Beyond the Scholarship: First-Generation Dinner Builds a Circle of Support for College Success

BARBERTON, Ohio — Barberton Community Foundation brought scholarship recipients, families, college representatives, staff, and alumni together before the start of college to begin relationships designed to support students through graduation.

Before Barberton’s newest first-generation college students arrive on campus this fall, they have already had an opportunity to meet people who can answer questions, connect them with resources, and help them navigate the college experience.

Barberton Community Foundation began building those connections during its First-Generation Scholarship Dinner at Remarkable Diner. Recipients of the Foundation’s Endowed First-Generation Scholarship and their families shared a meal with representatives from the colleges they will attend, Foundation staff, and scholarship alumni.

They exchanged contact information and had candid conversations about financial aid, academic resources, campus life, family support, and the challenges that can arise during the transition to college.

The dinner is a distinctive extension of the Foundation’s scholarship program, bringing financial support together with its ability to convene people, share knowledge, and build lasting relationships around Barberton students.

“A scholarship can help a student get to college, but earning a degree takes more than getting to campus,” said Josh Gordon, executive director of Barberton Community Foundation and a first-generation graduate of Valdosta State University. “Our hope is that tonight helps begin those relationships and reminds each student that they will not be making this journey alone.”

A Scholarship Experience Centered on College Completion

At Barberton Community Foundation, receiving a scholarship marks the beginning of a relationship.

The Foundation wants to remain connected with students throughout college and beyond, creating opportunities for them to seek guidance, share their experiences, and eventually encourage the students who follow them.

The First-Generation Scholarship Dinner was designed around that commitment.

Students sat with their families, representatives from their colleges, Foundation staff members, and former scholarship recipients. Several of the adults in the room were also first-generation college graduates and could speak personally about learning to navigate higher education without the benefit of family experience.

Those connections can be especially valuable when students encounter an unfamiliar process or difficult decision. A question about financial aid, withdrawing from a class, accessing counseling, requesting academic accommodations, finding tutoring, or applying for additional scholarships can feel more manageable when a student already knows whom to contact.

The dinner gave students and families an opportunity to begin those relationships before a problem or moment of uncertainty occurs.

Gordon opened the conversation by sharing an experience from his own first year of college. After an injury affected his ability to succeed in a class, he learned that withdrawing from a course was an option. That knowledge helped protect his grade point average and his confidence.

Students whose parents or older siblings have attended college may learn about such options through family experience. First-generation students may need to identify those resources and processes for themselves. The evening helped make that information, and the people who can provide it, more accessible.

Honest Conversations About the College Experience

College representatives encouraged students to ask questions early, use the services available to them, and view seeking help as an important part of becoming a successful college student.

Dr. Fedearia Nicholson, vice provost for Student Pathways and dean of the Williams Honors College at The University of Akron, discussed the importance of connecting with university resources and asking for support.

Jasmina Waters, senior director of Choose Ohio First and Collegiate Success at The University of Akron, reminded students that being the first in their families to attend college is not a deficit. First-generation students bring resilience, perspective, and determination to their campuses, and their voices can help institutions understand how to create more welcoming and supportive environments.

Sonya Wagner, director of Student Services at The University of Akron Wayne Campus, encouraged students to remain open to exploring their interests. Changing a major or concentration can be a constructive part of finding the right academic and career path.

Dr. David Nguyen, dean of University College and professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs at Ohio University, encouraged students to speak with their advisers, connect with financial aid staff, and continue looking for scholarships available through their colleges and academic programs.

LaDarrius Steele, senior director of the TRIO Upward Bound Classic Academy within Kent State University’s Office of University Outreach and Engagement, encouraged students to “find their community.” Relationships with mentors, peers, and campus organizations can strengthen a student’s sense of belonging and provide support during challenging moments.

Conversations throughout the evening addressed financial aid, counseling, accessibility services, tutoring, scholarships, time management, campus involvement, and balancing school with employment and family responsibilities.

Advice From Students Who Have Been There

Scholarship alumni also offered practical guidance drawn from their own college experiences.

Kennedy Macko, a 2025 Barberton High School graduate and First-Generation Scholarship recipient, recently completed her first year studying acting at Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts in Pittsburgh.

Macko spoke about moving away from her family and existing support system, adjusting to an unfamiliar city, and learning to build a new community. She encouraged students to become involved in a club or activity outside their academic programs. Those experiences can provide a break from the demands of a major while helping students develop friendships and feel more at home on campus.

Ava Hart, a 2024 Barberton High School graduate and Barberton Community Foundation scholarship recipient, is a rising junior at The Ohio State University, where she is majoring in marketing with a minor in public policy. This summer, Hart returned to the Foundation as its first formal college intern, supporting communications and contributing to a scholarship marketing plan.

Hart encouraged students to establish routines that help them balance classes, schoolwork, employment, and friendships. She also urged them to introduce themselves to others and make an effort to build relationships, even when doing so feels uncomfortable.

Her continued involvement with the Foundation represents the kind of lasting connection the scholarship program is designed to create. Former recipients can return as mentors, volunteers, professionals, and community leaders who help encourage the next generation of Barberton students.

Families Are Part of the Circle of Support

The dinner intentionally included parents and caregivers because college is often a transition for the entire family.

Families are among a student’s strongest sources of encouragement. At the same time, they may also be learning about college systems, expectations, and resources for the first time.

Carrie Herman, director of community impact for Barberton Community Foundation, spoke about the importance of family support throughout the college experience. She encouraged parents and caregivers to subscribe to university e-newsletters and follow the college on social media so they remain aware of campus events, important deadlines, and available resources. Staying informed can give families natural conversation starters and help them ask meaningful questions about their student’s classes, activities, challenges, and experiences.

Nguyen encouraged families to protect the time students need to focus on their education. When challenges or responsibilities arise at home, other family members may be able to help address them so the student can remain focused on classes and degree completion.

Including families in the conversation helped create a shared understanding of the adjustments college may require and the important role parents and caregivers can play without preventing students from developing independence.

An Endowed Investment in Barberton Students

The First-Generation Scholarship is funded through Barberton Community Foundation’s endowment, making it part of the Foundation’s long-term investment in education and career pathways for Barberton residents.

Endowed charitable assets are invested to support opportunities today while preserving resources for future generations. Through this model, the Foundation can continue helping Barberton students pursue college degrees and build pathways to meaningful careers.

The scholarship provides financial assistance, while experiences such as the First-Generation Scholarship Dinner extend that investment through relationships, information, and encouragement.

Charitable gifts to Barberton Community Foundation’s scholarship work are welcome. Additional support can help sustain scholarships, strengthen the experiences surrounding them, and expand educational opportunities for Barberton students now and in the future.

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About Barberton Community Foundation

Established in 1996, Barberton Community Foundation has awarded over 8,500 grants and scholarships totaling more than $109 million since its inception. The Foundation strives to improve, now and forever, the quality of life for Barberton residents by providing leadership on vital issues, fostering collaboration and creating a legacy of giving to do good. The Foundation strengthens the community for current and future generations by proactively directing its grant dollars to the community’s greatest needs. To read more about Barberton Community Foundation, visit www.barbertoncf.org or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/barbertoncommunityfoundation.