NORTH CANTON − Dr. Edna McCulloh and America Villegas-Camacho were featured in the Sunday, March 24, 2024, Canton Repository for their involvement in the First Gen Cavs program at Walsh University. The program aims to provide intentional support and guidance for first-generation college students.

Dr. Edna McCulloh, the associate vice president for academic administration at Walsh University, shared that the First Gen Cavs program is designed to offer opportunities for engagement and celebration of first-generation students. She emphasized the importance of providing a foundation for success in the first year of college and beyond for these students. McCulloh highlighted the various challenges that first-generation students face, including navigating workload expectations, finances, and lack of familial support.

Reflecting on her own experiences as a first-generation college student, McCulloh expressed her desire to pay forward the support she received by establishing the First Gen Cavs program at Walsh University. She mentioned, "I always wanted to pay it forward."

America Villegas-Camacho, a Walsh University honor student majoring in biology/pre-med with a minor in medical humanities, shared her gratitude for Dr. Edna's mentorship and the support she received through the First Gen Cavs program. Villegas-Camacho, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, is the first in her immediate family to complete high school and pursue higher education. She expressed determination to succeed and gratitude for the opportunities the program has offered her.

The First Gen Cavs program at Walsh University pairs each student with a mentor from the faculty or administrative staff. McCulloh mentioned that the program also focuses on peer mentorship, allowing students who have benefitted from the initiative to support their peers.

Through the stories of Dr. Edna McCulloh and America Villegas-Camacho, the impact of the First Gen Cavs program at Walsh University is evident in providing crucial support and guidance to first-generation college students as they navigate their academic journeys.