By Sarah Sell , University Communications and Marketing
U.S. Army veteran Austin Steele is proud to be a first-generation college student. After serving three years in the infantry at Fort Drum, New York, he was medically discharged due to a knee injury. Faced with a difficult decision to enter the workforce like his parents or pursue higher education, he chose to continue his academic journey.
Steele is now working toward a bachelor’s degree with support from the University of South Florida’s Office of Veteran Success, which helps veterans transition smoothly from military service to campus life through benefits and career counseling.
Austin Steele, a first-generation and miltary-connected student at USF St. Petersburg.
USF offers a variety of scholarships and programs aimed at providing financial support and academic resources to first-generation and military-connected students. The university currently serves over 1,900 student veterans, many of whom are also first-generation college students.
“I want to show future generations that it’s possible, and even though it’s tough, you can get through it. You got to have a good work ethic,” said Steele, a history major and student advisor in the OVS office at the USF St. Petersburg campus.
During the month of November, USF’s three campuses will hold several events to raise awareness of the challenges and successes of first-generation students. The events will coincide with National First-Generation Celebration Day on November 8 and Veteran’s Day on November 11.
While the definition of a first-generation student may vary nationally, at USF, they are students whose parents or guardians did not complete a four-year degree in the United States. USF enrollment data shows that more than 4,000 currently enrolled undergraduate students are first-generation. According to Tony Delgado, USF assistant dean of academic inclusion, the number is likely higher since that information is collected voluntarily via the FAFSA application.
"As a former first-generation student, I know the transformative power of higher education in uplifting families and creating generational change," Delgado said. “The celebrations honor the resilience, determination and achievements of our first-gen Bulls while recognizing their role in creating brighter futures for themselves and their communities."
Jacob Gresham, a first-generation and miltary-connected student at USF St. Petersburg.
In July, USF was welcomed into the FirstGen Forward Network in recognition of its strong commitment to supporting first-generation student success. The network connects higher education leaders from across the country to exchange data, share best practices and expand efforts to support and uplift first-generation students.
Jacob Gresham was in the U.S. Navy from 2015-2019. He was stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln in San Diego, CA, where he worked as a machinist's mate in the nuclear powere plant. He is a veteran and first-generation student at USF.
“Most of the time, I thought of how much I was behind compared to individuals my age,” said Gresham, a business analytics and information systems major at USF St. Petersburg. “It took my wife to show me the importance of the work I was truly doing. I have served the country, which helped shape me into who I have become.”
Niky Roblera is a first-generation student who finds comfort in knowing there are others like her at USF.
Nicky Roblero, a first-generation student at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
“We discuss the positive and negative factors of being a first-generation college student and how it has impacted us personally,” said Roblero, a biology major at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
The students compare their lifestyles, ethnic backgrounds and learn from each other’s cultural backgrounds.
“Like many other immigrant families, my family came to America for the various opportunities this country offers," she said. "My family has given me emotional support and encouraged me to continue no matter what.”