Campus visit set to encourage students

The Multicultural Center will hold the fifth annual ASU FIRST program on Friday, March 8, to welcome high school students who are considering becoming the first in their families to seek a college degree.


“This will be the first year I [am in charge of] the program,” Multicultural Center program specialist Erika Baeza said. “We have a little over 300 students attending from 12 different schools. They are sophomore, junior and senior students who are first-generation students. The program is aimed toward first generation students but is not limited to first-generation students.”


First-Generation RAMS, an organization on campus for first-generation students, will help with the program by escorting groups of students and giving them a tour of the school, Baeza said.


“This is a beneficial program for students who are planning on coming to college,” First-Generation RAMS member Anabel Ramirez said. “As a first-generation student myself, I will be able to relate with students who might be having similar thoughts and doubts about starting college.”


Baeza said the event will last all day with several sessions and speakers.


“We will have a welcome session and we will have admissions talking in the morning,” Baeza said. “We will tell the students a little bit about the Multicultural Center and the programs we offer to first generation students. Financial Aid and the Freshman College will be talking to [the students] a little about the SMART workshops. Then the colleges will be doing an open house where students can go by and visit with them and ask questions. We will have a student panel where [first generation] students will lead the panel and talk about their experiences.”


Baeza said in order to keep the First-Generation RAMS program growing, she wants to help more first generation students and give them the support they need.


“A lot of first generation students feel overwhelmed because they don’t have that support or background of college,” Baeza said. “Their parents don’t know what to expect. It can be overwhelming and sometimes they do leave school. Once students are enrolled we want to keep them successful and make sure they don’t fail.”


Baeza is excited for the event even though it required a considerable amount of work, she said.


“I hope high school students are able to see what a great school ASU is,” Ramirez said.


“The staff and faculty are willing to help, and that is one of the best resources.”