First-Gen Picnic

By: Maddyson Redday

Cougar Days at the University of Sioux Falls is a great time for students to come together and enjoy a week full of activities and cheer on the Coo! One of the activities on the list this year was the First Gen Picnic held on the USF campus quad. The picnic, which ran from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21, was put on by Diana Rivera, coordinator of the First Gen program. The program aims to provide first-generation college students with a community where they can feel welcomed, supported, and celebrated. 

The picnic took place on the campus quad, right in the middle of USF. There were blankets laid out for maximum comfort and the weather was calm and warm. The menu for the picnic was sliders, the perfect watermelon, and fruit punch. There were also tons of games to play. First Gen students had the opportunity to meet and mingle with each other and share experiences. While playing games, students were asked to introduce and share fun facts about themselves with other members of the group. While most answers were silly and fun, it was an excellent way for students to open up about their backgrounds and what it feels like to be a First Gen student. Among these students was Ahou Nze who said, “It’s really good for students to get to connect and get to know each other and the upperclassmen.” For more information on the First Gen organization at USF stop by the Student Life office.