First-Gen triumphs: Celebrating the inaugural Tri-Alpha cohort at Mercyhurst
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Mercyhurst University will induct 21 employees and 30 students in its First-Generation Honor Society, new this year, on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 3:30 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. All are welcome.)
When Michele Garvey set off for college, uncertain about her future, her mother handed her half a jar of peanut butter and half a loaf of bread. “If she’d given me a full jar and a full loaf, she would have had to go without,” Garvey recalled, her eyes misty as she reflected on her journey as a First-Generation student at Mercyhurst University.
With just enough funds for one term, Garvey worked multiple jobs, applied for scholarships, and cleaned a house in trade for a room in it. When she needed additional support, her Uncle Tom stepped in, handing her $1,800 in a brown paper bag.
Despite facing numerous challenges, Garvey persevered, earning a bachelor's degree in music and a master's in special education. She enjoyed a rewarding teaching career in various public and private schools throughout Erie County and now serves as autism support coordinator with the university’s AIM program.
As for her uncle’s $1,800—she paid him back in full, even threw in a bottle of champagne. Her advice to First-Gen students?
“Money comes and money goes. If that's your only barrier, go find it; help is out there. It just takes perseverance.”
First-generation college students—the first in their families to attend college—often face steep challenges. Without the benefit of family role models, with limited financial resources, and a higher education journey that can seem like uncharted territory, they navigate an experience that many others take for granted.
Mercyhurst’s president, Dr. Kathleen Getz, is also a First-Gen college student. Raised alongside four sisters, she was encouraged by her parents to pursue higher education, and all five women went on to successful careers, from teaching to leading a children's hospital and, now, to running a university.
For Peter Zohos, whose parents immigrated from Greece with little more than elementary school educations, the path to college wasn’t straightforward either. His father, a talented mechanic, insisted that Peter and his brothers focus on their studies, not on working in the family business.
“We were going to college and that was all there was to it,” said Zohos of himself and brothers, Perry and John. Nonetheless, starting as preteens, the boys took odd jobs to help support the family.
“I remember we found a lawnmower in the trash, so we fixed it up and cut 43 lawns a week,” Zohos said. When the boys encountered a neighbor on social security who couldn’t afford their service, they initially turned her away. But their father quickly intervened, instructing them, “You go down there and take care of that lady’s lawn.” They did—year after year—for free.
Zohos went on to enroll in college and even medical school before ultimately finding his passion at Mercyhurst, where he was encouraged by mentors to pursue Hospitality Management. After earning his MBA from Penn State, he built a successful career in the global hospitality industry. Today, he’s the dean of Mercyhurst’s School of Business and Applied Business.
Like Garvey, Zohos credits his success to the unwavering support of his family and mentors, but he also emphasizes the importance of personal drive. His advice to First-Gen students?
“It takes drive, discipline, faith, and a strong work ethic. My father always said, ‘No one will ever outwork me,’ and that’s a motto I live by every day.”
For Dr. William Meyer, a professor of Anthropology, growing up as a First-Gen student in the Adirondacks came with its own set of challenges—but also advantages. Although his parents didn’t attend college, they placed a high value on reading, and Meyer had two aunts who were college graduates and served as role models. Still, throughout his career, he saw many First-Gen students struggle, and this inspired him to launch Tri-Alpha at Mercyhurst, an honor society and support network for First-Gen students.
Early in his career, as a teacher at a commuter college, he observed many First-Gen students challenged by a lack of study skills, few if any role models, an absence of external validation, financial issues, feelings of isolation, and, one that directly affected Meyer, tension between his academic life and family life.
First-generation students sometimes feel pressure to fit into their family’s expectations or feel guilty for pursuing higher education while their family may not understand the demands or value of it.
“There were some aunts and uncles who couldn’t relate to what I was doing … like I had left them behind,” Meyer said. “It can be very hard tacking back and forth between your school and home culture.”
Meyer not only overcame those challenges to earn his bachelor’s degree from Mercyhurst and his doctorate from UNC Chapel Hill, but he also considers it his responsibility to help other First-Gen students navigate similar obstacles. His advice?
“Find people who’ve had similar experiences—places like Tri-Alpha can help. And remember, you don’t have to leave your roots behind to succeed.”
Meyer, Zohos, and Garvey are among 21 Mercyhurst employees and 30 students who comprise the inaugural cohort that will be inducted into the university’s First-Generation Honor Society on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 3:30 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.
Overall, First-Generation college students enrich the academic environment and contribute to a more diverse educational landscape. Their stories and successes are vital to understanding the broader impacts of higher education.
“I believe First-Gen students are part of the Sisters' original vision,” Meyer says. “I think they’d be proud of what we’re doing here.”