housing complex bustling with international students.  

“I went to the Eiffel Tower quite a lot because as a kid, I always dreamed about seeing the Eiffel Tower,” she said. “It was just so magical.” 

Masanti credits the CARE Summer Bridge Program for helping her adjust to college and find a community. “I don’t know if I would have still been at FSU if I hadn’t been in the CARE program,” she said. 

Tafari D’Aguilar, a mechanical engineering student and Presidential Scholar, attended John Cabot University in Rome, partially funded by the Gilman Scholarship.  

“Before FSU, I didn’t know what studying abroad meant. I couldn’t imagine affording it,” D’Aguilar said. “It was a culture shock at first. It was my first time out of the country, and I was alone.” 

But he quickly settled in, befriending his roommates and balancing rigorous engineering courses with adventures across the city and broader Italy. 

“We walked cobblestone roads, ate local food and traveled,” D’Aguilar said. “We visited the Pantheon, Vatican City and Milan. One highlight: I canoed in a volcanic crater. It was incredible.” 

The experience, he said, was empowering: “Before, I feared traveling alone, but now I know I can handle it. Once you know you can handle it, there’s no stopping you.” 

FSU’s Celebration of International Education runs through Dec. 5. 

For more information about how Florida State University supports first-generation students and available resources, visit firstgen.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University is hosting a weeklong series of events for First-Generation College Celebration (FGEN) week from Wednesday, Nov. 5, through Wednesday, Nov. 12. Created in 2017 by the Council for Opportunity in Education and FirstGen Forward (formerly the Center for First-generation Student Success), the celebration recognizes students, faculty and staff who are the first in their families to earn a college degree.

The Center for Academic Retention & Enhancement (CARE), which is part of the Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Undergraduate Studies, has partnered with multiple departments to organize events that honor and empower first-generation students.

As a cornerstone event of FSU FGEN Week 2025, the Legacy Conference will span three days and include interactive workshops, student panels and networking opportunities. Rooted in the theme, “From First to Fearless: Legacy in the Making,” the sessions celebrate the resilience and brilliance of first-gen college students and will further connect students with professionals and campus resources to support their continued success.

“The Legacy Conference is more than an event; it’s a student development experience,” said DeOnte Brown, who will begin his new position as dean of Undergraduate Studies Nov. 14. “It affirms the unique strengths and stories of first-generation students while equipping them with tools to thrive academically, professionally and personally. By centering personal experience, community and legacy, FSU fosters a culture of excellence that reverberates across campus and beyond.”

For the full schedule of FGEN week events, visit care.fsu.edu/fgen-celebration-week.

Upcoming Legacy Conference Schedule of Events:

Thursday, Nov. 6

Self-discovery, Wellness and Global Mindset

Exchange Programs
3:45 p.m. | Thagard Building, Room 202

Stress Management Workshop
4 p.m. | Thagard Building, Room 105

Values, Voice and Victory
5 p.m. | Thagard Building, Room 202

Mindfulness Workshop
5 p.m. | Thagard Building, Room 211

Monday, Nov. 10

Leadership, Legacy and Motivation

From First to Fearless
2:30 p.m. | Thagard Building, Room 202

DREAMing Forward: First-Gen Student Leaders Panel
3:45 p.m. | Thagard Building, Room 105

The Tailored Man
3:45 p.m. | Thagard Building, Room 202

Locked In: Goal Setting Workshop
5 p.m. | Thagard Building, Room 202

Additional FGEN Week 2025 events:

THURSDAY, NOV. 6

First-Generation Shark Tank Competition
4-6 p.m. | Innovation Hub

Put your problem-solving skills to the test and step into the spotlight for the First-Generation Shark Tank Competition. Co-sponsored by Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship and FSU Innovation Hub, this exciting competition is open to all FSU students. Innovative ideas should tackle real challenges faced by First Gen college students. Compete for cash prizes, enjoy refreshments and join a community of changemakers ready to turn bold solutions into reality.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12

Market Wednesday
10 a.m. – noon | Thagard Building

Stop by the CARE table to connect with other first-generation students and staff and take a photo to share the moment.

For more information about the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) and the programs they offer, visit care.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University student Zahria Moore grew up in a tough situation.  

As she describes it, her mother was abusive, struggled with alcohol dependency, and spent time in prison, causing Moore and her siblings to face food insecurity and homelessness. She saw school as her safe space, and that continued through college.  

Moore is set to graduate FSU this summer with a bachelor’s degree in criminology, thanks to FSU’s Unconquered Scholars Program, which provides support services and a community for students who have faced profound hardships during childhood that may increase their risk of leaving academia without a degree. 

The Unconquered Scholars Program held its annual banquet Monday, March 31, at FSU’s Miller Hall to celebrate the 136 students currently enrolled in the program and to recognize the 42 students who will be graduating this year. 

 “This program feels like drinking from a wishing well,” Moore said in her keynote address at the banquet. “Everything that I wanted, everything that I came to college looking for, I found in this remarkable program and these amazing people. My family, my home away from home, my safe space, my confidants.” 

 “This program feels like drinking from a wishing well. Everything that I wanted, everything that I came to college looking for, I found in this remarkable program and these amazing people.”

– Zahria Moore, Unconquered Scholar and summer 2025 graduate

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Florida State University concluded its second annual Horizons Unlimited Conference for first-generation students with a keynote conversation between President Richard McCullough and FSU Trustee Maximo Alvarez.

Speaking Monday in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, McCullough and Alvarez shared personal stories, emphasized the importance of education and reflected on the paths that shaped their lives.

“This conference holds special meaning for me because, like you, I was a first-generation college student,” McCullough said. “I know firsthand the challenges and triumphs that come with blazing that trail. And trust me, the hard work you’re putting in now will open doors you can’t even imagine.”

The daylong event reinforced FSU’s commitment to first-generation student success. Nearly a quarter of FSU’s undergraduates are the first in their families to attend college, with many finding support through the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE).

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Florida State University has established the First-Generation Alumni Network, a new initiative to foster a community of first-generation alumni and help ensure their continued success beyond graduation.

This network, created in partnership with the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), the Division of Undergraduate Studies and the FSU Alumni Association, exemplifies FSU’s ongoing commitment to supporting first-generation students and alumni.

“Our first-generation students bring incredible strength, ingenuity and resilience to Florida State, and we are committed to celebrating and empowering them at every stage of their journey,” said Joe O’Shea, associate provost and dean of undergraduate studies. “I’m grateful for all the alumni who are stepping up to mentor our students and share their experiences.”

With more than 30,000 first-generation FSU alumni, including more than 17,000 who participated in CARE, this initiative seeks to cultivate an engaged and supportive community that promotes professional growth and philanthropy among FSU’s first-generation graduates.

“FSU continues to shine as a leader in serving first-generation students,” said DeOnte Brown, assistant dean of undergraduate studies and director of CARE. “Building new avenues for mentorship is part of the all-around support we provide in our commitment to set our students up for success.”

The network will initially form a board of 8-10 first-generation alumni representing diverse experiences, including participants from both the current CARE program and its predecessor, Horizons Unlimited. It will raise awareness and funds for first-generation student support, engage alumni at events and student-focused programs and encourage alumni involvement at FSU.

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Florida State University is participating in the annual First-Generation College Celebration, held nationally every November as an initiative of the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-generation Student Success.

FSU’s Panama City and Tallahassee campuses will host events Nov. 4-8 to celebrate and empower the nearly 7,000 enrolled undergraduate students who are first-generation, meaning their parents did not graduate college.

A nationally recognized leader in first-generation student success, FSU has been steadily expanding its resources and support for students through the growth of its Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE).

CARE currently supports its biggest cohort yet — nearly 3,000 students who receive funding for enrichment and leadership activities, college preparation during the summer, academic guidance, financial literacy workshops, community-building activities and more.

“We are thrilled to be able to expand opportunities to more and more first-generation students,” CARE Director and Undergraduate Studies Assistant Dean DeOnte Brown said. “We know that each student has the ability to reach their full potential when given the right resources and guidance, and we are grateful to see success stories every day from the resilient and talented students in our CARE community.”

Jahbari Bowen

“I’ve wanted to be a physician since I can remember.”

Jahbari Bowen is passionate about the field of medicine.

“I’m very interested in biological systems,” said the biochemistry major who grew up in Dothan, Alabama. “I would like to be a physician and a scientist.”

The demanding academic journey to a STEM degree can be extra challenging for those whose parents didn’t attend college. Bowen’s mother finished high school before moving to the U.S. from Jamaica when she was 18, but she didn’t have experiences to share about how to navigate college.

“Being a first-generation student, you are the first one to go to college,” Bowen said. “You have to pave your own way.”

Bowen has received crucial support from FSU’s CARE through the QUEST Scholars Program.

The QUEST program gives first-generation students specialized advising, workshops on topics such as professionalism and financial literacy, and recreational events that help them build community.

The program also provides funding for enrichment and research opportunities. Funding from QUEST helped Bowen afford a summer conducting HIV research in a lab at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He got first-hand experience studying the genetic makeup of retroviruses while getting to know a new part of the country and seeing Washington, D.C., for the first time.

Bowen serves as a university ambassador, giving campus tours to prospective students, and he tutors other CARE students in chemistry and math. After graduation in Spring 2025, his next step is medical school.

“CARE gives you all these resources that if you utilize them well, you will be very, very successful here in college,” Bowen said.

Dudley “DJ” Mayard Jr. 

“I will be the first African American to commission into the United States Space Force from FSU.”

Dudley “DJ” Mayard Jr. from Miami, Florida, is shooting for the stars.

Mayard’s parents always told him that college was an expectation, even though they didn’t have the opportunity to go themselves. He didn’t want to just reach expectations at FSU, though; he wanted to exceed them.

As an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) student dual majoring in finance and management information systems, he is expecting to break barriers as the first African American ROTC cadet from FSU to join the United States Space Force after he graduates in the spring.

“I know I’m first-gen; I know I’m going to get my degree,” Maynard said. “But I wanted to maximize the opportunity to do everything that I possibly could while in college.”

Mayard sought advice from Brown and other staff, knowing they could help him reach his biggest goals and find community among likeminded students.

Through CARE, he was able to get connected with FSU’s Illuminate Program, which serves federal Pell Grant recipients, and Student Support Services, which is part of a suite of federally funded programs designed to improve student retention, graduation, financial literacy and overall academic success.

That support has led Mayard to many opportunities. He’s the senior class council vice president in FSU’s Student Government Association and he regularly mentors boys in grades K-12 from the Tallahassee area. He is also part of FSU’s Homecoming Court this year, reflecting his pride for and commitment to Florida State University.

“At FSU I landed somewhere where I felt at home, with people from all backgrounds who I could build a community with,” Mayard said.

Stephanie Matos

“I’m so glad I came to FSU to experience the opportunities to get me to New York and pursue my career interests.”

Stephanie Matos is forging her own path toward the big city.

“I was able to do more than what my family was afforded,” said Matos, whose parents immigrated from Cuba to raise her in Miami, Florida. “Being a first-generation student is a point of pride.”

Matos, who is pursuing a dual degree in marketing and management information systems, originally thought she would go to college, get her degree and leave. However, her experiences at FSU proved to be more rewarding as she became involved on campus.

Her first exposure to the FSU community was through CARE and the Summer Bridge Program.

FSU’s Summer Bridge Program, which served nearly 400 incoming students this summer, is designed to give first-generation students from limited-income families an opportunity to connect with FSU faculty and peers and provide academic support throughout the college experience. Matos’ experience in the program sparked her interest in community building.

She has since been an involved member of the Hispanic/Latinx Student Union, the Student Government Association and the Garnet and Gold Key leadership honor society.

FSU’s Division of Student Affairs inducted her into the 2024 Torchbearer 100, which recognizes 100 undergraduate students who have shown exceptional leadership and achievement during their college careers.

These organizations — and the people she met through them — were her “home away from home,” she said.

She plans to move to New York City or Washington, D.C. after she graduates to pursue a marketing career in the entertainment or lifestyle arenas.

“I get to be a representation for other Latinas and show them that they, too, can get a STEM degree and be a leader in their community,” she said.

The 2024 theme for FSU’s First-Generation Celebration is “A Brave New World,” and featured events include:

MONDAY, NOV. 4

Take CARE Fest: FGEN Week Kickoff

10 a.m., Thagard Building, Tallahassee Campus

First-Gen Photos and Table

11 a.m., Holley Lobby, Panama City Campus

Braving the Unknown

6 p.m., Bellamy Bldg. Room 0023, Tallahassee Campus

TUESDAY, NOV. 5

F1rst: Virtual Alumni Mixer 

1 p.m., Virtual (Zoom), All Campuses

FGEN Kickball Tournament 

6 p.m., Main Campus Fields, Tallahassee Campus

First-Gen Luncheon

12 p.m. Holley Lecture Hall, Panama City Campus

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6

Market Wednesday

10 a.m., Thagard Bldg., Tallahassee Campus

Market Wednesday is a medley of activities that occurs every Wednesday of the semester on Moore Auditorium Patio and Legacy Walk. Come visit the CARE table this Wednesday!

FGEN Paint & Sip

11 a.m., HCB Patio, Tallahassee Campus

Tri-Alpha Induction

TBA, Panama City Campus

Gen 1 Shark Tank

2 p.m., Innovation Hub, Tallahassee Campus

The purpose of the competition is for students to come up with solutions to challenges that First-Generation college students typically encounter during their college career.

THURSDAY, NOV. 7

Future Forward: Career Fair Tour

10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Civic Center, All Campuses; must RSVP

The Seminole Futures Career & Internship Fair is the largest fair of the year at FSU and attracts students from various majors interested in full-time and internship opportunities. Historically, over 1,500 students attend this event each semester.

Rooted & Resilient Yoga

5 p.m., Landis Green, Tallahassee Campus

FRIDAY, NOV. 8

Tri-Alpha Induction Ceremony

5:30 p.m., Student Services Building (SSB) Room 208, Tallahassee Campus; seating is limited

Florida State University is excited to induct the 2024 class of inductees for the Zeta Rho Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha). The purpose of this organization is to recognize academic achievements in first-generation college students, create enthusiasm for scholarship, to promote leadership and to provide support networks for first-generation students within and across college chapters.

For more information about the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) and the programs they offer, visit care.fsu.edu.

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