The History of First Wave

First Wave is the country's first college learning community devoted to urban art. The first cohort was 15 students. Learn more about First Wave here.

This is the first time a university arts program has won the Governor's Award. Watch a video montage highlighting First Wave's achievement of this award here.

Contacting the World is an international theater project that links young artists with different backgrounds. The annual event embodies cultural and creative diversity. Performances are intended to create an understanding of different cultures.

Students made it to the New York Knicks Poetry Slam Finals. This annual event is the first program to bring poetry slam to a Broadway stage.

Jasmine Mans was included in Glamour Magazine's Top College Women 2012 for her inspirational poems relating to African American Life. Read more about Jasmine's success here.

First Wave student Andrew Thomas, or Phonetic ONE", was a Midwest national finalist at College Battle of the Bands, a student-driven music competition. Learn more about "College Battle of the Bands.

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Photo courtesy of Darline Morales.

The Cultural Olympiad was a cultural celebration presented prior to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. First Wave performed in the Shake the Dust festival, a national youth poetry slam project. The festival is the first teen youth slam in the history of the UK. This was one of First Wave's highest profile performances. Watch clips from First Wave's London Tour here.