From: First-Generation & Low-Income Student Support
Date: October 6, 2025
Subject: FGLI Newsletter October 2025


FGLI Newsletter

October 2025 ðŸŽƒ

FGLI Lounge

Keep from the Chill at the FGLI Lounge!

As the leaves turn varied shades of sunset and turn into frost, study and connect with the first-gen community at the FGLI Lounge at 200 Barnes Hall, open Mon-Fri from 9 AM - 5 PM.

We Offer

  • Free hot tea, coffee, & snacks
  • A quiet lounge
  • A place to meet other first-gen & low-income students
  • Drop-in office hours with our Peer Navigators for resource navigation
  • Wellness and neurodivergent activities and knick-knacks
  • Card and board games
     

Every Tues: First-Gen Game Nights, 4 PM - 6 PM
Every Other Fri: Study & Sips, 11 AM - 1 PM

Peer Navigator Office Hours
Mon: 4 PM - 5 PM
Tues: 11 AM - 12 PM
Thurs: 4 PM - 5 PM
Fri: 4 PM - 5 PM

Events happening now in FGLI
Study and Sips on Friday, 05 September 2025 At 11:00 AM. No image description provided

EVENT

Study & Sips

Clock Friday, September 5 at 11:00am
to Friday, November 14 at 1:00pm
Location pin 200 Barnes Hall, 129 Ho Plaza, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
Link
Calendar Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Occurs every other Friday at our lounge at FGLI Student Support from 9/5, 9/19, 10/3, 10/17, 10/31, & 11/14.

Need a spot on central campus to catch up on assignments, work on your thesis, or just stay on top of your workload? Join us for our study hours! All are welcome.

  • Quiet & low-stimulating vibes
  • Light snacks, coffee (medium roast only), tea, & water


All are welcome to this event, and we especially encourage first-gen students to attend.
RSVP
First-Gen Game Nights on Tuesday, 09 September 2025 At 4:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

First-Gen Game Nights

Clock Tuesday, September 9 at 4:00pm
to Tuesday, December 23 at 6:00pm
Location pin 200 Barnes Hall, 129 Ho Plaza, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
Link
Calendar Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Occurs every Tuesday at our lounge at FGLI Student Support from 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/21, 10/28, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, 12/2, 12/9. 12/16, & 12/23.

Take a break from the books and come play with us! First-Gen Game Nights on Tuesdays are all about fun, laughter, and community. Whether you’re into strategy games, party games, or just want to hang out and meet other first-gen students, there’s a seat for you at the table.

All are welcome to this event, and we especially encourage first-gen students to attend.
RSVP
Introduction to Mental Health Services Workshop on Wednesday, 08 October 2025 At 5:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Introduction to Mental Health Services Workshop

Clock Wednesday, October 8
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Calendar Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Part of the FGLI Workshop Series through First-Gen & Low-Income Student Support.

This virtual workshop will introduce you to the variety of services offered by Cornell Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), such as the drop-in consulting program, Let’s Talk, individual and group therapy services, and various workshops offered.

This workshop is a collaboration between FGLI Student Support & Cornell Counseling & Psychological Services, facilitated by Qiana Watson, LCSW, Community Liaison for First Generation/Low Income Students, Counselor/Therapist/Groups Interim Coordinator.
RSVP
Introduction to Library Resources Workshop on Wednesday, 15 October 2025 At 5:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Introduction to Library Resources Workshop

Clock Wednesday, October 15
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Calendar Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Part of the FGLI Workshop Series through First-Gen & Low-Income Student Support.

This virtual workshop will introduce you to the Cornell University Library's services and resources that can support your academic success. We will cover how to use library study spaces and technology rentals, workshops, borrowing services, databases, and more!

This virtual workshop is a collaboration between FGLI Student Support & Cornell Libraries, facilitated by Hannah Toombs, PhD, Engaged Learning Librarian, liaison for Knight Institute, and Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
RSVP
Paint and Sip with FGLI and Undoc and DACA Student Support vertical bar Family Weekend on Friday, 31 October 2025 At 2:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Paint & Sip with FGLI & Undoc and DACA Student Support | Family Weekend

Clock Friday, October 31
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location pin 200 Barnes Hall, 129 Ho Plaza, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
Link
Calendar Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

This event is part of Cornell's Family Weekend.

Join First-Generation and Low-Income Student Support and Undocumented & DACA Student Support for a collaborative event on a relaxing paint and sip with crisp apple cider and fresh donuts to celebrate the first-generation and immigrant student experience.

This event is co-hosted by First-Generation & Low-Income Student Support and Undocumented and DACA Student Support.
RSVP
Highlights from our events
Fall Open House

Recap: First-Gen Fall Open House: Ice Cream Social

FGLI and Undocumented & DACA Student Support teamed up and kicked off the fall semester with an open house on September 11th!

Students and staff across campus stopped by to tour the space, learned about available resources, and enjoyed ice cream and sorbet from Cornell Dairy Bar over board and card games. Here’s to a semester of reconnections, new faces, and the start of a new academic year together. Thank you to our amazing Cornell Librarians, who attended and connected with students.

Kessler Scholar Coin Ceremony 2025

Recap: Kessler Scholars Coin Ceremony 2025

On September 24th, FGLI Student Support inducted twenty-first-generation students into the seventh cohort of Cornell University's Kessler Scholars Program at the annual Kessler Scholars Coin Ceremony. This celebration provides a Kessler coin to each new cohort, symbolizing their belonging and importance in a community of first-generation scholars, not only at Cornell but also to the other 15 chapters across the U.S.

Congratulations to the 7th cohort of Kessler Scholars, class of 2029!

Adrian Tenelema, Alex Zhao Chen, Alfredo Vazquez, Alim Oraz, Alondra Cadenas Gutierrez, Ariana Hung, Blessing Boachie, Camila Ayala Rosales, Christopher Choe, Emily Cheng, Janelle Nelson-Osae, Jessica Lin, Joanna Shi, Junxin Zhang, Samuel Lau, Sarah Lin, Sonya Zhen, Stacy Qu, Suki Yan, & Zora Zhao

Graduate Student Mixer

Recap: Graduate Student Mixer

On September 25th, we collaborated with the Office of Spirituality & Meaning-Making and hosted a mixer for graduate and professional students at Anabel Taylor Hall. Grad school can be isolating and demanding, but through this event, we helped foster a sense of belonging and community for grad students. This evening was a moment of joy and community building over snacks and board games! 

We look forward to seeing more graduate and professional students at the FGLI lounge!

Peer-to-peer navigation guide
Peer Navigators

Have Questions About Where to Find Resources?

Our first-gen Peer Navigators are here to help you navigate resources on campus! They offer office hours where you can drop in for help at our office!

What Kinds of Resources Can I Get Referred to?

  • Basic needs
  • Scholarships and funding opportunities
  • Professional development support
  • Mental health & overall wellness support
  • Academic support


Peer Navigator Office Hours:
Mon: 4 PM - 5 PM
Tues: 11 AM - 12 PM
Thurs: 4 PM - 5 PM
Fri: 4 PM - 5 PM

Location:
200 Barnes Hall

Got an insider tip you would like to submit and have featured in our newsletter?

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Do You Know What's in Your Student Health Plan?

Your Cornell Student Health Plan (SHP) provides comprehensive health insurance to undergraduate, graduate, professional, and medical students, and their dependents across Cornell, from Ithaca to NYC, and even anywhere else in the U.S or abroad. 

Interested in Reviewing and Advising on what Shapes and Drives the Cost of your SHP?

What about learning more about health insurance and about your benefits in general? Join the Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee (SHBAC)! They are composed of both undergraduate and graduate students, university administrators, and staff members across the Ithaca campus, Cornell Tech, and Weill Cornell Medicine.


Questions?

Student Health Benefits provides direct help with filing any insurance claims, educates on how insurance works, and is ultimately here to educate, equip, and empower all Cornell community members. They have virtual office hours every Wednesday from 12 PM - 1 PM for drop-ins and questions. Email them at studentbenefits@cornell.edu.


More Resources

SHP Benefits Overview
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News & Updates
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How to Enroll
Waiving SHP

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Learn more about the platform here
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