Santa Fe College Receives $5,000 Grant to Support First-Generation Students

Santa Fe College is one of 26 colleges nationwide selected to receive a grant to develop a leadership conference specifically for students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education, an initiative aimed at improving college completion rates for this often-underserved population.

The $5,000 grant, funded by TIAA and supported by the Council for Opportunity in Education and the FirstGen Forward Network, will be used to create a half-day leadership conference on November 8, 2026. “We are extremely proud that Santa Fe College received the highest tier of support for the First-Generation College Celebration Grant Opportunity,” said Naima Brown, vice president of student affairs. Shanna Ratliff, coordinator for TRIO-Student Support Services STEM, added that the grant “reinforces the college’s commitment to support and empower first-generation college students.”

The conference, organized by Santa Fe’s First-Generation Student Advisory Group, will focus on career readiness, building confidence, and fostering professional connections. The idea stemmed from a transformative experience for TRIO staff and students at a similar conference in Miami earlier this year. Student Gloria Picaso, a member of the advisory group, shared how attending a first-generation conference shifted her career focus from financial stability to finding “meaning, impact, and supporting others.” Resources for first-generation students can also be found through the Center for First-generation Student Success.

Picaso, who returned to school after a 12-year break, emphasized the importance of accessible support systems for first-generation students, stating, “This is an event that can bring that same inspiration, motivation, and sense of belonging to our campus and community.” Santa Fe College officials say they will continue to develop the conference program and details will be released in the coming months.