Fifty-two percent of Davenport University’s student body are first-generation, meaning their parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree. Recently, 130 of these first-generation students were inducted into Davenport’s new Tri-Alpha Honor Society during a special ceremony on the W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus.
Jodi Hicks, director of first-year experience at Davenport, said she is extremely proud of these students and is thrilled that the university was able to celebrate their commitment to academic excellence and their success in this way.
Hicks applied for acceptance as a chapter of the Tri-Alpha Honor Society and was excited when Davenport received the recognition. She had wanted to do something special to recognize Davenport’s first-gen students for a long time, especially at commencement. Hicks said the Tri-Alpha Honor Society does that and much more.
Once Davenport had been approved to host a chapter, Hicks wasted no time recruiting inaugural members with the hope that 25-30 students would apply. Hicks said she was completely blown away to receive 130 applications, making it the largest inaugural induction of students into an honor society in Davenport’s history. “The overwhelming response to this new honor society is beyond what I had anticipated, and it’s such a source of pride for the students and the university,” said Hicks. “I couldn’t be more pleased and can only imagine how proud the students and their families will be at commencement.”
To be considered for inclusion in the Tri-Alpha Honor Society, a student must first come from a family where neither parent has completed a bachelor’s degree. They also must have completed at least three full-time terms of study (a minimum of thirty credit hours) at Davenport. Additionally, undergraduate students must achieve an overall GPA of at least 3.2, while graduate students must achieve an overall GPA in their graduate program of at least 3.5.
Tri-Alpha membership offers many rewards. It recognizes the academic accomplishments of first-generation students and identifies them as a person of superior academic ability and commitment to employers and graduate schools. It also provides members the opportunity to meet other first-generation scholars from all campuses and all academic disciplines.
“Being a Tri Alpha member serves as an incentive to continue to get high grades and creates a supportive environment for first-generation students,” said Hicks. “It even serves as an incentive for their friends and family to seek a higher education degree.”
Alexis Crass, a nursing student from Paducah, Kentucky, is excited to join the Tri-Alpha Honor Society because of what it represents to her and her family. “I’m proud that I’ll be the first person in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree, and being inducted into the honor society is especially meaningful to me,” said Crass. “It feels great to be a part of something special, and I look forward to making new connections with fellow Davenport students with shared experiences.”
Crass is especially thankful for the support of her family and their unwavering commitment to her as she works toward obtaining her degree. “Without my family, I wouldn’t be able to make it through Davenport’s rigorous nursing program and continue on the dance team.”
Like other first-gen students, Crass is also grateful for Davenport’s unique first-generation program, which is very near and dear to Hicks’ heart. Hicks helped launch the initiative five years ago and has worked tirelessly to grow the program into what it is today.
The program’s primary goal is to ensure first-generation students return to Davenport every year until they graduate. To achieve this goal, the program focuses on serving the needs and challenges of first-generation students and also recognizes their unique strengths that have made them successful thus far. It offers custom programming and strategic activities to support first-generation students to ensure they thrive in their first year in college and ultimately reach graduation.
This programming includes a first-year success course, academic coaching, study skills and time management training, workshops and speakers and peer mentoring.
Crass has been involved in the first-gen peer mentoring program since she started at Davenport. In her first year, she was paired with a mentor whom she could turn to with questions or challenges relating to school or personal circumstances. “Over time, I built a bond with my mentor and knew I wanted to offer that same support to someone else.” She is now in her second year of being a mentor and likes having a positive impact on other first-generation students. “I love being a peer mentor and helping other first-generation students who need the same guidance that I needed as a freshman.
For more information on Davenport’s first-gen initiatives or the Tri-Alpha Honor Society, click here.
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