Supporting First Gen Initiative
Support First Generation Aggies. Change a life.
UC Davis is proud to be home to a growing number of students who are among the first in their families to go to college. Today, about 45% of our undergraduates are boldly leading the way to a four-year degree. They’re changing their own futures and inspiring their families. They’re tackling poverty, language barriers, and socioeconomic obstacles to change their lives and those of their families. They are the future of California.
Help our first gen students have every opportunity to make the most of their time here at UC Davis.
When you support the First Gen Initiative fund, you support all students within the college by creating opportunities to participate in research, internships, study abroad, mentorships, and field work.
Learn more about how you can support this effort.
Scholarships Support Stellar Students
Funding for summer programs, research and internships: Prematriculation programs are proven to give students an edge during their first year on campus and beyond. Summer research and internships allow students to gain critical professional experience, and network for future employment. First generation college students have so much to gain from these entry points into the college and the workforce. But many highly valuable summer opportunities are unpaid or require payment, and our first gen students often need to earn money during the summer to fund their education and support their families. Funded summer opportunities mean students can spend their summers preparing for professional or life after graduation.
Participation in Special Programs: Many of our first gen students have never had the opportunity to travel outside of California. Special programs like the Washington Program or study abroad open up new worlds for these students and their families.
Your gift, no matter the size, will help us open doors for our first generation students.
An Opportunity to Change My Reality
Jessica Bueno '20, Animal Science
"I feel very blessed right now.
Maybe that’s an unusual statement for 2020, but looking at the bigger picture, I have a lot to be grateful for. Not only did I graduate from my dream college, but I have a new goal and a plan I’m proud of, and I’ve had some memorable experiences along the way."
Learn more about how you can support First Gen Initiative's fund.
Researching Workers' Rights in Vietnam: My Past and Future Come Together
Eric Thai '20 discovers his academic pathway and his family history converge in research.
“What is a Ph.D.?” My immigrant father asked.
He was understandably concerned about my plans to spend another 4-5 years pursuing another degree.
“A Ph.D. is a degree that prepares me to ask questions and contribute knowledge to the world.
Seeing how stumped my dad was, I pulled out a pen and paper and started drawing concentric circles representing expanding bands of knowledge, with a Ph.D. as a mountain rising on the outer layer – and at its peak, an academic career."
Learn more about how you can support First Gen Initiative's fund.
Irving Huerta - Getting Here Wasn’t Easy
The past four years have fundamentally changed the way I see myself and my potential. I have achieved far more than I could have imagined.
Thanks to my parents, I always knew I wanted to go to college, but there was a time I wasn’t sure I would make it. My parents both immigrated from Mexico when they were young, and we have lived in Sacramento for my entire life. Despite their limited understanding of English and the US school system, they were always supportive of my sister and me in our academic pursuits, and the goal of attending college was ingrained in me from a young age.
My father became unemployed during my last two years of high school. No one really knew then what was going on in my life, and I often hid the truth of what we were going through. When my father became unemployed during my last two years of high school, my plans to attend college ground to a halt. Our finances were strained, and unstable internet access made it difficult to complete my applications.
I hid what was going on until I realized that I wasn’t going to make it to college if I didn’t ask for help. A high school friend helped me with my applications, and I received a scholarship to help pay for college applications. When my father regained full-time employment, I felt relieved that everything was working in my favor again.
These incredible opportunities are only made possible with donor support from our passionate alumni and friends