KU's TRIO SES & STEM honors first-generation advocates at 6th annual I Am First Too poster unveiling

LAWRENCE — The Achievement & Assessment Institute’s Center for Educational Opportunity Programs is hosting its sixth annual I Am First Too commemorative poster unveiling in honor of members of the University of Kansas community who have excelled as role models and advocates of first-generation student success.

This year's honorees include Barbara Bichelmeyer, KU provost and executive vice chancellor. Other honorees:

• KU faculty and staff members Hong Chuong, assistant director with AAI; Alex Hernández-Castro, associate director of TRIO SES & STEM, and Laura Ramirez, associate professor of the practice of social welfare.
• KU students Sonali Bhakta, David Coria, Paige Freeman, Ella Hinson, Laura Malagon-Palacios and Kelly Kaye Young.
• KU alumni Michael Chavez and Sara Chavez.

The poster unveiling event, set to take place at 3 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Kansas Union Ballroom, is led by the TRIO SES & STEM office, which offers support to first-generation, low-income and disabled students.

“As a first-generation college student and refugee from Namibia who benefited from educational opportunities, I am excited to see the impressive I Am First Too Commemorative Poster class of 2024,” said Ngondi Kamatuka, CEOP director. “I hope CEOP can continue to spearhead these projects and serve as a conduit through which first-gen students can reach success in their educational journeys.”

 Hernandez-Castro, associate director of TRIO SES & STEM, has worked for CEOP programs for over a decade. Hernandez-Castro was a first-generation student at KU and is one of the poster honorees. Her parents were immigrants and didn’t have the experience needed to help her navigate a secondary education. She said that she credits much of her success to her time working for CEOP as a student and having access to the support system it offers.

“I really enjoy helping other students who are like me and helping them succeed because college was pretty tough for me,” Hernandez-Castro said. “I didn’t have guidance. I didn’t know about TRIO or advising or even about FAFSA. So just being part of other students’ journeys has been an amazing experience.”

Hernandez-Castro said she is excited about the poster lineup this year.

“I think that makes it even more of an honor to be on the same poster as the provost, and I think this is going to bring a lot of visibility to the event, and most importantly, to the people in the community,” she said.

Bichelmeyer was the youngest of 10 siblings and was the only one to attend KU. Bichelmeyer said she came to college unaware of the support and resources that existed. She was able to learn from watching her peers and from faculty and staff who wanted to help her navigate the university and support her success. Because of this, Bichelmeyer said, the best thing first-generation students can do is be inquisitive.

“Ask questions. No undergraduate student, particularly no freshman, really knows exactly how this place works and can navigate their way through without help," she said. "Even if they are not a first-generation student or if their parents are faculty here, everybody's experience is different, and everybody has their own unique story that leads them to this institution.”  

In this short video, Barbara Bichelmeyer discusses her own experiences as a first-generation student, offers insights and tips for current first-gen students, and more.

While first-generation students may not have the same type or amount of support as other students, Bichelmeyer said she believes they have the traits and drive to be successful and persevere.

“First-generation students bring, most importantly, a disposition and an understanding that it's not just a diploma that matters. It's what happens to you that matters. It's the process of learning and the innate desire to take advantage of a place and people and an opportunity to grow and discover and to see just how big the world really is,” Bichelmeyer said.

Bhakta is a student in the School of Business and is engaged in several first-generation organizations at KU, including the Multicultural Business Scholars Program, TRIO and Forte. Her nominator wrote, “(Bhakta) understands the importance of providing a supportive environment for her peers to seek assistance and guidance, thus helping alleviate any feelings of anxiety and uncertainty” and that “her desire to give back by offering her academic knowledge and expertise demonstrates how she advocates and mentors other first-generation students in the TRIO program.”

“Being first-generation means I have the amazing opportunity to pursue my passions, especially with KU’s support. The resources here empower me to succeed and make the most of my journey,” Bhakta said. “I’m grateful for the chance to pave a path not just for myself, but for our entire community and future generations.”

Ramirez, director of strategic initiatives and associate professor of the practice in KU’s School of Social Welfare, is a first-generation faculty member on the poster. She said this poster is about more than just honoring advocates..

“Being first-generation means carrying the weight of representation — whether it’s representing my family, my communities or larger marginalized groups in spaces where people like us are often underrepresented. This comes with a sense of pride and has given me strength to challenge stereotypes and break down barriers for those who’ve followed after me,” Ramirez said. “In social work, this awareness of identity and representation informs my practice, helping me to share tools that empower students and communities from similar backgrounds to overcome challenges and affirm their own identities.”

Besides celebrating first-generation students and raising awareness, the I Am First Too poster serves to remind first-generation students that KU staff and faculty are here to affirm their struggles and support them on their journeys, no matter their backgrounds.

“Learning is hard, and you have to fail a little bit before you can succeed, and that's OK, because learning is supposed to be uncomfortable,” Bichelmeyer said. “If you’re not uncomfortable, you're not learning. Even though it might not be easy, we're here to support you, we're here to answer questions for you, we're here to advocate for you, and we're here to let you know we believe in you, and you should believe in yourself.”

Nominations for the 2025 poster open during the Nov. 4 event and end Feb. 21, 2025.