RSCC – Roane State will celebrate National First Generation College Student Day this November with photo and essay contests held in the days leading up to the event.

The annual “I’m First” essay contest will be held October 10-30, 2025. To gain access to the submission portal through Momentum, interested students should email Student Engagement Coordinator Jennifer Fugate with their name, RSCC email, and R number no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on October 9.

In the essay, students are encouraged to speak about their own experiences as the first in their family to attend college. Essays should be 500-750 words and should explain what being a First Generation college student means to them. The winner will be announced on November 6, 2025, right before First Generation College Student Day.

To make sure that students have the strongest essay possible, a Momentum course shell has been set up for drafts (First Generation College Student Essay Contest), and these will be reviewed by our Learning Center tutors. Students wishing to have their drafts reviewed should send it to the drop box by October 23. Final drafts will be due by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 30.

Essay contest questions can be sent via email to Jennifer Fugate. Entries will be judged by a volunteer panel of Roane State faculty members. Winning entires from the past two years are available to read here (2023) and here (2024).

The First Generation photo contest will also be back this year. Participating students will soon be able to pick up a special First Generation Celebration pin on campus and submit a photo of themselves wearing the pin to be entered into a prize drawing. Students should watch their Roane State inbox for more information coming soon about the photo contest.