Paving the Way: UT Austin Celebrates Its First-Generation Trailblazers

By Lucero Corona

Reporting Texas

Valeria Fierro, a first-generation student from Laredo, Texas, studying business at the McCombs School of Business, stands in front of the UT Tower on Monday, Nov. 11, 2025. Photo by Lucero Corona/Reporting Texas TV

From navigating financial aid to moving away from home, many UT Austin students are entering new territory as first-gen students.

Nationwide, First-Generation College Celebration Day is observed on November 8, but at UT Austin, the pride lasts all week. The university hosted its 7th annual First-Gen Week, with events and activities held across campus. Today, about 24% of UT undergraduates identify as first-generation college students.

November 5 marked the main event for first-generation students. Students and staff enjoyed refreshments and listened to speakers share their success stories. One of those speakers was Dr. Robert A. Valdez ,a first-gen and Director of Longhorn Hospitality.

“Being first means you are the blueprint,” Valdez said. “Being first means you are carving a path where there wasn’t one, you being first. You are rewriting your family’s story and starting with your own chapter.” 

As first-generation students make family history, the journey often brings more pressure than pride.

“It’s a lot of pressure, I want to make my parents proud, they came over to give me a better life. I just feel like I owe it to them to do good.”  said freshman Fabiola Mendez.She’s from Waelder, Texas — a town with a population of fewer than 1,000 residents.

Freshman Valeria Fierro shares the similar feelings. “My family doesn’t exactly know words of advice when I ask so I kind of have to travel this new world by myself.”

Being from Laredo, a small border town, Fierro said moving to a large city has been both exciting and overwhelming. Experiencing new things for the first time has also brought an unexpected sense of guilt .

“I definitely feel proud… accomplished, (and) successful in a way, Fierro said.But I feel so sad because I get to see all this and my family doesn’t.” 

Kayleigh Damphousse, Associate Director of First-Generation Longhorns, has worked since 2019 to ensure that first-generation students find a sense of belonging. “First gen is an invisible identity. If students walk into the room, they don’t know who else’s first gen they don’t feel may not feel comfortable to share that they’re first gen.” 

Over the years, First-Gen celebrations have grown from small group gatherings to a campuswide week of pride and culture.

“It is very comforting to see that people celebrate and that is happy for us ,” Mendez said

First-generation students can access a variety of resources, including mentorship programs, financial aid guidance, scholarship opportunities, and the First-Gen Living Learning Community. They can also join the First-Gen Experience, a program that connects students with peer mentor coaches who help them navigate academic life, career development, and campus involvement.

All of these resources can be found at https://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/firstgen/index.php .