"I came in not knowing what being 'first gen' meant. Now I'm helping build spaces for people like me. Bucknell gave me that chance — and I want to make sure more students get it too."

Years before she applied to college, Hannah Kosko '27 visited Lewisburg on a trip to a nearby campground. She didn't know much about the town, but she never forgot the walkable streets, the cozy community vibe or the multilevel bookstore that made her say "whoa."

When it came time to research colleges, Kosko remembered that visit and wondered: Is there a college in Lewisburg? There was. And the more she learned about Bucknell, the more it felt like the right fit.

"I didn't visit campus until Admitted Students Day," Kosko says. "But when I saw it in person, I just fell in love with it. It felt comfortable and walkable — a big change from my rural hometown of Moscow, Pa., where everything is 20 minutes away by car."

Kosko knew she loved art and dreamed of one day restoring paintings in a museum. Today, she is building that future at Bucknell — and helping others find their place here too.

A double-major in art history and English — literary studies with a minor in Arabic, she's taken full advantage of Bucknell's interdisciplinary offerings. Kosko is also incorporating chemistry courses into her schedule, knowing that having an understanding of chemical compounds is helpful for preserving delicate works of art.

"Being at a place like Bucknell lets me explore all of the different sides of art restoration," Kosko says. "I'm building the analytical, communication and scientific skills that will help me approach the work through a broader lens."

Kosko's decision to study Arabic is a way to reconnect with her Lebanese heritage. "My grandmother grew up speaking some Arabic but lost much of it over time," she says. "Studying the language feels like honoring her history."

Creating Community Within a Community

Kosko is also one of the inaugural Gamgort Gateway Family Scholars, a program that offers need-based scholarships and support for high-achieving students.

Hannah Kosko '27 selected artwork to decorate the Axis Lounge, helping to transform the space into a welcoming hub for students. Photo by Emily Paine, Marketing & Communications

"At first, I didn't even know what a Gateway Scholar was," she says. "I just knew I'd been given a really generous scholarship. Then I met the donors, the Gamgort family, and I was amazed at how personally invested they were. They remembered me a year later and asked how my classes were going."

Through Bucknell's Center for Access & Success, Kosko found a campus home and a sense of purpose. As an office assistant, she helps plan events like the FirstGen Festival, supports fellow students and leads special projects, including curating artwork for the center's Axis Lounge in collaboration with Bucknell's Samek Art Museum.

"When I first got here, the lounge was just a bunch of tables," Kosko says. "Now it feels like a real community space. I'm proud to have had a hand in shaping that."

Kosko is now living in the first-ever Access & Success Affinity House, a residential space she helped create for students who identify as first generation or are recipients of need-based scholarships. The house welcomed 17 students in fall 2025.

"It's a space where students with shared experiences can live together, support each other and build a community," she says. "I came in not knowing what being 'first gen' meant. Now I'm helping build spaces for people like me. Bucknell gave me that chance — and I want to make sure more students get it too."