difference in their lives – a college education.

As I have interacted with students all over campus, asking them about how they are doing and about their dreams, certainly fewer of them may be first-generation college students than 126 years ago, but still 60 percent or so are coming as the first in their families to attend college. Some come with no encouragement from home. They are dropped off without a way to get back home. They come despite the fact that they have no money and little support. Others come ready to jump in. Their families have scraped together all the money they can spare for their children to attend Kentucky State University. Some students don't have book money or are looking always for those free meals on campus because they have little available money for much beyond the necessities. When you see these students on campus, most of them still have smiles on their faces because they are in classrooms with dedicated professors who often eagerly await the start of classes in the fall because they want to challenge the students — and sometimes be challenged by them. As I look back over the 8½ years I have been at KSU and all the students I've met, I tend to see their talent and their potential for success.

tremendous difference in the quality of life that our graduates have and in the ways they served the communities they live in and the people they touch. That point was never clearer than in the speech given by our Founder's Day speaker Brigadier General Henry Huntley, who is a graduate of KSU. He is a sterling example of what our students are capable of when they leave KSU. Other students, including Mr. and Ms. Kentucky State University and our student regent, represent the university well in their spoken remarks and how they try to ensure that the university is even better for the students coming behind them.

their families to attend college. Some come with no encour-

agement from home. They are dropped off without a way to get back home. They come despite the fact that they have no money and little support. Others come ready to jump in. Their families have scraped together all the money they can spare for their children to attend Kentucky State University. Some students don't have book money or are looking always for those free meals on

Homecoming reminded me that first-generation students are often faced with academic challenges. One of those students who left and came back was in the first class that doubled in 2006; I had him in a freshman orientation class. Every class meeting I had to call him by name, tell him to remove his hoodie and raise his head up off the desk. It was wonderful seeing him come back after graduating from KSU last year. He has a job and a life that would not have been possible without Kentucky State University. More importantly, he has a “voice” he found while at Kentucky State University and an alma mater that will be his forever. KSU helped many people like him overcome the many challenges they faced.

campus because they have little available money for much beyond the necessities.

We have students who come to us sometimes easily intimidated and often overwhelmed when they are faced with new academic standards and challenges. Kentucky State University implemented the Academics with Attitude program a little more than three years ago to help many of these students who come to us underprepared. As an intervention system, AWA is making some progress in helping the students with the largest hurdles to overcome, but more needs to be done to help assimilate and retain these students who need three or more supplemental courses.

When you see these students on campus, most of them still have smiles on their faces because they are in classrooms with dedicated professors who often eagerly await the start of classes in the fall because they want to challenge the students -

Kentucky State University implemented the Academics with Attitude program a little more than three years ago to help many of these students who come to us underprepared. As an intervention system, AWA is making some progress in helping the students with the largest hurdles to overcome, but more needs to be done to help assimilate and retain these students who need three or more supplemental courses.

Additionally, we have often not placed as much focus on those students who come to us needing only one or two classes in supplemental education. We

and sometimes be challenged by them. As I look back over the 8½ years I have been at KSU and all the students I've met, I tend to see their talent and their potential for success.

Within the last month, one of our graduates returned to campus to help us secure internships and possible grants with government agencies. Another was at the Student Town Hall meeting as a graduate student who was also working full-time. That work had given her a new perspective about how important her studies at KSU had been. She could now see that we were not being “hard” on her, but rather preparing her for the world outside that expects much of her every day on her job.

It is very clear to me that since 1886, KSU has made a tremendous difference in the quality of life that our graduates have and in the ways they served the communities they live in and the people they touch. That point was never clearer than in the speech given by our Founder's Day speaker Brigadier General Henry Huntley, who is a graduate of KSU. He is a sterling example of what our students are capable of when they leave KSU. Other students, including Mr. and Ms. Kentucky State University and our student regent, represent the university well in their spoken remarks and how they try to ensure that the university is even better for the students coming behind them.