The Moody Foundation of Galveston has awarded the Division of Student Success at Texas State University a grant to support first-generation students by establishing a First-Generation Career Scholars Network at the school.
The three-year, $600,000 award will expand TXST’s ability to offer career exploration and readiness programming for first-generation students. First-Generation Career Scholars will have the opportunity to participate in targeted career-focused activities throughout their undergraduate studies, including attending career exploration workshops, receiving individualized career coaching, participating in internships and receiving a small scholarship.
“We are honored the Moody Foundation has partnered with Texas State University to enhance career pathways for our first-generation students,” said Cynthia Hernandez, vice president for Student Success. “We know being the first in your family to attend college can be an exciting and challenging experience, and any additional support we can provide to help our students secure a career of purpose furthers our mission and President Damphousse’s vision to elevate Student Success.”
Research demonstrates that only half of bachelor’s degree-holders secure college-level employment within a year of graduating and that college-level employment rates are significantly higher for students who participate in an internship. The First-Generation Career Scholars Network model was intentionally designed to provide scaffolded career exploration support to ensure students complete their academic degrees while also engaging in internships, participating in co-curricular activities and receiving individual coaching from career coaches and mentors.
“Gaining meaningful and relevant experience while in college is the single most important factor leading to a college-level career,” said Ray Rogers, director of Career Services at TXST. “Our partnership with Moody will allow more students to benefit from job shadows, internships and specialized skill development. It is also these types of experiences that can be the most challenging for first-gen students to acquire.”
TXST is one of the 32 inaugural organizations to benefit from the Moody Foundation’s M-Pact Fund annual grantmaking initiatives. The fund is part of the foundation’s historic $1 billion investment in Texas education. As a grantee of the M-Pact Fund, TXST will join a network of organizations committed to fostering transformational change to support postsecondary student success.