First-Generation Excellence Awards
This semesterly awards process is intended to recognize and celebrate the phenomenal contributions, experiences, and talents of First-Gen Niners. Open until March 15th, there are five awards available, apply to be recognized for all that you do and have done. Each award has different criteria, so be sure to read each description and application requirements.
Eligibility:
These awards are available to First-Generation Niners.
First-Generation Niners are students whose parents and/or guardians did not complete a four-year college degree.
- Am I still first-gen if my sibling has a degree? YES
- Am I still first-gen if my parents/guardians have an associate’s degree? YES
- What if my parents/guardians have a degree from another country? YES
First-Gen Niner, your journey is unique, and as you complete each semester, you are growing! We would love to learn more about your journey and how you have succeeded and overcome challenges during your time at Charlotte. Apply for our First-Gen Barrier Breaker Award.
Application Requirements:
- A personal narrative describing your First-Generation journey during your time at Charlotte and how you have grown through it (no more than 500 words).
First-Gen Niner, you are making strides through research. Have you participated in or led a research project you are proud of this academic year (Summer 2025-Spring 2026)? Apply for the First-Gen Discovery Award.
Application Requirements:
- A personal narrative describing your role in the research project, how you shared your research, and how this assisted your growth (no more than 300 words).
- A google or PowerPoint slide that describes the main focus or abstract of your research
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must have conducted or contributed to research during time at UNC Charlotte during the academic year of Summer 2025-Spring 2026
First-Gen Niner, you’ve left your mark on Niner Nation. Please share about the legacy you’ve built, how you have mentored Niners and Pass the Pickaxe to others. Apply for our First-Gen Passing the Pickaxe Award.
Application Requirements:
- A personal narrative describing the legacy you’ve built and how you have mentored others (No more than 500 words).
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must have provided mentorship to others
- Examples of mentorship could be on-campus leadership roles, peer mentors, student organization executive board roles, teaching assistants, Student Government Association, Volunteer and Service programs, Greek Life and more.
The Community Impact Excellence Award is designed to recognize First-Gen Niners who have demonstrated outstanding and sustained commitment to service. This service can be to their campus, to the greater area of Charlotte, or to their home communities, as well as any combination of those 3 areas. This prestigious award is open to graduating seniors who have consistently volunteered their time to accumulate community service hours during their tenure at UNC Charlotte.
Application Requirements:
- # of Community Service Hours accumulated while at Charlotte
- A personal narrative detailing what service to the community means to you and your impact on your community (no more than 300 words)
- A personal narrative detailing how supporting the community has impacted your personal growth (no more than 300 words)
- Most up-to-date resume
- A letter of support (no more than 300 words) emailed to iamfirstgen@charlotte.edu
- This person must be someone who can speak to your commitment to service (student org advisor, supervisor at a volunteer organization, etc.)
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must have maintained a high GPA throughout their academic career.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to community engagement excellence, as evidenced by their volunteer hours, involvement in campus organizations, and leadership experiences.
The Golden Achievement Academic Excellence Award is designed to recognize First-Gen Niners who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a sustained commitment to excellence in their studies. This prestigious award is open to graduating seniors who have consistently performed at the highest levels in their coursework, showing dedication, discipline, and intellectual curiosity across various subjects.
Application Requirements:
- Cumulative GPA
- A personal narrative detailing why academic excellence is important to you and how you've stayed committed to academics during your time at Charlotte (no more than 300 words)
- Most up-to-date resume
- A letter of support (no more than 300 words) emailed to iamfirstgen@charlotte.edu
- This person must be someone who can speak to your academic excellence (peer, advisor, professor, etc.)
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must have maintained a high GPA throughout their academic career.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to academic excellence, as evidenced by their coursework, class participation, and contributions to intellectual discussions.
First-Generation Excellence Awards
First-Generation Excellence Awards began in the Fall of 2024 as a result of the Forty-Niner First-Gen Supporters (F1GS) Recognition Committee to recognize more First-Gen students for their successes and achievements. All nominees receive a certificate of recognition, and the winners receive a plaque that they can display with pride wherever their next leads them.
With support from the 49er Family Fund, graduating students who receive these awards are provided a monetary gift to support their journeys toward their next.
This award process happens semesterly.
Fall 2024
- Becky Wang: BS: Operation & Supply Management
Spring 2025
- Heven Siyum: BS: Biology, Minor: Biotechnology & Spanish
- Lillie Justice: BA: English, Concentration Pedagogy, Minor: Secondary Education
- Jordan Waugh: BS: Exercise Science, Minor: Psychology
Fall 2025
- Kasey Green: BFA, Graphic Design, Minor Art & Sociology
Fall 2024
- Jessica Franco: BA: Graphic Design, Minor: Art History
Spring 2025
- Dameris Paz-Mendoza: BS in Exercise Science, Minor: Spanish
Fall 2025
- Lila Aldridge: BS, Fire Safety Engineering Technology, Minor: Occupational Safety
- Jaylon Ricks: BA, Political Science, Minor: Legal Studies
- Eclipse Whetstone: BS, Computer Science, Cybersecurity
Spring 2025
- Luci Flores: BS: Public Health & BA: Spanish
Spring 2026
- Loading....