First-generation students sometimes lack a support network that values higher education. Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA)--a regional, comprehensive university of approximately 13,000 students, located in East Texas--serves a diverse body of students who are nearly 50% first-generation. These students often face financial constraints and have been underexposed to the cultural diversity of the twenty-first-century economy. At the same time, the students know that a university education is vital to their success, and they have an intense desire to conquer new intellectual landscapes. While some would consider SFA's student body a challenge, SFA sees it as an opportunity. Because of their unique student body, SFA is able to help an underserved population whose success is central to meeting the local, national, and international challenges of the future. To meet these challenges, SFA encourages transformative learning experiences, a culture of engagement, undergraduate research, and a focus on lifelong learning, among other strategies. This article discusses how SFA has customized their honors program to meet the needs of their students, and the impact that the honors program has on its students.