North Central Cardinal First

This year’s first Cardinal First Friday Leadership Development sessions were today in preparation for next week’s Cardinal First Friday workshops with our 2028s!

Loved seeing 140 of our first-gen 2025s at the August Cardinal First Homestretch workshops today at 9:20, 10:40, Noon, 1:20 and 2:40. Special thanks to the Center for Career & Professional Development team for an engaging and informative workshop about what our seniors need to know NOW!!

We are thrilled for our alums, who majored in education, who had their first day of school! Best of luck on the school year ahead 😃

Picture 1: Justin Moore '22 teaching at School District 308
Picture 2: Hannah Estoll '21 teaching at School District 204
Picture 3: Megan Campion '24 teaching at School District 200
Picture 4: Lexi Pagel '22 teaching at School District 303
Picture 5: Cynthia Brennan '23 teaching at School District 202

Stay cool Cardinals 🌬️ 🫧 Stop by the First-gen Center in Seybert Hall 100 for a sweet and refreshing treat from now until 4pm today! ❄️ (While supplies lasts)

Cardinal First provides monthly, one-hour workshops by cohort for first-gen students North Central College from their first day on campus through graduation. Current students - save the date for your upcoming workshop and check your email from Cardinal First for details and RSVP link.

Happy day 2 of classes 🍎 This afternoon was the Cardinal First New First-gen, Transfer Student Lunch! Shout out to Dr. Paul Brandt (Chemistry) for sharing your first-gen, transfer student wisdom 🧠
A huge thank you to our table hosts, Danyelle Borysiewicz ‘25, LaTavia Davison ‘25, Nathan DeLude ‘26, Hailie Murray ‘25, Nicasio Quiroga’25, Randy Reed ‘26, and Mark Zamudio ‘25 for sharing your first-gen, transfer student wisdom, experiences, and enthusiastic energy ✨

🌟Please join us in welcoming 323 new students to for Fall Semester 2024 😁- and welcoming back 606 returning Cardinals. 🎈🌟

The 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team is ready for the new school year! It was so great welcoming our leaders back to campus and kicking off the new school year with a Leadership Retreat.
A special thank you to Dr. Susie Lafferty from LEV for facilitating an activity and discussion about utilizing their top 5 Clifton Strengths as a leader, mentor, and successful college student.
Many thanks to 8 representatives from for joining our leadership retreat for a Networking Lunch.

Happy news: The First-Gen Programs Team was honored with the Distinguished Team Accomplishment Award 🏆 at last week's Opening Meeting for 2024-25 at North Central College . 🎉

This recognition reflects the collective efforts of so many across campus including 140+ first-gen faculty and staff, our incredible Cardinal First Student Leadership Team, our graduate assistants and our many colleagues who share our commitment to supporting and celebrating the 850+remarkable students at NC.
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So happy to welcome our new first-gen Cardinals and their families at today’s Cardinal First Family Continental Breakfast - a favorite annual event on the first day of Welcome Week! ✨🎉

We ❤️ our first-gen RAs!

It was great meeting all the 2024-25 RAs at yesterday's training. We appreciate your support to encourage first-gen students to engage in the Cardinal First program. We look forward to your leadership this year!

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Sam Kaczmarek '25 is majoring in Psychology, Sociology, and Criminology. "The Cardinal First program has allowed me to connect with faculty and staff across disciplines and develop relationship with them that will last beyond graduation."

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Casen Camarillo '25 is majoring in Psychology. "I was able to find friends through Cardinal First. Our monthly meetings give me a chance to meet new people and familiar faces."

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Angel Gamboa '26 is majoring in Biology. "I find the Cardinal First program beneficial because it helped me connect and meet new people outside of my major who I otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity to talk to. The program has also helped me b more confident in my everyday social life."

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Monaya Ali '25 is majoring in Health Science. "Cardinal First aims to enhance experiences for first-gen students by providing mentorships and community building opportunities."

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Dwayne Westmoreland '27 is majoring in Sports Management. "What makes Cardinal First program great is the sense of community. Not only do you gain great school and career advice, but you also get to meet wonderful Cardinal First faculty, leaders, and classmates"

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Kyla Border '25 is majoring in Biomedical Science. "By participating in the Cardinal First program, I have been able to form connections with my fellow peers, faculty, and staff that have allowed me to build and expand my network. Not only has building my network been beneficial to me but it's also beneficial to others as I can connect them with resources and information that I have gained through growing my network."

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Kelvyn Palacios Perez '27 is majoring in Mathematics and Secondary Education. "I find the Cardinal First program beneficial because it provides a safe and inclusive space for first-generation students to succeed in college."

Congratulations 🎈🎈🎈 to first-gen professor, Dr. Kristin Geraty, on her promotion to Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at North Central College! 🥳
North Central President Abiódún “G-P” Gòkè-Pariolá has named Dr. Kristin Geraty as the College’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. She is the first woman to serve as the College’s chief academic officer.

“Dr. Geraty is a talented teacher-scholar and academic leader with the experience and abilities necessary to transition seamlessly into this key role,” said President Gòkè-Pariolá. “She is a caring mentor and a trusted leader who is dedicated to academic excellence, innovation, and collaboration. I am grateful to Dr. Geraty for agreeing to serve the College in this new capacity and am looking forward to the positive impact she will have on our students and colleagues.”

To read more, visit https://bit.ly/4foRmGd.

Congratulations 🎈🎈🎈 to first-gen professor, Dr. Kristin Geraty, on her promotion to Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at North Central College! 🥳

North Central President Abiódún “G-P” Gòkè-Pariolá has named Dr. Kristin Geraty as the College’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. She is the first woman to serve as the College’s chief academic officer.

“Dr. Geraty is a talented teacher-scholar and academic leader with the experience and abilities necessary to transition seamlessly into this key role,” said President Gòkè-Pariolá. “She is a caring mentor and a trusted leader who is dedicated to academic excellence, innovation, and collaboration. I am grateful to Dr. Geraty for agreeing to serve the College in this new capacity and am looking forward to the positive impact she will have on our students and colleagues.”

To read more, visit https://bit.ly/4foRmGd.

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Adrian Luna '26 is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. "I find the Cardinal Firs program immensely beneficial because it provides the necessary support and resources to firs-generation college students who are navigating unique challenges."

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Olivia Wegner '25 is majoring in Interactive Media Studies. "Cardinal First gave me a huge number of friends from all different majors and backgrounds who I could turn to if I needed a friend."

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Molly Triplett '27 is majoring in Criminology & Psychology. "I find the Cardinal First program to be immensely beneficial in introducing first-gen students to a wide variety of resources while also making lifelong friends and connections. This program has opened my eyes to different hardships others can face and how to overcome them to be as successful as possible."

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Dominik Palka '26 is majoring in Finance. "Cardinal First helped me build a ton of new connections through their events and meetings. The program provided me with resources that will help me later in life."

Announcing the 2024-25 Cardinal First Leadership Team: Melanie Padilla '27 is majoring in Exercise Science. "The Cardinal First program get you connected to faculty and staff who were first-gen when they were in college. It is great to hear their stories and words of wisdom at the workshops."