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First-generation student Wrileigh Bacon ’26, from Syracuse, NY, fell in love with the environment at �鶹��ý�Ŷ� as soon as she toured the campus. “I loved how quiet everything was compared to my home city,” she says. 

During high school, Bacon participated in a program that helps neurodivergent students navigate college applications, and �鶹��ý�Ŷ� was recommended for its strong teaching programs. Now majoring in English (literature track), she hopes to attend graduate school and someday teach English to college students.

“The transition to college wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be, although I definitely experienced a bit of culture shock moving to �鶹��ý�Ŷ�,” she says. Since arriving on campus, she’s connected with new friends in her Creative Writing class and in the �鶹��ý�Ŷ� Area Gaming Group, which organizes events around video, board, roleplaying, and collectible card games.

“The best thing about �鶹��ý�Ŷ� so far are the many clubs and organizations here on campus,” she says. “There are so many options to choose from, and you can find a wonderful community there.”

A recent recipient of the Dr. James and Arleen Somerville First Generation Scholarship, Bacon says that “as a first-generation college student from a low-income household, awards like this really help in the long run.” The scholarship provides a minimum amount of $4,000 and was established by Dr. James K. Somerville, Professor Emeritus of history at �鶹��ý�Ŷ�, and his wife, Arleen Somerville.

Read more about First Generation Students on campus.