Club Connect: Meet the ... First Ospreys
Angel Hernandez, Lillian Nickens, Leah Sandler and Nordia Johnson at the First Ospreys reception.
Galloway, NJ - More than half of all Stockton students have parents or guardians who did not attend college. When you are the first in your family to go to college, life can at times seem lonely and confusing. Who can you rely on?
The First Ospreys Club is a brand-new organization complementing Stockton鈥檚 First Ospreys initiative. Spearheaded by co-presidents sophomore Lillian Nickens and junior Leah Sadler, the
organization aims to help students meet, connect and network by hosting events, gatherings
and creating resources to assist the first-generation students of Stockton. The club
is open to all students whose parents or guardians did not attend college, with staff
and faculty highly encouraged to participate in events.
鈥淔irst Ospreys gives first-generation students a place of belonging and a secure sense of knowing that they aren鈥檛 going through this college experience alone,鈥 said Nickens. 鈥淚t's important as a first-generation student to make the necessary connections now while you鈥檙e in college.鈥
The club held its kickoff event on Thursday, Jan. 30 in the lower Art Gallery, giving students the opportunity to network with other first-generation Ospreys, faculty and staff members. Those in attendance enjoyed refreshments while celebrating the club鈥檚 creation with speeches, a video and giveaways.
The club meets at 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. First Ospreys will also host a fundraiser 鈥淪end a Crush a Crush鈥 in the coming weeks, in addition to a trip next month.
鈥淭he event we just held is only the beginning of all the great things that we will do as a club. Being associated with the [First Ospreys Initiative] will allow us to truly stay connected and relevant as we serve as many first-generation students as possible,鈥 Sadler said.
The is a retention initiative providing social, academic and professional support to first-generation students to help them navigate their college experience. Co-chairs are Associate Director of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program Angel Hernandez and Coordinator of Student Transition Programs Nordia Johnson, who were first-generation college students themselves.
For more information about the First Ospreys club, contact FirstOspreys@stockton.edu or follow on Instagram.
Reported by Eliza Hunt
