First-generation students, a population that makes up one-third of all college and university students nationwide, and expected to grow, have lower retention and graduation rates than continuing-generation students. They also have been identified as the population of marginalized students that have the least developed sense of belonging. Participation in a living-learning community as part of on-campus housing is a high-impact practice that encourages the development of a greater sense of belonging. Utilizing Strayhorn's framework of sense of belonging and Wenger-Traynor's theory of community of practices and social learning, this study explored how students relate to first-generation as an identity, and how sense of belonging is experienced in a first-generation identity-themed community. As part of this qualitative case study, I interviewed seven students who chose to return to the first-generation theme community for a second year. Findings concluded that students had developed a sense of belonging and had embraced first-generation as an individual experienced identity and a community identity. How a university utilizes first-generation status can affect if a student embraces it as an identity or is othered by the distinction. Southern Pacific Coast University, a pseudonym, made the decision to create a first-generation residential community. By doing so, they elevated the distinction to one that is equal to more traditionally understood identities and enabled students to embrace "first-generation" as an identity with positive connotations related to normalizing challenges, overcoming them, and centering this identity around pride in accomplishment and potential to succeed which benefits the students' sense of belonging and their success as the university. The creation of first-generation identity-themed communities, residential and non-residential, is a high-impact practice that other universities should adopt to serve this growing population. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]