BRDG Bridge to Connect   

Imagine being the first in your family to attend college; navigating unfamiliar systems, balancing academic pressures, and dreaming of a better future, all without a roadmap. For first-generation college students, especially those pursuing STEM careers, this is a daily reality. They face systemic barriers that limit their potential from a lack of career guidance to limited access to professional networks. As a result, many accept their first job at salaries up to $20,000 below market rate, which can mean losing as much as $800,000 over a lifetime. At BRDG, we believe no one’s future should be determined by the circumstances they were born into. We walk alongside first-in-family students, providing the support they need to thrive. Our holistic, knowledge-transfer model offers one-on-one mentorship, career coaching, skill-building workshops, exposure to industry. Every service is designed to not only open doors, but to ensure students feel seen, supported, and set up for long-term success. To further prepare students for the professional world, BRDG created the Innovation Challenge, a multidisciplinary project competition that mirrors real-world workplace dynamics. First-gen students are integrated into teams alongside legacy students, creating an environment where collaboration and peer-to-peer mentoring occur naturally. Together, they tackle real problems, build solutions, and develop the communication, leadership, and technical skills that employers value most.