SE: First-Gen Student-Athletes Find Unique Challenges, Opportunities at K-State

By: Austin Siegel

The science textbook was always his Mom's thing.

As Josh Rivas grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas and grew into the 6-foot-6, 335-pound frame of a Big 12 offensive lineman, every member of his family helped him along the path to college.

His sister, two years ahead in school, took many of the same classes as Rivas and could explain different things she learned to her little brother.

In their backyard, his Dad would help Rivas work on different O-line drills.

"They always told me that they wanted me to go to college," he said. "With science, my Mom would get my science textbook and read it before me, so she could help."

Rivas is one of 105 first-generation student-athletes that will represent K-State across every single one of the school's varsity teams this year.

At a university where students without a parent who graduated from college make up more than 25% of the student body, the experiences of a student-athlete like Rivas are unique but not uncommon.

And the fact is, "first-generation student-athlete" is a broad term, encompassing Wildcats from a range of different backgrounds.

It's something Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Development/Chief Diversity Officer Julian Jones described as part of his role in helping student-athletes take advantage of different resources at K-State.

"We have our Women Leaders group, our Global Cats for our international student-athletes and PAALS for our Black student-athletes," Jones said. "Before COVID-19, we were planning a trip to Kansas City with KU and Mizzou to take our First-Gen student-athletes on a career tour at some different places. Hopefully, as COVID-19 winds down, we can do more things like that."

Student-athletes already enroll in a "bridge course" during their freshman year at K-State to prepare them for campus life and balancing coursework with the requirements of a D1 athlete.

But Jones also puts together his own list of resources. It could be somewhere they can get a haircut or a restaurant where an international student-athlete can grab a dish from back home.

Even a first-generation student-athlete like Rivas from right down the road in Hutchinson had to navigate plenty of challenges outside of football when he arrived in Manhattan for his freshman year at K-State.

One of his first questions was about academics, as Rivas began to think about his degree.

He chatted with his sister about choosing a major and sat down with K-State Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Services Bill Banks.

"That helped me out a lot with classes and enrolling," Rivas said. "I was originally a marketing major, but then I realized that I like working with money and the stock market. When I found out that we had Financial Planning as a major, I decided to go that route."

The conversations with his sister highlight something that both Rivas and Jones said is often misunderstood about first-generation student-athletes: that they come from a family without anyone who graduated from college.

"It's just about two of your parents. It doesn't mean that there isn't anybody in your family with a college education," Jones said. "I was a first-generation student, and we had a summer bridge program that helped me get acclimated, but we have even more resources here at K-State."

When K-State Football recruited Rivas, the Wildcats weren't just focused on his football ability.

Rivas said plenty of those early conversations were about the importance of respect on and off the field and bringing great character into the team.

That's even more important as the Wildcats develop a program where first-generation student-athletes feel supported and confident that they can turn to anyone in the building for support.

For Jones, especially in 2020, that means never underestimating the impact of one-on-one meetings.

"Learning specialists and academic counselors can help in a different way, but for me, it's the social piece of it," he said. "Your experience wasn't thinking that you would come to college and not be able to socialize with anybody. Not even go to the movies. Really, it's just trying to make sure they're having a good experience, what are they missing and how can I help?"

After the final home game of the season against Texas, Rivas and his teammates stuck around in Manhattan for two weeks of practice and workouts while K-State awaits their bowl fate.

That also means hosting team activities, from kickball and laser tag to community service events.

It's moments like these, Rivas said, that are so important for creating a culture where every first-generation student-athlete knows they have somewhere to turn.

"Some people would say, 'They probably don't know how college works,' because for some people that comes from parents, uncles and aunts," Rivas said. "If you go to the right college, your coaches and friends, anybody can turn into family. They can help you out."

Kansas State University Athletics

SE: First-Gen Student-Athletes Find Unique Challenges, Opportunities at K-State

Players Mentioned

Josh Rivas

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