PNW Announces 2024 First Generation Pride Grant Recipients

May 24, 2024

PNW’s TRIO and Educational Opportunity Programs and Faculty Center for Excellence are beyond excited to announce the 2024 First Generation Pride Grant recipients.

Offered as part of PNW’s initiative to address the needs of first-generation students, these grants support faculty and staff in developing differentiated curricular and co-curricular content and activities for first-generation students.

The selection committee was extremely impressed by the enthusiasm and innovation demonstrated in the proposals we received. This program will continue to provide support to faculty and staff to design and implement collaborative approaches to support the success of first-generation college students.

2024 recipients

BEE-lieve project: Building bridges to empower and involve future teachers

Amanda Passmore, Suzanne Pfeiffer and Danielle Starks

The BEElieve Project supports first-generation PNW students by fostering belonging and helping them adapt through transition stages as students and as educational professionals.

Amanda Passmore
Assistant Professor, Special Education/Early Childhood

Suzanne Pfeiffer
Assistant clinical professor

Danielle Starks
Guest instructor in special education

First Generation Podcasts: Stories from First Generation PNW Alumni

Vanessa Quinn, Jake Giles, Katie Holderby, Yvonne Lopez and Yesenia Avalos

We aim to develop a 10-episode podcast where alumni will share their stories. These episodes will be used in GS191 to allow students to reflect on how alumni have navigated higher education and their career trajectories.

Vanessa Quinn
Associate Dean of the College of Engineering and Science Professor of Biological Sciences

Katie Holderby
Director of Alumni Engagement

Essenia Avalos
Associate Director of Student Success and Retention

Addressing Insecurity, Nutritional Challenges, and Alcohol Abuse Among First-Generation College Students at Purdue University Northwest

Ezra Mutai and Matthew Bauman

This proposal explores these issues among first-generation PNW college students using a mixed-methods survey, while considering the influence of mental health, identity, and family support on their college journey.

Ezra Mutai
Assistant Professor of Food and Nutrition

Matthew Bauman
Assistant Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Develop a Brightspace career resource to support the success of first- and next-generation integrative human health students.

Matthieu Ladwig and John Durocher

We are proposing to create an additional Brightspace career guidance page to increase our students’ chances of success.

Matthew Ladwig
Assistant Professor of Integrative Human Health

Jean Durocher
Nils K. Nelson Endowed Professor of Integrative Human Health

Empowering First Generation Students in Mathematics and Statistics

Bir Kafle and Gokarna Aryal

Our proposal aims to provide tailored support and resources to first-generation students to improve their skills and develop their confidence in mathematics and statistics courses.