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Santana

From Texas, first-generation students share their journeys to college

For these students from immigrant families, a second pair of hands helped them move up through high school and on to college.

Education
TWSThe World staff

Santiago Santana graduated from Anderson High School in Austin, Texas, and plans to attend St. Edward's University this fall. He will be the first in his family to go to college in the United States. 

Miguel Gutierrez Jr. 

High school graduation can be a milestone for many first-generation college students and their families.

As part of our Global Nation reporting on education, KUT's Kate McGee met with students who participated in Breakthrough Austin, a non-profit that supports first-generation students to get their high school degree. 

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Breakthrough meets these students in middle school, pairs them with a counselor and helps them get into good high schools in Austin and succeed academically. They also help them understand the college application and financial aid processes.

This month, reporter McGee met with some of the graduating students and their families. These are the stories they shared.

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First generation college student Lucy Salcedo is headed to Texas Tech University to study computer engineering.

When she came to the US from Mexico as a child, no one in her family spoke English.