The giving season is upon us, and Birmingham-Southern is celebrating our first-generation student community this Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30.

The Young Alumni Council, which selects the College’s Giving Tuesday project each year, has decided to renew their project from the last two years – a scholarship for a first-generation college student. This year’s scholarship will be awarded to a member of the Class of 2026.

“As someone who was a first-generation student myself, I know firsthand how life-changing a scholarship like this one can be,” says Director of Annual Giving Danielle Buchanan. “The Birmingham-Southern community is coming together to give a student the opportunity to achieve their college dreams, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.”

Group photo from the 2021 session of Southern Exposure, the College’s orientation event for incoming first-generation students.

This year’s scholarship will be the third of its kind, created to support our growing community of students who will be the first in their families to graduate college. This fall, 253 students at BSC identify as first-generation students, making 24% of our student body first-gen.

“I believe institutions like BSC make ideal communities for first-generation students to succeed,” says Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Kate Hayden, who is a first-gen graduate. “Our faculty and staff strive to recognize the challenges that first-generation students face and help provide the resources needed to overcome these unique challenges. I genuinely think faculty and staff want to ensure that all our students feel safe and capable of meeting the high expectations of college by providing a nurturing atmosphere that larger institutions simply cannot replicate.”

The recipient of last year’s Giving Tuesday scholarship is first-gen student Lexi Bush, an economics, political science, and international relations major from Gardendale, Alabama. She started her classes on the Hilltop this fall and quickly became involved all over campus. Bush currently works in the bookstore and the library, is part of the Harrison Honors Program, and has joined several student organizations, including the Cross-Cultural Committee, Circle K, and We The Neighbors.

Lexi Bush, a first-generation student from Gardendale, Alabama, and the recipient of the Giving Tuesday First-Gen Scholarship in 2020.

“I love BSC because of how close-knit the community is,” Bush says. “Even after only being here for a few months, I can walk into any room and identify at least one person.”

When she first began looking at colleges, Bush prioritized finding strong connections between faculty, staff, and fellow students, which is something that was important to her in high school. She found that BSC encouraged this guidance and community in and out of the classroom.

“I loved the academic atmosphere at Birmingham-Southern and how cultivating a habit of learning in every heart that walked through the doors was the priority, not just getting a degree,” she says.

Bush has also added a pre-law track to her degree plans, which has led to her participation in the Philosophy Club as well as her course with Professor of Philosophy Dr. Bill Myers on the philosophy of law. She hopes to one day work in environmental law, nonprofit work, or local politics.

“This class has really reaffirmed the desires and path I have for my life and given me faith in myself to conquer my dreams,” Bush says. “Dr. Myers is also a fantastic teacher who is always very understanding and willing to push us past our limits, even if it makes us question what we once believed.”

During her first few months as a BSC student, Bush has found several great resources for first-generation students at BSC, including the First-Gen Peer Mentors, which has matched her and other first-years students with first-gen upperclassmen who plan events and answer questions about campus and academic life.

This mentorship program, first-gen student organization 1-G, and other resources from faculty, staff, and other students are put in place to support the challenges that first-gen students might face as they pursue their education. First-Year Student Success Advisor and Interim Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion Aaliyah Moore develops these to guide students in the best ways possible.

Nov. 8-12 marked First-Generation Student Week on campus, and events were held throughout the week to celebrate and honor current students and our first-gen graduates. During the week, we shared multiple scholarship opportunities for first-gen students, including the Giving Tuesday project.

“Scholarships are the reason I am here at Birmingham-Southern,” Bush says. “Scholarships have allowed me to go to college without the worries of having to find extra jobs and extra hours in order to make ends meet. Scholarships have also allowed my parents to have peace about me going to college, and not wrestle with the fear of if they are leaving their daughter to tackle debt on her own.”

You can show your support for first-gen college students and be a part of the Giving Tuesday celebration. Join us at givingtuesday.bsc.edu.