College Celebrates First-Generation Students
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College marked First Gen Day with student stories, panels and a $200 scholarship presentation.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College held its First Gen Day celebration for first-generation college students on Nov. 10 in the Social Staircase Lobby of Building L on its Bowling Green campus. The event was supported by a $5,000 national grant awarded to the college.
Why it matters
Roughly 61% of the college's nearly 7,000 students are first-generation students, based on Free Application for Federal Student Aid data, and that figure may be higher because not every student completes the application. The event highlights support resources for students who often face financial and time-management challenges without family experience navigating college.
The $5,000 national grant and $200 scholarship were the only funding amounts reported for the event. Approximately 61% of the college's nearly 7,000 students are first-generation, though the actual share may be higher because the figure relies on FAFSA completion.
The players
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
A public two-year institution in Bowling Green, Kentucky, offering associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs.
Kendra Duncan
A first-generation business administration student at the college who plans to graduate in December and continue her education at the University of Kentucky.
Javier Fernandez
A first-generation nursing student who moved to the United States from Cuba and is pursuing a nursing career.
The details
Held in the Social Staircase Lobby of Building L, the celebration featured student stories, panel discussions and a $200 scholarship presentation. Kendra Duncan, a business administration student, and Javier Fernandez, a nursing student who moved to the United States from Cuba, are both first-generation students.
Timeline
Nov. 10, 2026: First Gen Day celebration held at the college.
December 2026: Duncan plans to graduate and continue her studies at the University of Kentucky.
Financial Aid Landscape
The college's first-generation estimate depends on FAFSA completion, the federal form that governs most need-based aid eligibility in the United States. Because students who skip the form are not counted, campus demographic figures built on it tend to undercount first-generation enrollment.
Students at the college can seek help through the Pathfinder Pantry, emergency financial assistance and child care support. The college also offers help with rent, school supplies and required uniforms for certain academic programs.
The takeaway
First-generation students often carry the heaviest load without a family roadmap, so campus support services such as food assistance, emergency aid and child care can determine whether they stay enrolled. Students who have not yet completed the FAFSA should do so, since it shapes both aid eligibility and how institutions understand their student body.
Further reading
Explore more financial aid coverage for students balancing school costs and family responsibilities.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WNKY News 40 Television.
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