By Anastasia Maritsas ’25E, Eastman Communications ALP Intern
First-generation students at the Eastman School of Music were recognized for the first time with the addition of a new National Honor Society called Alpha Alpha Alpha, Lambda Zeta chapter, or ‘Tri-Alpha’ in fall 2024. The organization, founded in 2018 at Moravian College, has since expanded to include chapters at collegiate institutions nationwide. The society acknowledges, celebrates, and supports high-achieving first-generation students and connects them with first-generation faculty and staff members for mentorship support.
“Tri-Alpha is a celebration of the hard work and achievements of this group of students, staff, and faculty,” says Danielle Arnold, Eastman’s associate director of admissions and a Tri-Alpha chapter advisor. “First-generation college students offer us a unique perspective on what it means to navigate post-secondary spaces.”
Over Meliora Weekend on September 28, 2024, 14 undergraduate and graduate students, along with 14 faculty and staff members and one honorary member, were inducted in a ceremony in Hatch Recital Hall. The organization defines first-generation as a student whose parents, stepparents, or legal guardians are without a college degree. Inducted faculty and staff were all first-generation students when they completed their bachelor’s degrees.
Students who could not attend the formal induction ceremony were inducted on November 8 in the Tri-Alpha’s First-Generation Celebration Day at the George Walker Center. The society’s first official program, the gathering was an opportunity for members to meet and socialize, as well as share information with interested students.
Nichole Waligóra
Inductees included Nichole Waligóra, a third-year vocal performance and linguistics student from Queens, NY. She comes from a family of immigrants; her father immigrated from Poland and her mother immigrated from Peru. Although she grew up in a trilingual household, she did not consider English as her primary language until she reached primary school. Now she serves as the vice president of Eastman’s American Choral Directors’ Association and as secretary of the Students’ Association, in addition to her roles as a Student Alumni Ambassador and a founding member of both the University’s Polish Students’ Association and the Eastman Latino and Hispanic Students’ Association.
“With no predecessor to follow, be it a parent or sibling, first-gen students have to forge their own paths,” says Waligóra. “Aside from taking initiative, we also encounter differences between our mixed customs and those of others, often facing prejudice and assumptions. Despite any hardships I’ve had to overcome, I know that I am so fortunate to have parents who have not only shown me their languages and traditions but who have also supported me every step of the way.”
The honorary inductee was Tanatchaya (Tanya) Chanphanitpornkit ‘15E, a double bassist, conductor, and educator in New York City. She is currently the music director of the New York Youth Symphony’s Crescendo Orchestra, which provides free participation for disadvantaged students across the city and serves as the conductor of the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Symphony Orchestra. Chanphanitpornkit, originally from Thailand, received several accolades for serving in student leadership roles and has since been active in the University of Rochester’s alumni networks, earning the Eastman Centennial Award and Armstrong Service Award for her professional accomplishments and volunteer work.
Tanatchaya Chanphanitpornkit ‘15E
“As someone who studies first-generation students in music conservatories, I see this organization as a powerful force for change, one that transforms individual stories into collective impact,” Chanphanitpornkit says. “When I was a student, many of us navigated these spaces alone, without a formal community to validate our experiences. Now, this organization isn’t just acknowledging first-generation students; it’s celebrating them and creating visible pathways for success.”
Tri-Alpha will hold another induction ceremony in spring 2025 (details to come) that will expand to include students from the entire University of Rochester, and will induct new members each fall over Meliora Weekend, becoming an annual tradition. The organization anticipates increased programming and building an executive board.
“Completing a degree is no easy task. It requires hard work, persistence, and support from the campus community and one’s personal community of friends and family,” says Tri-Alpha’s co-advisor Arnold. “Tri-Alpha offers us an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate not just the student, but also all of the people who contribute to our student’s successes.”
For more information on Tri-Alpha, contact Tri-Alpha chapter advisors Danielle Arnold or Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion Crystal Sellers Battle. To learn more about Alpha Alpha Alpha, visit their website.