8th Annual 1st Generation Student Celebration Brunch @ Turlock Campus

This registration is specifically for the Turlock campus location* 

What does it take to build a future you once couldn't imagine for yourself? Join award-winning journalist and author Jase Peeples for a candid brunch conversation about finding your place in the world as a first-generation college student and beyond.

Growing up in California's Central Valley, Peeples never imagined the path that would lead him to a career in national journalism and publishing. Through personal stories and an interactive Q&A, he'll reflect on how his upbringing shaped his work, the challenges of overcoming self-doubt, and the importance of embracing your identity. Drawing from his experiences in LGBTQ+ journalism and as an author, he'll also explore how storytelling can create space for voices that too often go unheard.

Whether you're still figuring out your next steps or working toward a lifelong dream, this conversation is a reminder that your beginnings don't have to define your future.
Your story matters. Your voice belongs. Become someone your younger self would be proud of!

Meet Jase Peeples

Jase Peeples currently serves as Senior Editor, Global News and HCP Content at RVO Health, helping lead editorial coverage across Healthline, Medical News Today, and Healthgrades. He is an award-winning author and journalist whose career is rooted in LGBTQ+ storytelling. He has worked with legacy LGBTQ+ publications including Out and The Advocate, where he served as entertainment editor for several years. His young adult novels Before You Can Fly and Twirl, as well as his children’s book Square Zair Pair, place queer characters and themes at the heart of their narratives, offering young readers a chance to see themselves as the heroes of their own stories.
A first-generation college graduate born and raised in California’s Central Valley, Jase will share how he learned to recognize the value of his own perspective—and how sharing our experiences can help others feel seen, understood, and less alone.

At the heart of this conversation is a simple reminder: Where we begin does not define our limits. Our experiences and identities are part of what makes us valuable, and we deserve to recognize the places we've earned through our hard work.

Come share a meal, join the conversation, and celebrate the power of becoming. Your story deserves to be heard.