A new program, Linfield First, is deepening ties between first-generation students and the community.
The coordinated effort between students, faculty, staff and alumni includes a mentoring program, monthly luncheon, pre-orientation programming and scholarships.
“We want students to develop a sense of belonging at Linfield and become part of the community from the very beginning,” says Zeila Medina ’20, first-generation program lead.
At the heart of the platform is more than 30 small mentor-mentee groups – each made up of four first-year students and three mentors (student, faculty, staff). Together, groups are exploring student strengths, needs and community resources to empower students for the future.
Last year, in preparation for the new program, focus groups of first-gen Linfield students discussed what it means to be first generation. One takeaway: first-gen students are united by their diversity; their beliefs, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, support structures, responsibilities, and reasons for attending college may all be different. But they all have one thing in common: they are all leaders, groundbreakers in their respective families.
