MIDLAND, Texas — Trying to figure out life after high school is not always the easiest, especially when there's no roadmap around to give some guidance on the next best step.
Texas ranks fifth in the country when it comes to having the most percentage of first-generation students, according to a 2023 report from Forbes Advisor.
The First-Generation Ambassadors Program at Midland College is investing in first-generation students, while expanding their collegiate experience.
Hiram Marquez is a member of FGAP who faced challenges prior to his acceptance at Midland College, including losing his job.
"Once I got accepted, my family was excited, they were so happy for me," Marquez said. "I jumped into this and I was scared at first because nobody in my family had ever gone to college before."
It starts with the first-generation program as part of the Midland College's Advising Program. Once students participate, their advisors may offer them the opportunity to apply for the ambassador position within the program. Students must meet the criteria and upon acceptance, the student is awarded with a $1,000 scholarship.
One of these criteria includes participating in at least 20 hours of campus or community service.
"To kind of set that example of what is to be expected and to also kind of build that community," said Ashton Altman, a first-generation ambassador. "It makes the process of being a first gen-student just a lot easier, and feel a lot less lonely."
As of Spring 2023, there are nearly a dozen first-generation ambassadors at Midland College.
"A lot of times people that are first-gen, may come into college feeling like they might be outliers or they have a more difficult time fitting in because they just occupy that gray area where they don't fully know what they're doing so they can't fully associate with people that have families who've been to college or with people who still haven't been to college," said Altman.
Registration for 2024 summer courses at Midland College are open. This year, the FGAP is accepting applications during the summer.
"I think it's part of a larger effort to just kind of expand their horizons, show them all of the things that they can contribute to the community while they're also learning how to become leaders," said Ida Quriel, a career and transfer advisor at Midland College. "It's critical to give them all sorts of aspects of the collegiate experience, which isn't just going to class and learning, but it's learning how to be good citizens. It's learning how to network with others, learning how to contribute their time managing their time and just enjoying a host of different experiences while they're in college."