By: McKella Oakley
One may ask: “What could be better than yogurt?” Perhaps it’s frozen yogurt, often called froyo. Smart Cow, a frozen yogurt business, was featured in a fundraiser at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Union on Nov. 7. Hosted by the UWGB organization called the First-Generation Phoenix or First Gen, the event offered a variety of frozen yogurt with flavors such as strawberry sorbet, sea salt caramel, cookies and cream, and dark chocolate, sold in to-go containers for $6 each. Members of the First-Generation Phoenix organization staffed a booth, selling froyo and sharing information about their mission and activities.
The organization partnered with Smart Cow after polling members on potential fundraising ideas. President of First Gen Phoenix, Brianna Winkler, said, “The organization came up with a list of different fundraisers and brought it up to the group at one of the meetings, then we did a vote on what people would want to do.” She added that once Smart Cow was voted in, the treasurer contacted and made the arrangements for the organization. Officer Karime Galaviz said that the officers wanted students to have a say in the organization’s activities and fundraisers. Funds raised from the event will be going directly into the First-Generation Phoenix fund and their agency account. The money will support future events, with a potential trip with students.
A first-generation student is defined as an individual with neither a parent nor guardian who has completed a four-year degree. First Gen Phoenix offers resources, support, and programs for first-generation students and those who support them, helping them succeed in their academic pursuits. Galaviz said, “It is also a community where first-generation students can find other people in the first-generation community and can have support.”
Community is central to First Gen Phoenix. The organization provides programs and events, such as financial wellness workshops, scholarships, and activities to encourage campus involvement. The organization also offers mentoring programs to connect students with professional mentors who can aid in setting goals and provide ongoing support. Another unique resource for first-generation students at UWGB is R.E. Small Hall, a residence hall dedicated to creating a supportive social network among students who share similar college transition experiences. Students in this living-learning community reside on the same floor and take classes together, fostering a strong support system.
Many students at the fundraiser shared personal experiences of how First Gen Phoenix has positively impacted them. Galaviz is an out-of-state first-generation student who has been impacted by the number of communities formed through the organization. “Being able to find a community to help me, support me, and to find lifelong friends, has been the biggest impact on me,” Galaviz said. “The fact of coming into UW Green Bay with such a positive experience with First-Generation and receiving so much support and resources.”
Other students highlighted how the organization has provided guidance in navigating college life as first-generation students. Organization officer Monica Garcia shared, “It’s hard being a First Gen Student, especially when you are put in these spaces where you feel like nobody can relate to you, or everyone seems ahead of you. Having this organization is one of the reasons I came into it; it was because I knew I had people who were relating to my experiences.”
Students at UWGB can get involved in First Gen Phoenix Organization by coming to one of their meetings held on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the 1965 Room in University Union or by following their Instagram page @firstgenphoenix to see the current involvement and information about the organization.
Last year, First Gen Phoenix launched the First-Generation Impact Awards Ceremony, which honors individuals who have contributed to the first-generation community, either by being first-gen themselves or by supporting first-gen students. The awards night features a formal dinner and celebrates accomplishments that impacted the first generation. Students can look out for more events and activities held by First Gen Phoenix in the upcoming months.
