“第一代”学生之所以被称为“第一代”学生，是因为他们在接受高等教育方面迈出了开创性的一步。他们在萨克州立大学得到了进一步的认可，该校还为他们建立了一个荣誉协会。 （博彩平台/安德里亚·普莱斯）
作者：辛西娅·休伯特
萨克拉门托 State is among the nation’s first universities to establish an honor society exclusively for first-generation students.
阿尔法阿尔法，或三阿尔法，由宾夕法尼亚州的摩拉维亚学院于2018年成立。 其目的是表彰第一代学生的力量和决心，以及他们对大学的贡献。
More than a third of 囊状态 students identify as “first gen,” meaning that neither of their parents earned a degree. 他们被认为是弟弟妹妹和邻居、社区居民的先驱和导师。
由于Sac州立大学对这些学生的承诺和为这些学生所做的工作，它在今年早些时候被确定为“第一代机构”（First Generation Institution），是一个精英大学社区的一部分，该社区分享知识、最佳实践和故障排除策略，旨在支持那些成为家庭榜样、但在校园里经常感到迷茫和不知所措的学生。
许多学生面临阻碍他们成功的文化、经济和语言障碍。 他们面临的挑战包括缺乏进入大学和校园生活的知识，以及来自亲戚的压力，亲戚可能依赖他们为家人提供经济和其他支持，比如担任翻译。
Establishing a Tri-Alpha chapter represents a new way of honoring first-generation students and acknowledging their successes, said Chao Vang of 囊状态’s Student Academic Success and Educational Equity Programs. Vang, who identifies as first-generation, will serve as inaugural president of 囊状态’s chapter.
“Often, first-gen students don’t have the social capital to guide them to college and through college,” Vang said. “Many of them must depend on a sibling, a high school teacher, or a mentor to help them succeed.
“When they do, it has a ripple effect through their families, their friends, their neighborhoods and communities. It’s very important to recognize and validate the experiences of first-generation students and the challenges they face. They are to be commended.”
负责学生保留和学业成功的副校长marcelene Watson-Derbigny表示，加入荣誉协会有助于Sac州立大学强调该大学为支持学生所做的工作。
It will “provide an increased platform of support while helping to increase mentorship opportunities promoting academic excellence,” she said. “I believe this honor society will afford first-generation scholars with unlimited growth and will accelerate their transformation as leaders in our region and beyond.”
在萨克州立大学的资源中，有利于第一代学生的是教育机会计划，它为传统上得不到充分服务的学生提供入学帮助、特别的入学指导、学术建议、经济援助和课程规划等服务。 The University’s Full Circle Project is designed to improve graduation rates for first-gen scholars. 致力于教育、毕业和留住教育公平学生（degree）项目的特点是同伴咨询、领导力培训和实习等机会。
To qualify for Tri-Alpha, students must have earned at least 36 units toward a bachelor’s degree and achieved an overall GPA of at least 3.2. 他们的父母、继父母或法定监护人都没有完成大学学位。
研究生可以被录取，如果他们已经完成了至少一个学期的学习，并且在他们的研究生课程中平均绩点至少为3.5。
The first members of 囊状态’s Tri-Alpha chapter will be inducted in a ceremony in November.