Institutional News

Supporting First-Gen Students

The Boston Globe covered the fifth annual First Generation College Student summit, and highlighted the work that Bennington does to support international and first generation students through mentorship and advising. 

More than 200 first-generation college students from across the nation attended the conference, including Bennington freshman Ines Simbi '22, an international student from Rwanda. Many of the students shared their stories.

Simbi recounts how she "felt so alone on campus at first." However, "friends encouraged her to ask the college for help, she met Selina Petschek, a 24-year-old adviser to international and first-generation students at Bennington — and that mentorship made all the difference."

“Seeking help is the key to success in college," she concluded.