First-generation students were celebrated with the nomination of the U@UCA Podcast to the fifth annual Catalyst Awards.

Alexandra Smith-Todd, host of the podcast and assistant director of Student Affairs, said the podcast is directed toward, “students that are either considering coming to UCA or have committed to coming to UCA, and their families.” 

“We wanted to provide insight to future UCA students and parents on what to expect when they get to college, validate fears and thoughts they may have about coming to college, and showcase our supportive staff and resources that UCA offers to help,” Smith-Todd said.

She said she hopes that by listening to the U@UCA podcast “listeners feel a little less apprehensive about college and have a clearer understanding of what to do and who to go for if they need help.”

“We try to be as authentic as possible. We want to share our own struggles and stories in hopes that it helps our listeners,” she said.

“I had a parent reach out to express their gratitude for the project. They did not attend college, but the information in the podcast helped them navigate conversations they were having with their child and helped them prepare for the transition,” she said.

The podcast has represented first-generation UCA students in many ways since its inception.

“A lot of our guests, including our co-host Emily Greer, are first-generation students. They share their experiences navigating the college process and provide insight that I believe is validating and informative for our audience,” Smith-Todd said.

One such guest recently was Vice President for Student Affairs Robin Williamson.

She described her experience as “absolutely wonderful.”

“Alex and Emily were very prepared, but made me feel extremely comfortable during the recording of the podcast,” Williamson said.

She said they talked about “Emily’s and my experiences as first-generation students. We shared how important it was to ask questions and find those people on campus who can help you.”

Smith-Todd, excited about the nomination, said, “It is a huge honor. 

“It was a new project and a rather challenging one at that. The support we have received from the university and this nomination lets us know we are going in the right direction and encourages us to create more engaging episodes,” she said.

Williamson also expressed excitement about the potential award.

She said, “I am extremely proud of Alex and Emily’s nomination. They worked hard to put together a phenomenal podcast that would be a great resource to our students and their families. I am rooting for them to win.”