University of Minnesota Athletics
Athletics Celebrates First-Generation Students
11/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Gopher Athletics joined the University of Minnesota and higher education institutions nationwide in celebrating first-generation college students on Wednesday as part of the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration Day. The date lands on the 52nd anniversary of the Higher Education Act, which was intended to strengthen educational resources, create scholarships, and establish a National Teachers Corps.
There are 133 first-generation college students competing for Gopher teams this year. Many of these young men and women are only able to attend a world-class university like Minnesota because their athletic scholarship provides the financial assistance they and their families need. Every donor who invests in these student-athletes through the Golden Gopher Fund, whether by supporting endowed scholarships or contributing to any other funds, creates opportunities for all Gopher student-athletes to become the future leaders of our communities, including those who are the first in their families to go to college.
Gopher programs throughout the department are home to first-generation college students, with 24 different Gopher teams having at least one first-generation college student on their rosters. The programs with the most first-generation students include: football, men's and women's track and field, rowing and wrestling.
While 56 of these students are undeclared, largely because they are underclassmen, the 77 with declared majors are pursuing 37 different majors. These varied fields of study indicate the broad impact this cohort could have on our world after graduation, in everything from agriculture and engineering, to business and medicine.
On the Twin Cities' campus, nearly 30 percent of University of Minnesota students are first-generation college students. This amounts to nearly 13,000 students in all.
If you would like to invest in first-generation students competing for the Maroon and Gold, please contact the Golden Gopher Fund to discuss options. Every contribution makes a difference!
