Students came together Thursday evening to celebrate broken barriers with pumpkin carving and painting, tote bag painting, music and pizza.

The First-Generation Student Association held its inaugural FirstToppers Fall Fest to build community and empower students on their paths to higher achievement.

Sandy Cruz, Vice President of FGSA, said she and President Camden Haga founded the group as a new way to help connect first-generation students.

“We tend to push our students to network, to build leadership skills, and to do mentorships,” Cruz said.

Cruz said FirstToppers offers grants to first-generation students who complete 15 commitment hours, including volunteering at the International Center and the Humane Society, and participating in the Dynamic Leadership Institute.

DLI is a program that helps teach students professional and interpersonal skills and knowledge to help them succeed as students and beyond.

“Something as simple as a signature can help someone so much, can make them look more professional,” Cruz said. “Things like that build them up and give them more experience.”

Haga said that as a first-generation student, she experienced extra learning curves in her college journey. She said it was important to help clear the way for other students following a similar path and give them a smoother transition to college.

“We want to be able to build a community and be able to all help each other,”Haga said.

Cruz said that her parents are immigrants, and that finding community with other first-generation students, many of whom also come from immigrant backgrounds, helped her feel more secure at WKU and in Bowling Green.

“I think having that eye-opening experience will help them feel that they do belong at WKU,” said Cruz.

Talaya Guest, a senior corporate and organizational communication major, said that being a first-generation ambassador gives her a chance to leave an impact.

“You shouldn’t be ashamed to be labeled as first-gen, because you’re the first in your family, education is very important,” Guest said. “Education can open up doors you never thought you could experience, and broaden your horizon.”

Tyeesha Morris, a sophomore business management major with a concentration in entrepreneurship, said that finding resources for first-generation students has made her feel much more supported as she navigates college.

“Oh my God, I love it, we can all share our experiences, we’ve all been through similar things in our backgrounds,” Morris said. “Being a first-gen student, it means a lot to me, because I’m not alone.”