Rutgers Launches New Weeklong Celebration of First-Generation Students
Rutgers-New Brunswick is expanding on last year’s programs while events are planned across the university
Samantha Vintimilla’s parents came to the United States from Ecuador with nothing and worked hard to create a good life for her and her brother.
“The one thing they asked was that I be the first in our family to go to college,” said Vintimilla, who dreams of becoming a surgeon.
But when it was time to apply, Vintimilla struggled without an experienced parent to guide her. And when she arrived at Rutgers, she found that her classmates knew more than she did about campus resources and events.
Many first-generation college students feel they’re unprepared compared with their peers, Vintimilla said. That’s why she’s excited that Rutgers will recognize and inform this large segment of the student body during National First-Gen Week. Set for Nov. 4-8 at Rutgers-New Brunswick, the celebration will include a resource fair for students and a workshop for faculty demonstrating techniques for teaching first-generation learners. Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark will also host activities.
Vintimilla will participate at an induction ceremony for Tri-Alpha, the national first-generation honor society, where she will be inducted and speak as president of the Rutgers First Generation Student Union (FGSU).
“FGSU wants to create a small community within the big community at Rutgers-New Brunswick that will help first-generation students find and create resources through events, networks and personal connections,” said Vintimilla, who expects to graduate in May 2026 with majors in biochemistry and Spanish.
Also speaking will be Tri-Alpha inductee Brandon Mejia, who is on track to graduate in May 2025 with majors in jazz performance and information technology.
“I’ll discuss how being first-generation brews a need to succeed,” Mejia said. “Our parents weren't at college but we are, so we’ve got to do our best to bring our families to the next level financially, economically and socially.”
Spotlighting a Key Student Population
Across Rutgers, about 18,000 undergraduates, or 37%, are first-generation college students. That includes 10,354, or 30%, in New Brunswick; 4,337, or 58%, in Newark; and 2,291, or 55%, in Camden.
The average graduation rate for first-generation college students at Rutgers is 75%, compared with 42% nationally.
Rutgers-New Brunswick has celebrated its first-generation students each fall since 2017, but this year’s recognition will be the first to last a week. To help fund the event, the Division of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement secured a $1,000 #CelebrateFirstGen grant through the Council for Opportunity in Education and FirstGen Forward.
“It’s important to be able to take time to intentionally celebrate the efforts by and for first-generation individuals, making sure folks can see each other thriving and are aware of resources that exist on campus for them and by them,” said Dr. Tiffiny Butler, interim vice chancellor for diversity, inclusion and community engagement. “We want to highlight the efforts of students, faculty and staff but also foster community among the first-generation students at Rutgers-New Brunswick.”
Laying the Groundwork for Success
Vintimilla and Mejia have not only benefited from first-generation programming through Rutgers, but also worked to bolster those efforts.
Vintimilla, of North Arlington, has finished most of her biochemistry requirements but added a Spanish major last year with the goal of better supporting patients. She works part-time as a clinical care technician at RWJBarnabas Health in New Brunswick.
In addition to reducing her college costs by serving as a resident assistant, Vintimilla has benefited from financial aid and tutoring through the Rutgers Educational Opportunity Fund.To help other first-generation students discover those programs, she created the Being First Collaborative, a website that allows Rutgers professors to share resources and information with this student population, and is relaunching the FGSU in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vintimilla has also supported the first-generation community at Rutgers by helping to start two clubs – Raices Ecuatorians en America and Costarricenses en Alianza.
All those efforts, she said, “can help you feel seen and understood.”
Growing up in Newark, Mejia excelled at the rigorous Science Park High School and was selected to receive college preparation, financial aid and mentorship through the Rutgers Future Scholars and Cooperman College Scholars programs. At Rutgers, he has received tutoring and coaching through THRIVE Student Support Services.
Mejia gives back as vice president of the Mason Gross Student Governing Association and co-chair of BIPOC@MGSA, an empowering community for students who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color. He has also assisted first-generation students as a peer mentor at the Paul Robeson Success Institute.
An avid performer of music who is completing a grant-writing internship with the Jazz Exchange and a business-skills fellowship with Braven, Mejia is excited about his future. Accepted into the McNair Scholars Program for first-generation students with financial need, he’s pursuing ethnomusicology research in preparation for doctoral studies, but is also applying to master’s programs in cybersecurity.
“Part of me wishes I could do it all,” he said.
More information about support for first-generation students at Rutgers is available at RU1ST.
