Benefit Gala Program

PRESENTS 1ST ANNUAL BENEFGIT ala 2023 Presented by April 14, 2023 6 o'clock in the evening The 1818 Club Duluth, Georgia

Founder's Message Welcome to the 2023 Benefit Gala I am honored to welcome you to the first Benefit Gala of the Georgia First Generation Foundation! We have come together tonight to celebrate the FirstGen community, our service, and a noteworthy milestone. On this, the initiation of the State of Georgia's inaugural Under 40 Class recognition ceremony for first generation, we take a moment to recognize the pioneers who have helped shape the FirstGen movement, reflect on the accomplishments made possible by the collective effort of those supporting the cause, and salute them with a deep sense of admiration and respect. Hosting a first-of-its-kind recognition celebration and getting the chance to recognize our community for its efforts has been something that I, along with so many of our team members, have wanted to do since the start of Georgia FirstGen. We are now thrilled to have an annual event exclusively for our community, a chance to connect the community with the students we serve, and honor the trailblazers who have helped in our mission of making the first generation the next generation. Georgia FirstGen would not be what it is without the help from the sponsors, benefactors, and supporters like you who dedicate their time and energy to benefit first-generation students in Gwinnett County. We express our sincere thanks and deepest gratitude for helping us with this noble cause. Charbel M. Aoun Founder & Executive Director Georgia First Generation Foundation

Program REGISTRATION & RECEPTION MASTER OF CEREMONIES ERICK SOLORZANO DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY | GEORGIA FIRSTGEN FOUNDER REMARKS CHARBEL AOUN FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | GEORGIA FIRSTGEN AWARDS PRESENTATION PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS UNDER 40 AWARDS DR. BOBBY GUEH LEADERSHIP AWARD Speakers CHARBEL AOUN Charbel Aoun is the Founding Executive Director of the Georgia First Generation Foundation, a proud first-generation Doctor of Pharmacy student from a Middle Eastern immigrant family, and a scholar receiving accolades throughout his career recognizing his accomplishments in healthcare and education. His most recent accolades include Gwinnett Young Professionals 35 Under 35 and is one of Georgia State's 40 Under 40. ERICK SOLORZANO Erick Solorzano is the Director of Advocacy of the Georgia First Generation Foundation, a first-generation graduate of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, and an independent journalist by trade. His five years of Journalism experience includes work with the Nolan Transportation Group, CBS 46 News, and Grady Newsource.

Under 40 Class ANTHONY NGUYEN Anthony Nguyen is a Double Panther of Georgia State University, earning a B.S. in Biology cum laude and a Juris Doctorate with high pro bono distinction from the College of Law. Anthony's testament to public service is defined in his experiences working across all three branches of state government. From the State Legislature to the Office of the Governor, the Fulton County District Attorney's Office to the Office of the Attorney General, and the superior courts of Georgia to his current post at the Georgia Statewide Business Court, Anthony has found a way to make an impact. CHRISTY FINLEY Dr. Christy Finley has served in various Admissions, Educational Opportunity, and Student Success positions at public and private postsecondary institutions across Georgia. Dr. Finley holds an EdD in Student Affairs Leadership from the University of Georgia, an MEd in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University, and a BA in Psychology, with a Sociology minor from Georgia State University. Dr. Finley is the Diversity & Inclusion Program Coordinator at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and a Proctor for Applerouth Tutoring Services. DONALD A. COLEMAN, JR. Dr. Donald A. Coleman, Jr. is a leadership coach, consultant, facilitator, scholar, and speaker. His mission is to assist individuals in being the best version of themselves. He has worked with hundreds of first-generation professionals and college students to accelerate their influence and grow into their next level of authentic leadership. His research interests include first- generation professional experiences, using humor in leadership, team dynamics, and workplace readiness. He received his Bachelor’s degree in business management from Georgia State University, a master’s degree in higher education administration from Loyola University Chicago, and an Ed.D in student affairs leadership from the University of Georgia. EFREN VELAZQUEZ Dr. Velazquez was born in Queretaro, Mexico, and moved to the United States at age two. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree at Boise State University in 2012 and his Ph.D. at Virginia Commonwealth University in Health Psychology in 2018. He started working at the University of North Georgia in the fall 2018 semester. His research focuses on how cultural values and parental practices are associated with risk behavior among Latinx adolescents and emerging adults. ELON CIRIACO Elon Ciriaco is a Senior Global Product Manager at Equifax. She serves on several boards in a leadership capacity. Including Hispanic Young Professional and Entrepreneurs (HYPE) under the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as the Professional Development Chair, Technology Association of Georgia Young Professionals Society Chair, and EFX corporate partnerships representative for Women in Technology, TechBridge, and TAG. She was a finalist for the WIT’s Women of the Year Award, TAG’s Emerging DEI Tech Leader of the Year Award Finalist, the 30 Under 30 Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, and the Georgia State University 40 Under 40 class of 2023.

of 2023 Honorees JENNIFER CRUZ Jennifer Cruz is a highly driven senior Real Estate student at Georgia State University. She has completed internships at NCR Corporation, Porsche Cars North America, & Wells Fargo. This past summer, Jennifer interned in New York City as a Financial Analyst and developed a passion for uplifting communities through affordable housing. She champions DEI, rooted in being a first-generation high school graduate and college student. She lives by being optimistic, looking towards the future, and looking back and uplifting underrepresented communities to advance in society. JEREMIAH DE SESTO Jeremiah de Sesto is a Management Information Systems, International Affairs, & International Business student at the University of Georgia. Graduating Summa Cum Laude in May, Jeremiah will attend Harvard University in a dual Juris-Doctorate & master's in public policy Program. De Sesto is a U.S. Presidential Scholar, Coca-Cola Scholar, & National Merit Scholar serving as President of the National Beta Club. As an aid for the Biden administration, an EY-Parthenon associate, and a staff assistant with Coca-Cola Bottling Company United and Delta Airlines, his greater mission is continuing to advocate and fight for the protection and fortification of the rights of all people, and against the abuse of command and corruption. NOEL SALAICES Noel Salaices graduated from Georgia State University with a BBA in Marketing in the spring of 2017 and is currently back at Georgia State pursuing an MBA in Marketing and International Business. He has worked for companies such as Disney, Allied Integrated Marketing, and NASCAR and is currently a Sr. Analyst for Warner Bros. Discovery. He is a part of organizations such as Management Leadership for Tomorrow, T. Howard Foundation, Horatio Alger Association, and La Unidad Latina. His goal is to leverage his professional background and assist in telling more stories in television and film about the minority experience. NURY CASTRO Nury is a dynamic and forward thinker, intentional community builder, and healing agent; her practice, guided by theory, intersectionality, critical consciousness, and principles, centers around community and social equity. Her unwavering tenacity and ability to center theory to practice have allowed Nury to serve as a university administrator in various roles. Nury is a doctoral student at the University of Dayton and received a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University. Throughout her many roles, Nury’s guiding principle is the African humanist philosophy, “Ubuntu: I am, because you are.” YONAS ASFAW-COOPER Yonas Asfaw-Cooper is an Associate at Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale, & Dorr LLP in Washington, DC Yonas is a prominent law associate passionate about indigent criminal defense, anti-discrimination policy, administrative and constitutional law, fantasy novels, running, and soccer. He will serve as an incoming Law Clerk for the Honorable Candace Jackson-Akiwuni of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals for the 2024-25 term.

Acknowledgements The First Annual Benefit Gala has been produced with the efforts and support of our friends, and our special thanks go to the many volunteers who provided assistance to create an exceptional evening and experience. Sponsors FirstGen Pioneer & Presenting Sponsor FirstGen Supporters Georgia FirstGen Board of Directors Charbel Aoun | Michael Feng | Leri Argueta | Valerie Cadet | Diana Feng Bobby Gueh | Durrell Parker | Sami Tabbaa | Ana Villegas Georgia FirstGen Executive Board Charbel Aoun | Mierra Robinson | Erick Solorzano Bryan Rivas | Liana Shahepy | Nick Fernandez Georgia FirstGen Team Members Andres Arenas | Brian Quintana | Grey Bethune Olivia Kim | Sonal Jape Thank you for being the best part of the #FirstGenFam Georgia First Generation Foundation, Corp. ©2023, All Rights Reserved.