{"id":11651,"date":"2024-11-21T08:49:35","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T14:49:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=11651"},"modified":"2024-11-21T08:49:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T14:49:35","slug":"uwo-first-scholars-program-provides-hundreds-of-first-gen-students-mentoring-skill-building","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/uwo-first-scholars-program-provides-hundreds-of-first-gen-students-mentoring-skill-building\/","title":{"rendered":"UWO First Scholars program provides hundreds of first-gen students mentoring, skill-building"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
First-generation student Aidan Funk, a junior from Racine majoring in physical education, serves as a peer mentor to the new class of first-generation students at UWO.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Aidan Funk\u2019s mother had him when she was 19. As a single mother of two boys, she put aside her own dreams for college, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Junior and first-generation college student said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur whole life, our mom was telling us that she was going to put us through college,\u201d Funk said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the support of a federal academic program generating future scholars, coupled with financial support channeled through UWO and the university\u2019s new focus on first-generation students\u2019 success, Funk has realized his mom\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n

The junior student from Racine, majoring in physical education, is one of 420 UWO students who receive support from the federally funded TRIO Student Support Services program (First-gen students meeting certain criteria are eligible to apply for TRIO services.) And Funk is now a peer mentor for the program.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSchool never really was for me,\u201d he said. \u201cI never thought I would make it this far, honestly. I\u2019m proud of myself and the investment that I made.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Funk\u2019s success story is the latest resulting from UWO\u2019s efforts to bolster support for first-generation students. A new initiative\u2014the First Scholars program\u2013links more than 3,000 self-identified first-generation students to various support services, volunteer faculty mentors and staff to help navigate college for retention and graduation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Funk said TRIO helped him not only manage his academics but also better command a budget and afford college.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cComing to college you see that big price tag and when I saw that I thought, \u2018Man, how am I going to pay for all of this?\u2019\u201d Funk said. \u201c(TRIO advisors) stepped in; they helped me apply for scholarships and grants and made a budget plan with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Offering support, services<\/h3>\n
\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Byron Adams<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The First Scholars program is part of First-Gen Forward, a national organization that partners with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and focuses on providing support and services to all first-generation students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUW Oshkosh has an array of existing services for our first-generation student success,\u201d said Byron Adams, director of the Center for Student Success and Belonging. \u201cThe First Scholars Program hopes to add to the already excellent services being provided by creating a climate at UWO where first-gen student success is at the forefront of all our student outreach and retention efforts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the services for First Scholars include the following:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n