UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The decision to pursue a college education is a big step for students who are the first in their families to do so. At Penn State, a “first‑generation student” is defined as any student whose parents or legal guardians have not completed a baccalaureate degree.
In a new program launched in September 2025 by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, first-generation faculty and staff, known as “Lighthouses,” help first-generation students navigate the challenges and opportunities of college life.
Sixteen students completed the program this year, marked by a special reception and tour of the West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium in April.
The Lighthouse program is under the college’s Office of Access and Equity, and is led by Laura Leites, assistant dean for access and equity, and Amber May, director of access and community engagement strategies. The program offers small-group guidance led by the Lighthouses, along with full-group interaction through a seminar.
“These Lighthouses serve as powerful possibility models,” Leites said. “They offer guidance, share lived experiences and help connect students with various resources. At the same time, the half-credit seminar and larger group interactions are key to building academic capital and helping students understand how to navigate University systems, access resources and take advantage of opportunities that support their success.”
May added that several of the first-generation students who completed this program have secured summer internships, on-campus employment and leadership roles in student organizations.
Students met regularly with their Lighthouse guides, participated in monthly in-person luncheons with their pod, and stayed in weekly contact to discuss topics such as campus events, resources, networking, scholarships and anything else on students’ minds.
“It’s a comfortable environment that also encourages you to make new friends,” said Myla Cardoso, of Frenchtown, New Jersey, a veterinary and biomedical sciences major. “You already have something in common, being first-generation, and during the sessions, you have conversations and learn about opportunities you might not have otherwise discovered.”
Her classmate, Cassidy Kashner, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, shares the same major and said the program helped her build meaningful connections.
“I came to Penn State knowing maybe two people, so this program introduced me to a lot of new people and has helped me build major-specific connections,” she said.