Blaze the Tra1l Living-Learning Community

About Blaze the Tra1l

Blaze the Tra1l is a Living-Learning Community (LLC) designed to support first-generation college students as they begin their journey at GW. This community brings together first-year students who are the first in their families to pursue a four-year college degree and provides a supportive environment where students can build friendships, explore their identities as first-generation scholars, and grow academically and personally.

Students in Blaze the Tra1l live alongside peers who share similar experiences navigating college for the first time. Through programs, discussions, and shared experiences, residents learn how to navigate college life, connect with campus resources, and build the confidence needed to succeed at GW.

Blaze the Tra1l also connects students with the broader first-generation community through collaborations with student organizations and other campus initiatives. Students will also have opportunities to explore Washington, D.C. through educational, cultural, and community-based activities.

Students can apply to be a part of the Blaze The Tra1l Living-Learning Community by completing the online application. The application deadline is Friday, May 22, 2026. Any questions can be directed to gwllcemail [dot] gwu [dot] edu (gwllc[at]email[dot]gwu[dot]edu)

Apply to join the Blaze the Tra1l LLC

Goals

Create a supportive residential community where first-generation students feel a strong sense of belonging at GW.
Connect students with faculty, staff, and campus resources that support their academic and personal success.
Support the development of leadership skills and self-advocacy.
Encourage students to explore opportunities available at GW and throughout Washington, D.C.

Learning Objectives

Develop a sense of belonging at GW and within the Washington, D.C. community.
Identify and connect with campus resources that support academic success and personal well-being.
Build leadership and self-advocacy skills that support their continued success at GW.

Student Experience

Blaze the Trail residents participate in programs that support community building, academic success, and leadership development. Residents are also encouraged to engage with the broader first-generation community at GW through events hosted by the first-generation student organization, First Gen United (FGU), and other campus initiatives.

A group of students sitting around a round table at a first-gen dinner event

Community Dinners

A chalkboard covered with reasons why people are proud to be first-generation college students

Success Workshops

Faculty lecturing and giving a presentation to a hall of students

Faculty & Staff Connections

First-gen student sitting on a bench; all holding signs affirming their identities

Exploring D.C.

Learn More About the First-Gen Experience at GW

Student Expectations

Students in Blaze the Tra1l are expected to actively participate in the community throughout the academic year. This may include:

Attending community programs and workshops
Participating in discussions focused on navigating college as a first-generation student
Engaging with faculty, staff, and peers through community events and activities
Students are also encouraged to participate in first-generation programs such as Founding Scholars (as part of their requirements for the LLC) and First Friday Dinners.

Faculty & Staff Partners

Michelle Kelso

Assistant Professor of Sociology and International Affairs

Professor Kelso’s research focuses primarily on the fate of the Roma during the Holocaust in Romania. Social justice and the exploration of (in)equalities are the foundations of her research. She is particularly interested in the intersection of memory, marginalization and contemporary education policy. Recently, Dr. Kelso has also begun exploring gender in the workplace as well as EU migration. With a strong belief in public sociology, Dr. Kelso integrates her scholarship with public discussions and policy programming. In 2017, she began a research project focusing on memory and commemoration of the Holocaust in post-Soviet spaces with a concentration on Ukraine.

Sean Watley

First-Generation Program Lead, Division for Student Affairs

Sean Watley leads the First-Generation student initiatives at GW, overseeing programs and resources that support the success, belonging, and leadership development of first-generation college students. Over the past three years at GW, Sean has worked closely with students, faculty, and campus partners to create opportunities for connection, growth, and community.

Originally from Connecticut, Sean enjoys spending time with family, staying active through workouts and sports, especially basketball, and exploring his favorite foods, including sushi, pancakes, and French fries. He is proud to guide the Blaze the Tra1l Living-Learning Community as a space where first-generation students can thrive academically, socially, and personally.