Paving the Way: How First-Generation Students Thrive at TCU
At TCU, first-generation students – those who are the first in their families to attend college – are redefining what it means to pursue higher education. Through resilience, community and purpose, they’re paving the way for generations to come.
Breaking Barriers and Finding Belonging
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Dylan Thomas ’26, a general studies student with an emphasis in theatre, grew up admiring TCU’s campus. Becoming a TCU Community Scholar made that dream a reality.
“Being a first-generation student means I’m breaking barriers and paving the way for those who come after me,” Thomas says.
He’s found guidance through Create+Collaborate, a local nonprofit supporting first-generation students with leadership workshops and free dorm supplies to help ease the transition of living on campus. “[Create+Collaborate] is like family to me,” he says.
Mentorship has also been a defining part of Thomas’s experience at TCU.
“My adviser, Muriel Cormican, Ph. D., has been a safe space whenever I want to talk,” he says. “And Timeka Gordon, Ph.D., director of the Community Scholars program at TCU, is always looking out for me.”
From starring in TCU’s “Day in the Life” series to building lifelong friendships, Thomas says his greatest accomplishment is calling TCU “a place of aspiration.”
Building a Legacy
Lizbeth Maldonado ‘26, a master of business analytics student from Fort Worth, sees being first-generation as both a privilege and a mission.
“It means honoring my parents’ sacrifices, the long hours and the quiet struggles. It means being the first to step into spaces they never had access to and using that opportunity to open doors for others,” she says.
Through Student Support Services, a program that provides academic, financial, and personal support to undergraduate students, with a specific focus on first-generation, low-income, and disabled students, Maldonado found a community that’s always there for her.
“They’ve created a space where I feel welcomed, supported and seen,” she says. “Whether it was lending me a calculator when I couldn’t afford one, connecting me with free tutoring when classes got tough or now helping me network as I search for a job as a grad student — they’ve been there every step of the way,”
Local community organizations have also played a vital role in providing Maldonado with mentorship, a sense of belonging, and meaningful support.
“They’ve helped me grow academically, professionally and personally,” Maldonado says. “Most importantly, they’ve reminded me that I’m not alone on this journey,”
She’s proud to be the first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree, pursue a master’s and begin a professional career.
“As a proud daughter of immigrant parents, these milestones represent more than personal achievement,” she says.
Celebrating First-Gen Excellence
Programs such as Student Support Services and Community Scholars not only help TCU’s first-generation students thrive, but also ensure their stories are seen and celebrated.
Representation matters, especially for students who are the first in their families to take this step. Their presence on campus inspires others to believe that higher education is possible, no matter where they come from.
Throughout the year, TCU honors this community through events like First-Generation
Celebration Week, which recognizes not only their accomplishments, but also their
families who supported them along the way.
These moments serve as powerful reminders that being “first” is about more than achievement – it’s about impact.
“Being a first-generation student has made me more determined to not give up on my dreams and to be a leader,” Thomas says.
For Maldonado, the journey is deeply personal. “My why is my parents; their sacrifices, their resilience, and their unwavering belief in a better future,” she says.
Together, their stories reflect the heart of TCU’s first-generation community: to lead, to uplift and to build a legacy that opens doors for others.