Alumni share experiences, advice about attending college as a first-generation student at Montana Tech

Three Montana Technological University alumni who have gone on to become influential members of the Butte community spoke of the challenges and the triumphs of being a first-generation student in a panel discussion hosted by the Institute for Educational Opportunities on Thursday, November 7.

The discussion was part of the First-Generation College Celebration, which takes place at universities and colleges across the U.S. Panel members were led in their discussion by first-generation alumnus Tom Reget, who serves multiple roles as TRIO digital content creator, SSS student advisor and Montana 10 advisor. Panel members included Melissa Swanson, a physical therapist at Intermountain Health; Leesla Jonart, risk management/contract administrator at Pioneer Technical; and Paul Babb, community relations manager at NorthWestern Energy.

Babb stressed the importance of education.

“Education is something I view as a lifelong endeavor,” Babb said, adding that even now as a well-established professional, he makes sure to take advantage of every educational opportunity offered through his employer.

Babb said that while some people may question the importance of getting a degree, he believes it is still worth it.

“There is value in getting your degree,” Babb said. “Once you get that degree, it can never be taken away from you. There really is value in the network of people that have a college degree or have gone to a trade school … In the long run, it pays off … You have to put in the time. I think now days, all of us we are into instant gratification, and we don’t want to put in the time, but if you don’t put in the time you are not going to be successful.”

Swanson stressed the importance of adapting. When she arrived at Montana Tech as a student-athlete, she thought she wanted to be an athletic trainer, but mid-way through college she changed her mind and swapped gears toward physical therapy. She hustled the last two years of her undergraduate degree to get the certifications and experience needed to be accepted by the University of Montana’s physical therapy school.

“The path or the road is not going to be a straight shot,” Swanson said.

Now as a physical therapist, Swanson says she gets to work with a much more diverse patient base than if she had stuck to athletic training. She performs rewarding work with the elderly, the homeless and other populations she never would have encountered as a college athletic trainer.

Jonart shared the story of how her college journey included many twists and turns. She earned a full ride athletic scholarship to a college in Wyoming, but was unable to attend. She started at Montana Tech, transferred to the University of Montana, dropped out, started classes at Highlands College through the help of an employer, and earned an associate’s degree. Ten years after starting college, she earned her bachelor’s degree in business.

“It was one of the proudest moments of my life,” Jonart said.

In 2010, she went on to earn her master’s degree.

“I wish someone would have told me it wasn’t a race,” she said.

She had two final words of advice for first-generation students working their way through school.

“Don’t quit.”