In San Antonio, we root for our own. This season, that means cheering for a special group of Roadrunners: students who are the first in their families to go to college.
As the presenting sponsor of the UTSA First Generation Student Program, Firstmark Credit Union is proud to help tell their stories on the field, on the air, and across the 210.
Why first-gen matters at UTSA
First-generation students aren’t a small slice of campus life at UTSA. They are at the center of it. 44% of undergraduate students at UTSA are first-generation college students, meaning they are the first in their family to pursue a higher education degree.
Being first comes with real strengths. First-generation students bring drive, resilience, and unique perspectives to UT San Antonio, but they can also face challenges that make navigating college feel overwhelming. That’s why UTSA has built one of the country’s standout support systems for them. Through UTSA’s First-Generation & Transfer Student Programs, the mentee, a peer mentor, and program staff form a community of support called a familia. The work has earned national attention: in 2019, the program was designated a “Program to Watch” by Excelencia in Education, and NASPA named UTSA a top university for its efforts to support first-generation and transfer students.
For student-athletes in particular, being first means balancing practice, travel, and competition with coursework, often while figuring out college for the very first time. Their journeys deserve to be seen.
A first you can see on game day
A first you can see on game dayThis season, first-generation Roadrunner football players will wear a First Gen sticker on their helmets. It’s a small detail with a big meaning. Every time these athletes take the field at the Alamodome, fans and teammates will know they’re watching someone who is opening doors for their family and for the generations that follow.
Stories you’ll hear on the radio
Tune in to any UTSA football, men’s basketball, or baseball broadcast this year and you’ll hear the Firstmark First Gen Feature, a short spotlight on a first-generation student-athlete and what they’re building beyond the game. Catch them on Ticket 760 (KTKR-AM) for football and basketball, The Bull 93.9 (KRPT-FM) for baseball, and streaming on iHeartRadio.
Stories you’ll see on social
Throughout the season, the First Gen Spotlight series will share the journeys of first-generation students, student-athletes, and alumni across UTSA Athletics social channels and The Brew-1-0 newsletter. Follow along at @FirstmarkCU and @UTSAAthletics.
Every first down counts
The celebration continues on the scoreboard. Every Roadrunner first down puts money toward a Firstmark First Gen Scholarship, which will be awarded on-field to a UTSA first-generation student at a home football game this season. Because every first matters.
Building tomorrow, together
Firstmark has been part of San Antonio for decades, and education has always been close to our heart. Supporting first-generation Roadrunners is one of the most meaningful ways we get to invest in the people building SA’s tomorrow.
Here’s to the firsts: the first in the family to enroll, the first to take the field, and the first to walk across the stage. We’re proud to be in your corner.
Firstmark Credit Union — proud presenting sponsor of the UTSA First Generation Student Program.
