First-Gen Resources

First-Gen Podcast

FIRST GEN PROUD ESSAY CONTEST

A first-generation student is someone whose parents/guardians did not complete a four-year college degree or a student raised by a single parent/guardian who did not complete a four-year college.

This contest showcases the achievements of our first-generation students at all stages of their academic careers. We invite first-generation students to submit short personal essays that respond to the following prompt:

Firsts: What did your first day at Texas State feel like? What have your experiences as a first-generation student taught you about tackling new challenges? What advice would you give to other students navigating college for the first time?

Essay submissions should be between 500-700 words. Submissions will be blind reviewed by faculty judges from the Department of English and First Gen Proud. $200 scholarship prizes will be awarded across three submission categories: a freshman/sophomore category, a junior/senior category, and a graduate student category. Honorable mentions will receive a $100 scholarship award.

Submission Deadline: Friday, March 21, 2025