Dr. David J. Unger isn't just a first-generation college graduate – he was the first to graduate high school, too. This is quite an accomplishment, and it's one that he says his mother and teachers always inspired him to do.

As a first-gen student, he faced very difficult curriculum for his degree in aerospace engineering. But he worked hard along the way, and he always took pride in his work. “Never give up on working towards your degree,” he says with encouragement.

Dr. Unger considers UE to be a great place for first-generation students for several reasons. He considers the top reason to be the personal attention and dedication students receive from faculty. This is due to the smaller campus and student-to-faculty ratio for each program.