A group of 25 Stan State first-generation students gathered in the Diversity Center on Sept. 6 to begin a series of seminars designed to foster the development of student identity and a sense of belonging.

The program, called First-Gen Fridays, will meet on the first Friday of every month classes are in session during the academic year, with the first gathering dedicated to introducing the students to the program, as well as time for the cohort to get acquainted with each other.

A mother of three, an immigrant from Mexico who arrived in the United States at 14 not knowing a word of English, and a daughter whose dad’s terminal cancer diagnosis launched her on a path to studying computer technology with hopes of finding medical advancements are among the six new Stanislaus State students who began the 2019-20 school year as McNair Scholars.

Stanislaus State’s new CareerReadyU initiative, announced during President Ellen Junn’s Fall Welcome on Aug. 19, has entered into memorandums of agreement (MOU) with three founding partners: The City of Turlock, the City of Modesto and the Turlock Chamber of Commerce.

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Thursday may have been the 60th first day of school at Stan State, but for 18-year-old Michelle Monroy of Atwater, it was unique.

The freshman, who plans to major in biology, was a bundle of nerves as she made her way to the campus for her first day of classes.

“I was driving here and I was super nervous,” Monroy said. “I was afraid big time. I was listening to music to calm down and also trying to pump myself up. Then I got to my first class and it was fine. It seemed normal.”