By Conor Lowery, So Nishikawa, Ashley Sieloff & Vicki Herd
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) prides itself on being an institution that welcomes first-generation students (the first in their families to attend college). UWGB has been designated as a First-Gen Forward institution by the Center for First-generation Student Success, which is an initiative of NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, for the university’s commitment to the success of first-generation students. As of 2024, more than 50% of UWGB’s undergraduates identify as first-generation students. To better understand the experiences of first-generation students at UWGB, The Fourth Estate reached out to current students and graduates who were the first in their families to attend college to hear their stories.
Jeffrey Anderson
Jeffrey Anderson is one of many first-generation graduates of UWGB. Anderson enthusiastically talked about his status as a first-generation student. His general feelings on his experience as a first-generation UWGB student were positive, explaining “I would say it was honestly, to me, pretty similar to a lot of other kids going to school.” He went on to say that the main difference was that knowledge and support surrounding school came from sources other than his parents. Anderson described it as a “unique perspective.”
Anderson expressed that while he felt UWGB was receptive to the needs of first-generation students, he did not take advantage of the resources it provided. “[I] never felt, in a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ way, like I got any special treatment for being a first-generation student,” he said. Anderson said he found no extra challenges in being a first-generation student. He believes that for a school that makes welcoming first-generation students central to its identity, the resources available aren’t used as often as they should be, likely due to a lack of effective advertisement. However, he admitted he may have been an exception rather than a rule in this case. “I wanted to feel like another student on campus, and for me, part of that was not taking advantage of those resources, for better or for worse.” Anderson suggested the school advertise first-generation resources to students before they are on campus full-time to increase the number of students who utilize them, based on his own experience of not knowing what was available to him while he was a student.
Anderson has a message for future first-generation students: “Truly relish in the fact that you have a really unique experience and you’re in a […] position to not only make yourself extremely proud but make your friends and family [proud]. Really enjoy it and don’t look at it as a bad thing.”
Grace Prust
Grace Prust is a recent UWGB alumna who didn’t know she was a first-generation student. She was surprised to find out she had been the first in her family to graduate with a four-year bachelor’s degree and to attend college. She mentioned that it was difficult navigating a new setting and city she was not familiar with while learning everything along the way. She referenced how useful the campus resources were to her.
Prust graduated in December 2023 and now plans to carry along her interests in journalism and radio. She affirmed that majoring in communication with emphases in journalism and mass media, as well as getting involved with the on-campus student radio, has opened up avenues for her. One being her current job working at a local radio station, WIXX 101.1 FM.
Prust’s support system was the backbone of her successful college career. Family, friends, and the Wellness Center on campus created a safe space for Prust to turn to in times of struggle. She overcame difficulty by receiving advice from advisors to help her succeed. Prust encourages new first-generation students to find their niche by getting involved on campus through events and volunteer work.
Prust’s studies were accompanied by two on-campus jobs. She fulfilled a role as a “fellow” on behalf of the education department and worked at the Cofrin Library all four of her years as a student. She acknowledged FAFSA supported her financially as well during her college career. When asked how she balanced academia among all her other responsibilities, she replied that her job was flexible and allowed her time for homework after her priorities were completed.
Prust firmly believes that being a first-generation student has greatly impacted her. She believes it sets a positive example for others and has allotted her multiple opportunities that she wouldn’t have previously had. Prust became the first in her family to go college because of her love for journalism and her desire to pursue higher education. She concluded that college has advanced her knowledge and supplied her with resources to succeed in her chosen career path.
Jesus Galvan-Garcia
Jesus Galvan-Garcia is a first-generation college student with a Hispanic heritage. His family migrated from Mexico to the United States to increase opportunities to better their lives. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but decided to commit to the University of Hartford in Connecticut. After his freshman year, he transferred to UWGB because he had the capabilities to play soccer and continue to further develop his education. While his journey of becoming a first-generation student and D1 athlete has been exciting, he has encountered difficulties along the way. Balancing D1 soccer and his studies has placed a lot of weight on him and his college career. Despite this, through encouragement from his family and teammates, he has excelled in both aspects.
His inspiration to pursue a higher education came from working alongside his father, who works as a painter. “I got a general overview of what a day in life looks like as a painter, and I knew it wasn’t the career that I wanted,” Galvan-Garcia says. To Galvan-Garcia, attending UWGB is a great achievement. His identity as a first-generation student has been significant in his college experience. He has many memories surrounding his first-generation status, but one stands out above the rest: playing his first collegiate soccer game. “It is a moment that I will never forget.” Growing up, he played soccer for fun and never thought he would play at a D1 level but hard work and his passion for soccer proved him wrong.
Galvan-Garcia is scheduled to graduate from UWGB in the spring of 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Through his hard work and dedication, he will become the first member of his family to graduate from college. He understands how important getting a good education is to not only himself but to his family. He hopes that he will become a role model to his 20 cousins who are in high school. “If I can do it, they can too,” Galvan-Garcia said.
First-generation students make up a large number of UWGB students and come from a variety of places and perspectives. With such varied demographics, there are many differing experiences throughout UWGB’s student body of first-generation students. Some found that their position as first-generation students didn’t have any effect on them, whereas others, such as Galvan-Garcia feel that it plays a significant role in their time at college. UWGB’s first-generation student population is large and diverse, and these are only a few voices in the campus population.
