The U@UCA Podcast was awarded the fifth annual Catalyst Award celebrating its contribution to and representation of first-generation students at UCA.

The Catalyst Awards are judged by a national panel and serve as a recognition of the lasting impact podcasts and other media have helped to portray the struggle of first-generation students.

Assistant Director of Student Affairs Alexandria Smith-Todd and her co-host senior marketing student Emily Greer aim to help new and future students and their families as they transition into college life.

Greer said, “The Catalyst Awards recognize individuals who promote the first-gen community in a positive light and spread awareness of the struggles that first-gen students may face.”

Robin Williamson, vice president of student affairs, was a guest on the episode titled “We Were Freshman, Too” which helped the podcast secure the award.

She said the podcast is important because “hearing the stories of people who have been where you are and how they were successful can be very motivating and helpful.”

“It can also help you feel less isolated and alone,” she said.

Williamson had more to say about memorable moments from the episode itself.

“I think a lot of first-gen students and their families see someone with a Ph.D. or a title like vice president and do not automatically think that I understand. Being able to talk through how important it was to seek community and help when I needed it will help so many of our students and their families,” she said.

Williamson said she hopes the award shows “we have incredible people on our campus who do incredible work every single day.”

“While our individual stories are unique, there are commonalities between first-gen experiences that can remind you that you are not alone, you are enough, and you deserve to be here,” she said.

Greer is a first-generation college student herself and said she “felt overwhelmed with joy and pride after receiving the award.”

“The pride I felt was not just for myself but for every first-generation student who felt a deeper connection to the podcast,” she said.

Greer said winning the award “sheds light on UCA, its community, and especially, its first-generation students.” 

She also said it is an honor to accept the award because it “allows us and many others to celebrate our experiences as first-generation students.”

“This award matters because it brings awareness to struggles that many students face due to being first-gen, while other students may have never considered these struggles,” she said.

Greer also said that “exploring both the positive and negative sides of what students will likely experience in their first year of college is necessary and beneficial in terms of preparation.”

Winning the Catalyst Award has also “allowed for excessive social media promotion through our social media and UCA’s, which has resulted in increased listening,” Greer said.

Greer said she looks forward to the future of the podcast and the new opportunities accepting the award may bring.

“In the second season of the podcast, we plan to explore the first-time feelings of different college experiences,” she said.