Madison, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS)- Chances are if you have walked on any college campus in the country, you have passed several first generation students.  One in five students at UW- Madison are the first in their family to attend college.

Jessica Antonio-Gutierrez is a Freshman at Wisconsin’s largest college. 

I definitely think it’s a struggle because I’m figuring out certain things and I can’t really talk to my parents about it, but I think it’s pretty exciting and a great opportunity for me,” Jessica says.

Her dad and mom immigrated to the U.S. 20 years ago from Mexico.

“My dad is from Veracruz and my mom is from Michoacan,” says Jessica.  “They’ve been together for about 21 years after meeting in Chicago.”

Her parents, three younger siblings, and uncle live together in Milwaukee now.  Her parents have taught her the meaning of hard work.

“My dad is a construction worker and he’s always worked with his hands,” says Jessica.  “My mom has always worked and right now, she cuts vegetables for an agency near my house.”

She says her brother and two sisters are her reason for always pushing forward.

“It shows my siblings that we can go to college and for my parents specifically, we talk about what it means to have an education and they say it’s their dream being fulfilled,” Jessica says.

The road to higher education has not always been smooth for Jessica.  She says her parents would not have been able to afford her college experience on their own.

“We didn’t even know if I would go to college, but I was always trying and eventually, it paid off with the Bucky's Tuition Promise,” Jessica says.  “The Bucky Promise is a relief to them, but it’s also a relief to me because they don’t have to worry about it.”

Bucky’s Tuition Promise is a financial lifeline for many first generation students and others at UW- Madison.  It provides tuition for four years for any student whose family makes below $60,000 per year.

“A lot of first generation students fall into that category,” says Financial Aid expert Greg Offerman.

Offerman says he discuses financial aid options quite a bit, especially since there are 6,000 first generation students on campus.

“The aid we do have specifically for first generation students is called Badger Promise,” Greg says.  “It’s a program for students who are transferring to UW-Madison from select two-year. Colleges and that program guarantees tuition and fees for one to two years.”

Another financial aid option for any student is called Fast Track. 

“It provides everything for a student, so think of the classic full ride, if you will,” Greg says.  “How a student would qualify is if they receive some form of public assistance, so food stamps, for example.”

Jessica says she hopes to become a teacher and hopes other first generation students realize pursuing your dreams is possible.

“Even if you’re going to college and you’re the first person in your family to go, you’re not completely alone,” Jessica says.  “You just have to go out of your way to find those resources.”

Jessica is involved in intramural volleyball and also plans to pledge a sorority. 

Greg Offerman stresses the importance of making connections no matter what college you attend. 

“Whether that’s with a teacher, or professor, or an academic advisor or someone in the financial aid office,” Greg says.  “A good option for that is also student employment because we know students are more successful in school because they have that social network.”