The student pilot reported that he was on his first solo flight. During his first landing as he flared the airplane, it landed hard and bounced on the runway multiple times. As the student pilot attempted to regain control of the airplane, the propeller contacted the runway. The student pilot brought the airplane to a full stop, and taxied off of the active runway to his awaiting instructor to inspect the airplane. They did not see any damage, and flew the airplane back to their home base. During a maintenance inspection it was discovered that the firewall was buckled. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.