Join me in supporting first generation college students at Ohio State.

Although my giving page is no longer active, you can still donate. If you would like to provide any additional support, please make a gift here.

Hey y’all! My name is Emily Johnson, and I’m a senior studying Sociology here at Ohio State. I’m from Chesapeake, Ohio, a small town with less than 1,000 people in the southern part of the state. There, I was raised by Edie, the most hard-working single mom you could ever meet. From a young age, she instilled in me the desire to go to college. She wanted me to take advantage of every opportunity that she didn’t get the chance to, and her support is undoubtedly what has carried me to where I am today. My mom always allowed me to be curious and passionate — two traits that define me. My curiosity is why I plan to pursue a doctoral degree in Sociology after graduation from Ohio State, and my passion is why I have worked to support first-generation college students on campus over the past four years.

Along with being a member of Buckeye Leadership Fellows, Undergraduate Student Government, SPHINX Senior Honorary and the Sociology Advisory Board, I helped co-found Ohio State’s chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha First-Generation Student Honor Society. Tri-Alpha aims to celebrate the resilience of high-achieving first-generation college students here on campus. Starting the chapter alongside other incredible first-generation college students put into action the iconic line from Carmen Ohio: “how firm thy friendship.” Through the organization, we were able to create a space for first-generation students to feel understood while offering support and community to those who need it most. To me, the Buckeye experience of friendship is shown through a continuous commitment to the improvement and success of our university and its students. That is what we did with Tri-Alpha and what I hope to do with the platform provided to me as a member of the homecoming court.

Going to college is hard for anyone, but it is even harder when you are working to break down generational barriers. To make it a bit easier for some students, I have chosen to raise funds for The Ohio State University Fund for First-Generation Scholarship. All proceeds will go directly to first-generation college students at Ohio State. Your gift will impact students by alleviating the financial burden of attending college and allowing them to focus on excelling in their academic and personal pursuits. 

Attending The Ohio State University has changed my life. The support that I have received from the Buckeye community has granted me so many incredible opportunities in my time here, and I am so excited to have this opportunity to pass that support on to new generations of Buckeyes. Please join me in supporting first-generation college students at Ohio State.