First-Generation Celebration Week: Recognizing student success at the College

The College of St. Scholastica will honor the achievements of first-generation college students, staff, and faculty this week for First-Generation Celebration Week. This annual event serves to recognize the achievements of individuals who are the first in their families to pursue higher education.

As a nationally recognized initiative, First-Generation Celebration Week invites the entire St. Scholastica community to engage in various events that highlight the invaluable contributions of first-generation individuals within our Benedictine heritage and the broader Saints community.

First Lecture Series

The First Lecture Series was created to honor and uplift the College’s first-generation community. Each year, a first-generation faculty member is invited to give a lecture on what they wish they had known in their first semester of college. These stories, lessons, and advice inspire students to navigate their own journeys.

This year’s lecture features Dr. Emily Woster ’06, assistant professor of English and director of the Rose Warner Writing and Critical Thinking Center. Dr. Woster will reflect on her experiences as a first-generation college student and TRIO McNair Scholars alumna on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 8:30 a.m. in the Student Center Flex Space.

“If my time in higher education has shown me anything, it’s that every first-generation student’s journey into and through college is unique and worthy of celebration,” said Dr. Woster. “It’s important that we acknowledge the challenges first-gen students overcome, and I look forward to sharing any of the bits of wisdom I’ve picked up on my own journey.”

Tri-Alpha Induction Ceremony

The same day, the College will host its annual Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) Induction Ceremony at 4 p.m. in Somers Main Lounge on the Duluth main campus. Tri-Alpha is a national honor society that recognizes academic achievements in first-generation college students, creates enthusiasm for scholarship, and provides support networks for first-generation students within and across college chapters. This year’s ceremony will induct 73 new members into Tri Alpha.

First-Gen Alumni Award

As part of the induction ceremony, Director of TRIO Student Support Services Matt Hoeschen ’04 (MBA ’24) will receive the First-Gen Alumni Award. This award honors a first-generation alum whose strengths, resilience, and lived experiences have positively contributed to the St. Scholastica community.

Hoeschen is a lifelong advocate for access, inclusion, and community engagement. He spent nearly two decades leading regional disability advocacy organizations to advance social justice and access across Minnesota before returning to St. Scholastica in 2021. He has also devoted his time to strengthening the Duluth community, having served as Board President of the Lake Superior Youth Chorus and as a longtime board member and chair of the Duluth Community School Collaborative, where he helped expand wraparound services for local youth and families. Additionally, he has volunteered as a youth basketball, baseball, and soccer coach for nearly 20 years, mentoring hundreds of young people through teamwork and perseverance.

“When one first-generation student succeeds, it sends a powerful message to every student that higher education is for them too,” Hoeschen shared. “That’s the legacy we celebrate with this award, one built on courage, radical hospitality, and belief in what’s possible. Each story of persistence reminds us that success is rarely achieved alone; it’s nurtured by a community that believes in you, even before you fully believe in yourself. At St. Scholastica, that spirit of belonging and shared strength is what makes being a first-gen Saint so powerful.”

Supporting first-generation student success

As a First Forward institution, St. Scholastica is committed to supporting first-generation student success through initiatives like the First Lecture Series and the Tri-Alpha Honor Society. With over 36% of all undergraduate and graduate students identifying as first-generation, the College is building the future of academic achievement, community engagement, and leadership development.