W, EMCC students come together for leadership retreat
A cohort of first-generation students from Mississippi University for Women and East Mississippi Community College, members of the Lowndes First-generation Youth Realizing Success Together (FYRST) Leaders, came together at Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center for the 2026 leadership retreat, Jan. 8-9.
“This year our cohort included not only traditional undergraduates, but also transfer, online and graduate students; some work fulltime and one is a parent. They truly reflect the varied make-up of today’s student population,” said Dr. Clear Moore, director of the Student Success Center at The W.
Lowndes FYRST Leaders is a partnership between The W, EMCC and the Rotary Club of Columbus. There were eight students in this year’s cohort, seven W students and an EMCC student.
“Being part of the Lowndes FYRST Retreat showed me how important it is to have a support system for first-generation students,” said Aaliyah Heard, a sophomore biology student at The W. “The program created a space where I felt seen, encouraged, and empowered to grow academically and professionally.”
The overall goal of the retreat is to empower first-gen students to not only stay the course in their educational journeys, but also foster leadership skills that will help them succeed in the classroom and beyond.
“I’m learning that success is not just about completing classes, but about developing leadership skills, building connections and gaining real world experience,” said Destini Hodges, a healthcare management major at The W. “This program gives students like me the opportunity to learn outside the classroom and apply what we are learning in a practical way. It also creates a supportive space where students can learn from one another and gain guidance that is not always easy to find on our own.”
One activity during the retreat had students map their lives up to the current point, showcasing the obstacles they have overcome. Each student then presented to the group.
Seeing other students speak about their struggles and triumphs stood out to Whitney Harris, a graduate nursing student at The W.
“This particular activity enlightened me to how individuals can be exposed to several obstacles or have limited resources, and face multiple detours. But having support from family and friends can help shape and mold paths in varied ways,” she said. “I became more aware of how impactful it is to continue in faith, have a supporting community and network with individuals that see potential in your future. This can provide a sense of support, belonging, motivation and identity which fosters growth and helps with achievements.”
At the conclusion of the retreat, students presented proposals for projects to help first-gen high school students, which were formulated in small groups.
One such idea was presented by Jaikyeron Dukes’ group. Dukes is a second-year master’s student seeking an advanced degree in public health.
“Our idea, which includes several station-based, informative, creative and engaging activities geared toward increasing awareness and involvement post-graduation, has been something we have needed for a while in my hometown,” she said. “I’m glad to not only be helping with the effort, but also being one of the first-generation graduate students to participate in the Lowndes FYRST Program.”
Lowndes FYRST was established in 2024 when The W, EMCC and the Rotary Club of Columbus signed a memorandum of understanding. The Rotary Club of Columbus funds and provides volunteers to support Lowndes FYRST.
“We are very grateful for the Rotary Club of Columbus’ financial support for this important work that not only impacts education by supporting first-gen students who are at a higher risk of non-completion, but also economic development by providing an educated workforce who will earn over million more dollars in their lifetime that those with only a high school diploma,” Moore said.
To learn more about the Student Success Center and all of the first-gen programming, please visit www.muw.edu/ssc/.