UW-Superior celebrates first-generation students, alumni

Shelley Nelson, Superior Telegram, Wis.
·3 min read

Nov. 7—SUPERIOR — Grace Artz, of Rib Lake, Wisconsin, wants to teach.

That goal made her the first person in her family to try to attain a four-year degree.

Now attending the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Artz was among the

first-generation students

and alumni celebrated Thursday, Nov. 2, for being the first in their families to pursue a university degree.

"The reason we're having this event today is we have a 46% first-gen population on this campus, at least as of our data last year," said Kylie Sievers, program coordinator in the TRIO program and student services coordinator. "It kind of follows a 10-year historical trend at UWS. So we do it to honor and recognize our first-gen students to see themselves in faculty and staff."

While data wasn't yet available for this year, about 1,007 students last year were first-generation students on campus, Sievers said.

She said the goal is to inspire students who are the first in their family to attend a university.

Randy Barker was among the staff sporting a "First-Gen Proud" button during the event. Now the counseling services director at UWS, Barker said he first became familiar with the campus about 20 years ago, when he was the first person in his family to attend college. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in counseling.

"I think it was one of those things," Barker said. "I didn't really know what I was getting myself into, but I came here to UWS. I think one of the things that really helped me was the university. They had a lot of resources. There was a lot of people here who really took it upon themselves to help me."

He said he was open to using the resources and the university proved to be a good fit for him.

After visiting various universities, Artz said she chose UWS because it was a small campus. After graduating among about 20 students in Rib Lake, she said it was a little startling the first time she attended a class with about 100 people, but she's finding her way.

"Personally, I am a person who doesn't go out and find new friends or try to find a lot of things to do," Artz said. "Actually, going out and doing it does help a lot. When I got here, I was so shaky, didn't want to talk to anyone, but now that I'm actually out, doing stuff, getting more comfortable with the area, now it's a lot easier to come out and talk to people, find new friends."

Artz said the hardest thing about being a first-generation student is not knowing what to expect. However, she said she felt much more at ease about attending college when her mom was comfortable with the campus when they visited.

"With her being comfortable with it, too, I knew this was definitely the place," Artz said. "If my mom's comfortable with it, then I'm sure I would get comfortable, too."

She said life on campus is exposing her to a broader world.

"It will help me develop the social skills that I will need to teach — meeting the parents of the little kids I'm teaching or speaking to larger crowds if I need to," Artz said.