Toros celebrate achievements and share their concerns about the future.
The 7th annual “First-Generation College Celebration” took place Nov. 7 in the Loker Student Union Ballroom. The event was hosted by First Gen Toros, which brings together students, faculty, and CSUDH alumni to support and uplift first-generation college students.
The event opened with a recognition of Joanna Perez, a CSUDH sociology professor and first-generation student. The program then shifted to a panel featuring four first-generation professionals discussing their journeys and experiences: Kristen McGuire, Xochitl Gallardo, Nathan Nguyen, and Danny Santana.
The event concluded with a networking opportunity accompanied by free food, beverages and a raffle.
“What’s unique about this particular celebration is that we’re not just celebrating our first-generation college students, we’re celebrating first-generation staff, faculty, and alumni,” said panel moderator Trimaine Davis, program director for the Black Resource Center. “That title of ‘first-gen’ means so much, and it’s a very wide title as well. So, as you continue to move forward in life, that title never leaves you. There’s never going to be a time [when] you’re not the first to accomplish something.”
First-Generation College Celebration Day is a national event recognized annually on Nov. 8, with campuses across the country hosting programs that honor and empower students who are the first in their families to pursue a college degree.
Established by the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-Generation Student Success, colleges and universities nationwide mark the day with panels, resource fairs, workshops, and community gatherings aimed at building visibility and support. At CSUDH, the celebration connects first-gen Toros with mentors, campus programs, and one another.
According to CSUDH, approximately 46% of Toros enrolled at the university are first-generation students.
Economic uncertainty and a tightening job market have only heightened concerns. According to the Cengage Group Graduate Employability Report, only 30% of 2025 college graduates and 41% of 2024 graduates found entry-level jobs in their fields.
Some Toros nearing graduation said that while they are proud of what they’ve accomplished, the future feels uncertain.
“Teachers don’t get paid a lot…[I’m] worried I might have to get a second job that doesn’t revolve around my degree just to get by,” said Leslie Aguilar, a senior liberal studies major.
Rising prices also weigh heavily on students.
“In today’s economy, I still have that fear that it could be another decision I might have to make if bills get a little too out of control,” said Tasha Gibbons, a junior sociology student. “It’s also a concern to settle for a job that doesn’t apply to my major.”
The budget cuts affecting the California State University system are also concerning to many first-generation students, who worry that financial aid programs may be on the chopping block. TRIO and Dual Language Learning are two programs at CSUDH that assist first-generation students by providing academic and career resources, including certificates.
CSUDH’s basic operating budget was cut by over $12 million for 2025–2026 academic year. As a result the university has laid off staff, reduced course offerings, and increased student fees. First-generation students fear that these cuts may affect the programs that offer assistance and resources to them.
Ebony Buckley, a junior history student, said Toros are already feeling the impact of campus budget reductions. She noted that several services have been scaled back this year and worries more cuts could follow, especially to programs first-generation students rely on. The possibility of losing free resources, she said, has become a growing concern.
Buckley said: “Things that we have on campus that are for free we may have to start paying [for].”