Next Friday, Oberlin College’s chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha, a national honor society, will hold its induction ceremony from 5–6:30 p.m. in Moffett Auditorium in Mudd Center. The ceremony recognizes students, faculty, staff, and alumni who identify as first-generation and have demonstrated academic excellence.
Tri Alpha is relatively new on Oberlin’s campus. The chapter was formally announced in June 2024 and recognizes academic achievement among first-generation students while also creating opportunities for networking and leadership. During its first year, the organization focused largely on establishing leadership and determining how the chapter would function on campus. A student board was announced last October, allowing members to begin shaping programming and activities. The chapter inducted more than 40 students during its first year and is currently in a building phase where student leaders are shaping the organization’s structure and future programming.
“It’s showing the world their academic excellence,” Amanda Shelnutt, director of 1st Gen Student Success, said. “It’s saying that I am here, and I’m doing great.” First-generation and income-eligible students, commonly referred to as FGIE, include students who are the first in their families to attend college, students from lower-income backgrounds, and those who identify with both experiences. According to Oberlin’s Enrollment Factbook, about 18 percent of students identify as either first-generation or income-eligible, while roughly 5 percent identify as both.
While Tri Alpha is a newer initiative, programming for FGIE students at Oberlin has been developing for several years through the Center for Student Success. One of the central components of this programming has been the CSS peer mentor program, where returning FGIE students serve as mentors for other FGIE students navigating college life. FGIE programming has also expanded to include retreats, community events, and now the chapter of Tri-Alpha. Shelnutt said these initiatives were created in part to highlight the experiences and contributions of first-generation students on campus.
“What I think was not an awareness on campus was the first-gen experience at large, but also how much our first-gen students contribute to the Oberlin campus community through their leadership, their innovation, [and] their research,” Shelnutt said. FGIE Coordinator at the Center for Student Success Melissa Nova, OC ’25, said many of these programs are designed to create spaces where students can meet others who share similar experiences.
FGIE programming has also extended beyond campus. Two weeks ago, Nova and Emily Scott, a fourth-year Sociology major who serves as president of Oberlin’s Tri-Alpha chapter, attended the Rowan First Generation Symposium at Rowan University. The conference brought together students and administrators from institutions across the country working on first-generation student initiatives. Scott also serves as a peer mentor through the Center for Student Success, where student mentors work directly with FGIE students and help organize community events throughout the year.
Scott said the honor society has created opportunities for leadership and recognition among students who share similar experiences. “I think Tri Alpha is a step in a really optimistic direction,” Scott said. “It’s a recognition of the academic achievement and leadership qualities among first-generation students.”
Events scheduled for the coming weeks continue to emphasize community building. On April 3, the Center for Student Success will host “FGIE Survivor Night: Cohort Smash,” where students can participate in challenges individually or in teams of four. The annual FGIE retreat will also take place April 11 at Wellington Reservation. The first retreat was held in April 2025. This year’s retreat marks the second annual event and will move the program off campus for a full day of activities.
