The Black Mountain Institute and The Intersection are pleased to unveil the 2025 First-Generation Student Essay Contest, part of the UNLV 2025 First-Gen Celebration.

Eligibility: Open to any first-generation undergraduate or graduate professional students at UNLV. Participants must select a prompt and submit a personal essay of approximately 500 words that reflects their life experiences.

Prizes: Awards will be presented in two categories—graduate and undergraduate. First-place winners will each receive a scholarship of at least $500, second-place winners a minimum of $350, and third-place winners at least $150.

Deadline:  November 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM