UW-Whitewater is joining a national celebration of first-generation students in higher education to highlight the more than 4,300 students on its Whitewater and Rock County campuses who are the first in their families to earn a university degree.
National First-Generation College Celebration Day on Nov. 8, 2025, shines a light on the unique strengths and needs of these students — who often lack the knowledge, support, and financial resources that students whose parents earned a degree can tap into — and the many faculty and staff who support them in their quest to be first-gen bold.
At UW-Whitewater, where 35% of the students on the Whitewater campus and 58% on the Rock County campus are first-generation, faculty and staff understand those challenges and celebrate those students — because many were first-gen themselves.
First-Gen Celebration Reception
All are welcome to join us at noon outside of Roberta’s Art Gallery in the University Center on Monday, Nov. 3, as we kick off National First-Generation College Celebration week with a reception, exhibit, and remarks.
Listen to a brief program that includes Chancellor Corey A. King and other first-gen Warhawks from 12-12:30, and enjoy light refreshments and the exhibit, which showcases portraits of first-gen students, faculty, staff, and alumni taken by photographer Craig Schreiner.
