When Kaylin Reynolds received her acceptance to Bucknell University, she didn’t feel the initial excitement she had expected. Instead, she was overwhelmed with frustration, anxiety, and even embarrassment. “In the financial aid package I received, my first-generation status was emphasized. I felt like I couldn’t escape the label of a first-generation student. At the time, that was not something I was proud of, and I didn’t want that aspect of myself to define who I would become in college. ”
Initially, Reynolds struggled with imposter syndrome and questioned whether she truly belonged at Bucknell. But as she connected with other first-generation students and found support through the Center for Access & Success, something shifted. “In hindsight, I am so grateful I decided to come here — mainly because of the community I found through the Gateway Scholars Program. The support, encouragement, and resources completely changed my perspective,” she says.
Now, Reynolds fully embraces her identity as a first-generation scholar. During a summer internship with the center, she designed custom crewnecks emblazoned with messages of first-generation pride. “I knew others must have been feeling the same shame and doubt I once carried. I wanted to create something that made people feel proud of their identities and their place on campus.”
Reynolds’ journey exemplifies why Bucknell launched the Gateway Scholars Program in the fall of 2023. Designed to ensure pathways to Bucknell for highly qualified first-generation students, the program provides full-need scholarships — without loans — so students can focus on their education rather than worrying about debt. However, the program goes beyond financial aid. Through mentorship, peer support, and access to transformative experiences, the Gateway Scholars Program seeks to ensure that first-generation students don’t just attend Bucknell — they thrive in and out of the classroom.
The Gateway Scholars Program builds on Bucknell’s long-standing GenFirst! mentoring program. Through the Access Advocate initiative, which launched in the fall of 2024, every incoming Gateway Scholar is paired with an advocate who works with a small group of students in the scholarship program. By facilitating individual meetings and small group activities, Access Advocates provide personalized guidance and cultivate a sense of community among their assigned students. Lilli Davis, a first-year Gateway scholar, commented, “It’s refreshing to have a guide who understands what it’s like to be a first-generation student.” The Access Advocates help ensure scholars have both peer and professional support to navigate their college experience with confidence.
I'm glad to have someone who checks in on me and offers advice in order to succeed! – Gateway Scholar, Class of 2028,
Knowing that a college education extends beyond the classroom, the Center for Access & Success is committed to ensuring first-generation students can access opportunities like study abroad, internships and undergraduate research. These experiences often come with financial, experiential, or logistical barriers. Along with the Gateway Scholars Program, the Center launched Access to Bucknell, a new series of workshops and events, to encourage participation in high-impact experiences throughout a student’s time in college.
Vincent Torres, a sophomore in the Gateway Scholars Program, spent the fall semester studying abroad in London. “Because of the support I received from the Gateway Scholars Program and Access to Bucknell, I was able to learn from world-class professors who broadened my global perspective,” he says. “I visited and explored many historical landmarks including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the British Museum, and traveled to Spain, Scotland, and France experiencing Europe’s rich arts, theater, music, culture, and breathtaking landscapes.” Access to Bucknell provides support to help students take full advantage of transformative experiences like these.
Students returning to campus hosted workshops discussing their experiences and what they learned to inspire their peers to accomplish what they once thought was impossible. Now, Reynolds, too, has plans to study abroad in the upcoming fall semester.
As the Gateway Scholars Program grows, so does Bucknell’s commitment to breaking down barriers and increasing representation for first-generation students. As a Gateway Scholar, Reynolds has gained confidence, poise, and networking skills, which have helped her pursue her dream career. “Because of Gateway, I can pursue the major, and eventually career, that I have dreamed of doing since the age of 5.”
Reynolds hopes that future Gateway Scholars will gain the same sense of pride and security in their identities. “We have the opportunity to do and be something amazing. Not only am I proud of being a first-generation student, but I am ready to defy the stereotypes surrounding it,” she says. She encourages others to advocate for themselves in spaces that weren't necessarily designed for them. “We are here, our perspectives are needed, and they are just as important as anyone else’s.”
For more information on Bucknell University's approach, please visit their website here.
