Cardinal First Program Claims Top Prize at NASPA’s Excellence Awards

North Central’s Cardinal First program continues to build on its reputation as a national leader in first-generation student support as it was recently recognized as the 2025 Grand Gold Award Winner – the highest honor given by NASPA for programs that are innovative, effective and transformational. NASPA, the leading organization for student affairs professionals in higher education, also recognized Cardinal First as the 2025 Gold Award Winner for the First-Generation Student Success category at the organization's annual Excellence Awards ceremony.

“First-gen” students – which means neither parent has a bachelor’s degree – comprise nearly 40 percent of North Central’s student body. Julie Carballo, North Central’s assistant dean of students for first generation and military affiliated initiatives, established Cardinal First a decade ago to provide a supportive and welcoming community for the College’s first-gen students and their families.

The program emphasizes first-gen status as a point of pride, and fosters meaningful connections throughout the year among students, faculty, and staff who share the “first-gen” designation. Cardinal First provides students with resources and experiences that promote academic and personal success – from enrollment through graduation – in the form of mentorship, workshops, academic groups, and scholarship opportunities.

Carballo and her colleague Marissa Gaigalas, associate director for first generation initiatives, were presented with the awards at NASPA’s annual conference in New Orleans on March 19.

“This award is a testament to the collective efforts of countless faculty, staff, alumni and student leaders at North Central College who celebrate and support our first-gen students and families year-round,” said Carballo. “A special shout out to Marissa Gaigalas – this award reflects her exceptional work ethic, remarkable talent, and incredible ability to build meaningful relationships with students.”

Cardinal First has established a reputation as a leader in first-gen initiatives. In 2024, the Cardinal First Alumni Academy received NASPA’s Innovative Program Award. Held every two years, the event brings together current first-gen students to network with and learn from North Central first-gen alumni. In 2021, Excelencia in Education, the premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, recognized Cardinal First as the nation’s “Example in Excelencia” for its asset-based approach to serving Latino students.

“Cardinal First has been a cornerstone of my college experience as a first-gen student,” said Adrian Luna ’25, a mechanical engineering major from Elgin, Ill. “It has provided a strong sense of community and access to invaluable resources that have helped me navigate my academic and personal challenges. The support from faculty and peers has been crucial in boosting my confidence, and my involvement [in Cardinal First] has helped me grow both personally and professionally.”

To learn more about Cardinal First, visit northcentralcollege.edu/cardinal-first.