This year, the University of Puget Sound will hold its first-ever induction ceremony for the highly anticipated and discussed Tri-Alpha honors society. Members of the First-Generation Loggers Committee have had this project in the works for some time now, and are excited at the new possibilities this society will bring students at the university.
The Tri-Alpha Honor Society, also commonly referred to as Alpha Alpha Alpha, was founded in 2018 to provide high-achieving, first-generation undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty and staff with opportunities to connect with other first-generation individuals. To be inducted, students must meet specific criteria: they need to be enrolled in a minimum of 30 credit/semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) towards an associate's degree or baccalaureate degree, maintain at least a 3.2 GPA (3.5 for graduate students), and have no legal guardian who has completed or received a bachelor's degree. Faculty and staff can be inducted into Tri-Alpha if they meet all these requirements at the time of their graduation.
Tri-Alpha, above all else, acts as a community and a network. “Creating a sense of community is one of my number one things because it can feel lonely or overwhelming to be the first person in your family going to college,” said Madison Howard, Fellowships Advisor in the Office of Academic Advising and Fellowships. Membership in this society gives people the ability to meet, talk, and ask questions to gain insights into the successes that one can achieve as a first-generation college student. Through mentorship and developed leadership skills, along with the distinction of induction itself, Tri-Alpha members receive valuable benefits. These include easier recognition by employers and professionals, as well as potentially improved chances of admission to graduate schools.
“The First-Gen Loggers Committee had always talked about the Tri-Alpha Honors Society, but until now, we didn't have the capacity to do it,” said Najhan Bell, Undergraduate Academic Advisor and co-chair of the First-Generation Loggers Committee for almost three years now. When Najhan expressed interest in the society in a staff meeting this year, Howard, who works with Bell in the office of Academic Advising, decided to help take on this project. Bell and Howard, both first-generation college graduates, have experienced the hardships that come with that position. They felt building a sense of community and a place for students to take a break, be recognized for their achievements, and build connections, would be beneficial for the University of Puget Sound campus.
The First-generation Loggers Committee has been working diligently to bring Tri-Alpha to the university and foster a supportive community for first-generation students. “Being first-gen is an amazing identity that should be celebrated,” Bell said. This perspective underscores the committee's mission: to reframe the first-generation experience as one of strength and accomplishment rather than deficit or disadvantage.
With the establishment of Tri-Alpha, first-generation students at the University of Puget Sound will have access to an inclusive community that recognizes and amplifies their unique strengths. This honor society, alongside the existing First-Generation Loggers Committee, will provide a platform for students to be celebrated and commended for their hard work and resilience. Invitations have gone out to all qualified students who have indicated that they are first-generation college students. If you are a qualified student and you have not received an invitation, please contact Madison Howard or Najhan Bell, all qualified students are invited to join. The induction ceremony will mark a significant milestone in Puget Sound’s commitment to first-generation student success. Howard, Bell, and the entire university community eagerly invite eligible students to become part of this special community, encouraging them to embrace and celebrate their shared identity as trailblazers in higher education.
