First Scholars September Newsletter

First Scholars September News

Note from Rebeca

Dear First Scholars,

Thanks for the warm welcome as I start my role of overseeing the First Scholars Program. I look forward to working with each one of you during your undergraduate career, helping you set goals, thrive, and shoot for the stars. Please know that I am here to assist you-stop by Holton Hall 101.

Best,

Rebeca Paz

Welcome new first year scholars: Noah Aeillo, Katie Arpin, Jacquii Ayala, Lexie Broeker, Jessie Carr, Katelynn Clark, Emma Claybrook, Juan De Santiago, Lauren Ewing, Gabrielle Farris, Gerald Frayre, Monica Harrison, Selena Hernandez, Brianna Jackson, Westley Jennings, Lauren Lauffer, Jacob Loecker, Cody Price, Efrain Reyes and Montezia Shakespear. We are happy you have chosen K-State and that you have joined the First Scholars Program. Keep up the good work that you have started this semester.

The fall 2016 semester is off to a great start. So far this semester the first year First Scholars have gone on a retreat to kick of the school year and have had a picnic. The annual trip to the pumpkin patch will be upon us soon! You can check out the video below to see some highlights from our picnic this year.

Featured Student

We are trying out something new this month! Each newsletter First Scholars will select one student to feature in a twenty-questions type style video. We would like everyone to get to know our scholars better and see all of the unique and fun things they are doing at Kansas State. This month we will be featuring junior Tyler Aden. Tyler is a mathematics major and is currently doing undergraduate research. Watch the video below to learn more about Tyler’s adventures at K-State.

Ad Astra First Generation Conference

A group of First Scholars sophomores attended a statewide First Generation Student Conference at Wichita State University

A group of first scholars attended the Ad Astra Conference for First Generation college students at Wichita State University this past weekend. First generation students from across the state of Kansas shared their experiences of what it means to be the first in their family to attend college.

The conference theme was “Using Your Strengths to Reach the Stars.” This two -day conference comprised of workshops led by different participating campuses that focused on the challenges that first-gen students face and the valuable strengths they bring to the university. Other topics included: utilizing campus resources, cross-cultural leadership, social justice, finding your passion, and others.

One of the K-State First Scholars, Isaiah Solorzano, represented the campus by participating in a student panel. All scholars found the conference to be a valuable opportunity and they plan to lead a couple of sessions at next year’s conference. First Scholars Program coordinator and associate director for K-State First, Rebeca Paz, traveled with the students to WSU. The following students participated in the conference: Julie Demel, Kaitlin Gehring, Megan Haresnape, Essence Rush, Maggie Sherbon, Isaiah Solórzano, Jasmine Williams and Coraima Yanez.