Drew University marked a historic moment with the inaugural induction ceremony of the Theta Mu Chapter of Tri-Alpha Honor Society, the evening of Nov. 7.
Held in Crawford Hall, the ceremony recognized 37 inductees who have overcome the unique challenges of being the first in their families to attend college.
“Being inducted into an honors society that recognizes first-generation students means being represented among my classmates as someone who has excelled navigating in a system that was not necessarily built for me,” said Jose Barahona (‘25). “I am beyond proud of how much I, and my fellow first-gen classmates, have achieved and I believe being inducted into Tri-Alpha celebrates our hard work and recognizes the unwavering emotional support received from loved ones.”
Founded in March 2018, Tri-Alpha is an honor society dedicated to celebrating the academic achievements of first-generation college students. In the earlier weeks of the semester, students received an email outlining the criteria for applying to Tri-Alpha, which included a minimum GPA of 3.2 and at least 56 completed credits.
The establishment of Tri-Alpha was led by a dedicated working group of faculty, staff and alumni who worked together for nearly a year to create a resonating experience for inductees and the larger university community.
“It was an amazing feeling to watch months of work become a reality and to officially welcome the chapter, Theta Mu, to Drew’s campus. It was rewarding to see students, families, friends, faculty and staff celebrate first-gen students,” said Johulin Zuluaga (C ‘11), a member of the working group and a Student Success Advisor at Drew.
During the ceremony, the inaugural officers for the honors society were announced. These student leaders will guide the society in the coming years alongside advisors and help foster a supportive community for first-generation students on campus.
One of the evening’s most significant moments was the honorary induction of Dr. Angelina Brown (C ‘89), a Drew alum and passionate advocate for first-gen students. Prior to the induction of the students, Dr. Brown delivered an inspiring and resonating speech where she shared her personal experiences as a first-generation student at Drew and encouraged students to take advantage of available resources, explore opportunities and to build connections.
“All of these experiences will add up and help you build success here at Drew. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you, seek them out as well. This is how Tri-Alpha came to be a reality at Drew, intentionally seeking opportunities for first-generation students,” said Zuluaga.
DrewFIRST, the student-led club representing first-generation students on campus, supported the ceremony by sharing snacks and distributing flyers promoting campus resources and their upcoming alumni speaker event, which was scheduled for the following day in honor of National First-Generation Student Day.
Zuluaga and the Tri-Alpha working group envision future ceremonies involving the broader Drew community. This includes celebrations in the Concert Hall, additional involvement from first-gen alumni and the possibility of inducting students from the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies and the Theological School.
This induction ceremony marks the beginning of a new chapter for first-generation students at Drew, one that promises to be a beacon of success and support.
Benjamin Castro is a senior majoring in marketing & business, minoring in history.
Featured image courtesy of Johulin Zuluaga.
