First-Generation College Stories
We have invited UW alumni who identify as first-generation college graduates to share their own stories about their college experiences: their motivations and support systems, triumphs and lessons learned. Read on to hear what being a First-Gen college grad means to each of them, in their own words!

The National First-Generation College Celebration takes place each year on November 8, the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, to acknowledge and celebrate the success of first-generation college students past and present.
(Are you a first-generation college student alum? You can share your story too!)
Meet the Storytellers

Cara, ’21

Vivian Alphonse, ’13

Roaa Al-Yaseri, ’24

Patrick Anthony, ’10

Chad R. Bates, ’14

Constance Busigin (Nelson) Bean, ’57

Tom Bennett, ’67

Tracy Bergemann, ’04

Leslie Betz, ’09

April Coloma Boyce, ’11, ’18, ’27

Julie Campos, ’16, ’18

Leo Carmona, ’16

Cynthia Cisneros, ’23

Holly Crandall, ’21

Joe M. Davis II, ’16

Ngoc Flynn, ’23

Anthony Gasero, ’17, ’24

Sandra Gifford Goldade, ’71

Jose (Danny) Gonzalez, ‘15

Barbara Green,, ‘75

Michael Griffus , ’80

Nicole Gustine, ’02, ’05, ’14

Kylie Helton, ’20

Hamse Ibrahim Igge, ’23

Mariko Kageyama, ’18

Zuhra Kazime, ’14

Kelli Kirk, ’96

Dicky Leonardo, ’05

Patrick Lippert, ’73

Joy A. Lorton, ’94

Johana Rivas Menjivar, ’24

Tyrell Milliron, ’10

Keonna L. Moffett, ’07, ’10

Amber Miller Moore, ’06

Claudia Villa Moore, ’18

Mercedes Morales, ‘12

Don Motanic, ’78

Anisa Navarro, ’24

Kimmy Nguyen, ’20

Vu Nguyen, ‘07

Dr. Mina D. Nguyen-Driver, ‘96

Madison Nikfard, ’20, ’22

Crys O’Grady, ‘16

Georgina Olazcon Mozo, ’08

Ruth Ortiz Villagrana, ’14, ’20

Nadene Nadene Paltep, ’20, ’23

Rhea Panela, ’17

Fabio Peña, ’16

Stacey Lynn Perti, ’95, ’98

Jamie Poirier, ’21

Suzette Yvonne Puente, ’00

Ashleigh Rauen, ’00

Autumn Rawlins, ’07

Teyloure Ring

Ron Sabado, ‘73

Erik Scairpon, ’00

Carmella Solomon Schoening, ‘51

Corasia Smith, ’16

Gilbert A. Smith, ’64

Jaelyn Sotelo, ’24

Kathryn Stoner, ’15

Lawrence Stumes, ’72

Elisa Sun, ’19

Dhruv Verma, ’21

Jane West, ‘92

James R. Wick, ’64

Yolonda Williams, ’05
