Being first in the family to attend college can mean learning two things at once: the subjects on a course schedule and how the university itself works. At University of the Pacific, a November 5 celebration will recognize first-generation students while bringing campus resources and community into the same gathering.
The First-Gen Celebration takes place Thursday, November 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the McCaffrey Center on Pacific’s Stockton campus. Student Life and SUCCESS TRiO are listed as organizers. The announcement promises music and campus resources, with free churros for the first 200 students.
Making the unfamiliar easier to navigate
Pacific defines first-generation students as those whose parent or parents did not complete a four-year college degree. That family history does not describe a student’s ability or ambition. It can, however, shape how familiar the processes surrounding college feel.
In a November 2024 university story about the First Gen Hub, student Paloma Morales ’25 described uncertainty about financial aid and course registration. Her account points to practical questions that can sit alongside academic work: where to go, who to ask and which steps come next.
In that same published story, Anahitza Lopez ’25, then a first-generation student and SUCCESS TRiO mentor, described the value of a shared space: “It’s a place where students can come and relate to one another.” Her perspective was reported in 2024, rather than gathered as a new interview for this event.
Support beyond a celebration
Pacific’s First Gen Hub, established on the McCaffrey Center’s ground floor, was designed to welcome first-generation students even when they are not enrolled in a specific retention program. The university described study and social spaces that connect students with peers and resources.
That idea gives the November gathering a larger context. Celebrating an identity can help make it visible; ongoing relationships give students somewhere to take the questions that remain after the music ends. The event announcement does not identify particular resource tables or speakers, so attendees should not assume a specific advising appointment or service will be available during the celebration.
A Stockton network of educational support
Pacific’s SUCCESS TRiO program lists tutoring, direct financial assistance and academic, financial, personal and career counseling among its services for eligible students. The university describes its TRiO support as federally funded and serving 200 eligible Pacific students each year. Participation in the celebration does not itself enroll a student in the program or establish eligibility for assistance.
The university’s outreach also extends to local high school students through Upward Bound TRiO. Pacific’s program page describes tutoring, college exploration and a six-week summer program for eligible Edison High School students. It is a separate program with its own application and participation requirements, connecting the broader story of college access to a Stockton school community.
Students who want to explore support can contact SUCCESS TRiO at 209-946-2439 or [email protected]. Asking about eligibility and available services is a practical next step for those seeking help beyond the celebration.
Event Details
- Event: Pacific First-Gen Celebration
- Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
- Time: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Venue: McCaffrey Center, University of the Pacific, Stockton campus, 3601 Pacific Avenue, Stockton. A specific event room is not listed.
- Organizers: Student Life and SUCCESS TRiO
- Attendance: The university lists students, graduate students, alumni, faculty, staff and the university community. General-public attendance is not stated; visitors outside those groups should confirm with the organizer.
- Admission and registration: No admission charge or registration requirement is stated on the official listing. Free churros are limited to the first 200 students.
- Official information: Pacific First-Gen Celebration
- SUCCESS TRiO contact: 209-946-2439; [email protected]
The celebration offers a moment to recognize how far students have come. Its deeper value lies in the connections they can carry forward: a familiar face, a place to ask a question and the knowledge that being first does not mean navigating college alone.