The Center for Cultural Engagement hosted their second annual Take Flight Celebration in November, to recognize the gifts and contributions first-generation college students have brought to the Catholic University campus.
“We at Catholic University feel blessed and honored to walk with our first-gen college students as they achieve their academic goals,” said Javier Bustamente, director of the center.
For the past two years, the center has operated a Take Flight program to support students who are the first in their families to attend college in the United States as they make the transition to college life. As part of the program, students are paired with upper-level students as mentors and they attend sessions to learn about subjects like study habits, self care, financial management, and the resources available to them on campus. This year, 36 students are participating in the first-year program, with an additional 25 students enrolled in the sophomore program.
As part of the Take Flight celebration, the center unveiled this year’s Take Flight video, which provides a glimpse into the stories of first-generation students on campus.