New academic honorary for first-gen students

Dr. Barry Devine understands the challenges and unique obstacles that can come with being a first-generation student. As a first-gen himself, Barry decided to begin an initiative on campus that provides direction and support for first-generation students.  

When Barry started teaching at Heidelberg, he began to notice the opportunities and resources available to students, “I suddenly became aware of all that I had missed at my previous schools.” 

The Tri-Alpha National Honors Society will provide a path for first-generation students to recognize each other and make meaningful connections. One of Barry’s leading goals for the society is to help students stay in the loop about other campus opportunities. “I went to large public and private universities for both my undergraduate and graduate studies. Being part of such large student bodies, I was often unaware of things happening on campus and opportunities I could have taken advantage of,” he said.   

This honors society will connect other first-gen students by setting up support systems on campus. “Most first-gen students feel like they are alone in feeling confused or lost or uncertain about what they should be doing,” Barry said. Many individuals around him were feeling the same way, he just never had the opportunity to connect with them. 

The Tri-Alpha National Honors Society will be available for students to join in the spring.    

To qualify for Tri-Alpha students must meet certain qualifications:

• Students must have earned at least 36 credit/semester hours towards a baccalaureate degree
• They must have achieved an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2
• Neither of the student's parents, nor step-parents, nor legal guardians, completed a bachelor's degree
• Full-time graduate students who are first-generation students can be admitted if they have completed at least one term of study (9 or more graduate credits) and have a GPA in their graduate program of at least 3.0

Anyone interested in joining Tri-Alpha should apply by March 6th.