King’s College Connects First-Generation Students With Resources to Thrive

Special exhibit follows recent historic investments to support students
who are the first in their family to go to College 

King’s College will celebrate its 80-year legacy of educating first-generation students with a photo exhibit in the Widmann Gallery from Nov. 2 through 9, recognizing students, families, and the people who helped make their college journeys possible.

Held during First-Generation Celebration Week, the exhibit connects King’s founding mission of educating the children of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s coal miners and mill workers with today’s students through photos and stories honoring first-generation experiences and the people and places that inspire them. Programming Nov. 2–6 also includes a First Gen Monarchs Roundtable Discussion & Social, headshots, and a First-Generation Celebration on Friday, Nov. 6.

First-generation students represent 42% of the College’s undergraduate population and 48% of its most recent first-year undergraduate class, according to its August 2026 FirstGen Forward annual report. Supporting these students continues a founding mission rooted in educating the children of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s coal miners and mill workers.

Located on the first floor of the D. Leonard Corgan Library, the Molewski Edwards Student Success Center brings together services previously housed in separate buildings across campus. Students can access KC Pathways, the Rev. Charles J. Kociolek, C.S.C., Office of Academic Advisement, the Schwingen Tutoring Center, the Feinstein Writing Center, and the Lambert Learning Lounge in one welcoming location. Renovated tutoring spaces, conference rooms, and nearby individual study areas and group workstations give students places to seek guidance, collaborate, and build academic skills.

“Being the first in your family to attend college is something to be proud of, and this exhibit gives our community a chance to recognize the many people and experiences behind that achievement,” said Maura Modrovsky, director of KC Pathways. “We want students to see themselves in this celebration, know that they belong here, and recognize that there are people across campus ready to support them.”

KC Pathways provides specialized support for first-generation students and coordinates multicultural initiatives throughout the year. Its first-generation programming includes First Gen Fridays and First-Generation Celebration activities. Monarchs on a Mission helps students build skills in relationship management, decision-making, cultural awareness, and career preparation while connecting them with mentors. A faculty and staff committee supports mentoring, programming, and opportunities to celebrate first-generation students’ contributions to campus.

For Grace Visneski, a second-year Pre-Occupational Therapy major, finding a community was an important part of choosing King’s.

“Community was a big part for me because I only have my dad and I,” she said.

Grace described King’s as having a “very close family feel,” adding, “So having more people around me made me feel really comfortable.”

That personal connection also stood out to Mann Patel, a third-year History, Criminal Justice, Philosophy, and Sociology major whose parents’ experiences shaped his appreciation for education.

“I always thought that education was something that really mattered, especially seeing my parents’ journey. Both of them never finished high school,” Patel said.

At Accepted Students Day, Patel recalled President Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D., approaching him and greeting him by name.

“It was the fact that he remembered me two years later that really cemented something about King’s to me,” Patel said.

Alongside academic support and community connections, King’s offers programs that address financial barriers that can affect students’ ability to enroll and continue their education.

After spotting a large red King’s banner at his high school lunch table, Jose Flores, a third-year Computer and Information Systems major, spoke with Michelle Landon, director of undergraduate admissions, who introduced him to the Luzerne and Lackawanna Education Opportunity program.

“I didn’t think I was going to college. I couldn’t afford it,” Flores said. “What that was, was a chance for me to change my life. What drew me in wasn’t all the fancy buildings or grants; it was the community. Here I got to be Jose. I got to be me.”

Known as LLEO, the program covers remaining tuition and fees for eligible full-time students who graduated from high schools in Luzerne or Lackawanna counties and whose total parent income is $50,000 or less. Available to qualifying first-time and transfer students, LLEO applies federal Pell Grants, Pennsylvania State Grants, and Federal Direct Subsidized Loans before covering the remaining tuition and fees. Housing, meals, and books are not included.

Students facing financial hardship may also receive assistance through the Presidential Hope Fund, which has distributed more than $3 million to help students continue their education. Supported by alumni and friends of the College, the fund assists with expenses including tuition, textbooks, meal plans, housing, and laptops. While not limited to first-generation students, it provides another source of support when financial difficulties threaten a student’s progress.

Campus food assistance efforts address another challenge that can interfere with learning. King’s operates a dedicated food pantry and five satellite grab-and-go stations, and its partnership with the Food Dignity Movement supports access to fresh produce. These efforts are coordinated with local food banks and overseen by the King’s Food Assistance Advisory Group, which includes students, faculty, and staff.

Beginning in fall 2026, the College’s Monarch Access program is designed to simplify access to required undergraduate course materials and reduce their overall cost. Through an expanded partnership with eCampus.com, the program organizes materials by students’ class schedules, with physical textbooks available for campus pickup and digital materials available online. Its goal is to have required materials available on or before the first day of class.

Together, these resources support students through both academic demands and practical challenges that can affect their college experience.

“As we celebrate 80 years of King’s College, we celebrate generations of students whose education has opened doors for themselves, their families, and their communities,” said Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D., president of King’s College. “Our founding commitment to first-generation students continues through the personal attention, academic resources, and financial support we provide today. Accompanying students as they pursue their hopes remains at the heart of our mission.”

For first-generation students interested in learning more about King’s College and the resources available to support their success, visit kings.edu/admissions.