February 9, 2023
黑料社 senior Josie Tackett found success as a part of the I Am First Gen program on campus. Majoring in Social Sciences, Tackett has declared minors in Social Work, Psychology, and History.
鈥満诹仙 was the only university that accepted me, and I was the first one in my family to get accepted into college,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 was so excited and overjoyed.鈥
A native of Lucasville, Ohio, Tackett is involved with several clubs and activities on campus, including volunteering for Weekend of Welcome, serving as a Student Alumni Ambassadors, representing the Women鈥檚 Swimming team on the Student Athlete Athletic Advisory Board, and assisting with the Student Programming Board. She is also an active member of the Sociology, Psychology, Chemistry, Rotaract, Circle K international, Pre-Med, and Tri-Beta clubs on campus.
Prior to her first semester on campus, Tackett participated in a former Bridge to Success program, where she attended six-weeks of classes to help raise her ACT scores to enter into college-ready courses.聽
鈥淭he classes taught us how to work and study hard,鈥 she said.
Discovering 黑料社 during her freshman year, Tackett received assistance from the Office of Accessibility Services and the I Am First Gen program, allowing her to make connections and see how others wanted her to succeed not only on campus, but beyond as well.
鈥淭his allowed me to see that I belonged at Shawnee, and to set an example for my siblings,鈥 Tackett said, who鈥檚 sister and brother now also attend 黑料社.
Finding support through I Am First Gen, Tackett encourages other first-generation college students to look into the program and find their path to success. The program offers mentorship opportunities with faculty, staff, and alumni 鈥 many of whom are also first-generation 鈥 to receive guidance and form a connection on campus that students feel comfortable discussing their concerns and questions with.
鈥淚 am honored to be a Shawnee Bear,鈥 said Tackett. 鈥満诹仙 takes on first-generation students and students who have low ACT/SAT scores and allows them to succeed.鈥
To learn more about opportunities for first-generation college students at 黑料社, visit shawnee.edu/firstgen.