1vyG, a project of EdMobilizer, is the largest conference for first-generation, low-income (FLI) students in the world. This year, Princeton University is honored to have hosted the fifth annual 1vyG conference. This event took place from Friday, February 15 to Sunday, February 17, 2019 and was titled, From Moment to Movement: Capitalizing on our FLI Experiences to become Agents of Change in Our Communities.
Historically, 1vyG has served as a safe space for FLI students to connect and empower one another. 1vyG was the first national organization dedicated to bringing together communities of diverse, first-generation and low-income students from across the Ivy League and peer institutions. Since the organization’s founding in 2015 by students at Brown University, the 1vyG conference has served as a significant event for the national FLI student community. Previous conferences have been held at Brown, Harvard, Yale, and UPenn, and have brought together students from over two dozen schools.
Students and faculty at Princeton are thrilled to have continued on this important and great tradition. The Princeton 1vyG Conference Organizers are dedicated to strengthening the national FLI student community.
1vyG at Princeton was led by students affiliated with the First-Generation Low-Income Council (FLiC). FLiC is a Princeton student group and is supported by the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students (ODUS). 1vyG at Princeton and FLiC also work closely with the Scholars Institute Fellowship Program (SIFP).
2019 Conference Co-Chairs
Karina Aguilar Guerrero was born in Mexico but grew up in Pomona, California. A current junior at Princeton University, she plans on studying Portuguese and Sociology and getting certificates in Teacher Prep and Latin American Studies. She enjoys reading, watching Netflix, and playing soccer and tennis. She is passionate about immigration reform and access to education. On campus, she actively participates in Worship House, Dream Team, and HomeWorks.
Karina Aguilar Guerrero ‘20
Logistics Chair
KiKi Gilbert is a sophomore at Princeton University. She’s on the trustee board for America's Promise Alliance — the largest cross-sector non-profit in the country — where she serves as youth representative on issues impacting education accessibility. On campus, she co-chairs the annual conference for SPEAR, is the co-President of FLiC, and is the President and Founder of eXcel. Academically, KiKi is interested in the intersection between African-American history and philosophy; she doesn’t believe that one needs to have read Plato in order to envision and question the justness of a society.
KiKi gilbert ‘21
Content Chair
Jaylin Lugardo is a junior at Princeton University, studying Classics with certificates in Humanistic Studies and Hellenic Studies. She is a proud Boricua hailing from Newark, NJ, and is passionate about college access and mental health awareness, especially surrounding the Latinx communities. She is a co-director of the Princeton Dream Team, the pro-immigrants rights organization on campus, and serves as a board member of the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund. She is also a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow.
Jaylin lugardo ‘20
Administrative Planning Chair
Anna Macknick is a sophomore from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, studying Linguistics with certificates in Translation and Intercultural Communication, and Cognitive Science. A QuestBridge Scholar and co-president of the Princeton First-Generation Low Income Council, Anna is passionate about advocating for accessibility in higher education. On campus, Anna also works with the LGBT Center as a Peer Educator and as the publicity chair of the Pride Alliance. Anna also advises low-income high school students with Matriculate, and is a graphic designer for the Princeton Student Design Agency.
anna macknick ‘21
Communications Chair
Co-Directors
Saira Reyes is a sophomore from Northern New Jersey concentrating in chemical and biological engineering. A proud Honduran, Saira is passionate about increasing representation of Latina women in STEM. On campus, she involved in Latinx groups, mentorship programs, and bioengineering research.
Jocelyn Galindo is a sophomore from Yuma, Arizona. She intends on concentrating in Anthropology with certificates in Global Health and Spanish. She is passionate about the narratives that arise with public health issues and forms of care within families in immigrant populations when healthcare is out of reach. On campus, she is part of Princeton Latinos y Amigos, El Centro, and is a writer for Princeton Public Health Review.
carmella asparrin ‘21
Co-Director of Administrative Planning
saira reyes ‘21
Co-Director of Administrative Planning
Jocelyn Galindo ‘21
Co-Director of Administrative Planning
Thea Dimapeles is a sophomore who was born in the Philippines but currently resides in Los Angeles, California. She is planning to major in Psychology with a certificate in East Asian Studies. She is heavily involved with campus organizations advocating for First Generation, Low Income students such as SIFP and FSI. She is also a Princeton Writing Center Fellow, a Peer Health Adviser, and serves as Vice President of Koko Pops, the K-Pop Dance Group on campus.
Jessica Gaytan is a sophomore from Montclair, CA, concentrating in Architecture and pursuing certificates in Urban Studies and Latin American Studies. She is particularly interested in creating affordable housing for low-income communities using sustainable materials. On campus, she is involved with various Latinx groups, FLIC, and Pride Alliance. In her free time, she enjoys watching ASMR videos and making playlists.
tiffany pham ‘20
Co-Director of Content
Thea Dimapeles ‘21
Co-Director of Content
Jessica Gaytan ‘21
Co-Director of Communications
Emerson Thomas is a junior from Marietta, GA. At Princeton she studies Computer Science and plans on getting a certificate in Latin American Studies. On campus she is involved with SIFP, Tiger Challenge, the Princeton Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and is Vice President of the Quadrangle Club. Emma is passionate about communication and social entrepreneurship, and seeks to help make FLI voices heard in new and interesting places.
Emily is a sophomore from New York City. She is a prospective Molecular Biology major and intends to become a surgeon. On campus, she is also involved in the First-Generation Low Income Council, serving as secretary. Her experiences as a FLI student firmly established her desire to empower the FLI community. She also volunteers for various on-campus groups including Princeton Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program and Contact Crisis Hotline.
emma thomas ‘20
Co-Director of Communications
Emily cheng ‘21
Director of Finances
katie ward ‘20
Co-Director of Logistics
Sarah elkordy ‘21
Co-Director of Logistics