“There was a lot of uncertainty,” says the Argentinian immigrant, “[which made it] kind of hard to focus on school.”

But Lobos was determined to change his path.

He became the first male in his family to graduate from high school — and the first ever to attend college — earning a full-ride scholarship to UCF in 2015.

“I had just got into UCF [and] had no idea what to do,” Lobos says. “I met with one of the [admissions] counselors … [and] she led me to [PRIME STEM].”

First-Generation Student Awareness Week is Nov. 4-8, celebrating the success and achievements of first-generation college students.

Housed on UCF’s main campus, stands for Purpose + Reach = Individuals Measured for Excellence (PRIME). It supports first-generation in college students who demonstrate financial need and/or have a documented disability while pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degrees. Program participants benefit from resources such as priority registration, one-on-one tutoring, peer mentoring, help with financial aid and scholarship applications, research opportunities and more.

“When I didn’t know who to ask for a recommendation letter, I [turned] to PRIME STEM,” Lobos says. “It felt like home. It was somewhere I [could] go when I wanted to chat with my friends or needed some mentoring or tutoring. It was really a beautiful place to be.”

PRIME STEM is one of five federally funded at UCF, each dedicated to educational opportunity and support. Its mission is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants/scholars by helping them transition from one level of higher education to the next.

PRIME STEM,  and the — housed under UCF’s Academic Achievement Programs — are collegiate Student Support Services programs. (through Project ACE and Project EDGE) are pre-collegiate programs that prepare small cohorts of students from Apopka and Edgewater high schools for college success.

“Being able to provide students with resources and connections they otherwise would not have access to is perhaps the single greatest benefit to working on the TRiO team,” says Deborah Bowie, director of UCF’s TRiO Programs. “These students are not only changing their own lives but, through their commitment to higher education and their future careers, they are also changing the trajectory for their families.”

The term “TRIO” was coined in the late 1960s to describe three federal education opportunity outreach programs launched as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty.” Established in 1964, Upward Bound was the first TRiO program — and this year marks its 60th anniversary. UCF launched its first TRiO program in 2010.

PRIME STEM paved the way for many firsts for Lobos. With the program’s support, the first-generation biomedical sciences major secured his first internship in cancer research at Boston ����ֱ�� as a sophomore. He credits this transformative experience with early exposure to advanced technology and complex science, shaping the course of his college journey.

“[It] was the first time I ever left Florida,” Lobos says. “[This internship] was something I never really imagined I could do, but it turned out to be one of the most beautiful experiences of college.”

“Me and my folks came here with just suitcases. Now I’m going to be the first doctor in my family.” — Giuliano Lobos ’19, biomedical sciences and PRIME STEM alum

Since earning his bachelor’s degree from UCF in 2019, Lobos has set his sights on providing compassionate care to people in need. Now in his fourth year at Howard ����ֱ��’s College of Medicine, Lobos says he is grateful for the connections he made through PRIME STEM, which have helped him advance his education. His PRIME STEM tutor played a pivotal role in guiding him toward his purpose in psychiatry. After completing his clinical rotations, he says he realized that every doctor engages with psychiatry in some capacity, which inspired him to specialize in the field.

“I love the science and … how psychiatrists are able to care for … patients in a more holistic way. [ I find] a lot of joy in getting to know [my] patients [and] their stories,” Lobos says.

Graduating med school is just the tip of the iceberg for this budding physician. Next up: positively changing lives and owning psychiatric clinics.

“Me and my folks came here with just suitcases, heavy with dreams. I never thought I was going to graduate high school. Now I’m going to be the first doctor in my family,” Lobos says. “I hope that my journey shows that no matter how tough things are, … persistence always pays off.”

During the event, students were able to evaluate the fit of their personal attributes and abilities with their intended career path, and attended workshops on gaining job experience before graduation and graduate/professional school options.

The academy also featured skill development for networking and elevator pitches offered by UCF Career Services. Students applied these skills during a networking event with more than 35 industry professionals. During a reception sponsored by the Central Florida Research Park Incubator, students connected with physicians, scientists, engineer, and entrepreneurs representing a variety of STEM fields.

“The event provided our students a glimpse at the professional world they will soon join and an opportunity to connect with individuals that are where they aspire to be,” said Amy Bickel, assistant director of PRIME STEM. The success stories of internship interviews, professional mentorship and potential job opportunities are already coming in less than a week after the event, she said.

The PRIME STEM program is designed to increase college retention and graduation rates of first-generation college students, those who are low income or have disabilities, and are pursuing science, technology, engineering or mathematics degrees at UCF. It is a federally funded TRiO program and has been at UCF since 2010.

The 2015-16 PRIME STEM cohort is 86 percent first generation and 73 percent first-generation and low-income. For these students they are not only the first in their families to attend college, but they are often the first to hold a professional position and this is one of the factors that impacts their employment rates post-graduation.

The STEM Career Academy builds on PRIME STEM’s goals and aims to prepare students for the STEM workforce. The hope is that this targeted intervention will mediate the number of first-generation students who graduate but are not employed or under-employed, by boosting career readiness and skill development before they start the job search.

Though this was the pilot year for the STEM Career Academy, the strong industry support and student interest likely will help bring back the program again.

Nicolas Bolanos, a junior majoring in computer science, said: “The STEM Career Academy provided me with great tools to understand my career choices, support offered to me and ways to get involved at UCF.”

The program offers academic support services and resources to assist PRIME STEM scholars to successfully complete a STEM degree. As an advocate for access to higher education, PRIME STEM/Student Support Services is committed to providing the support necessary to empower participants in developing and achieving academic goals. PRIME is an acronym that means Purpose + Reach = Individuals Measured for Excellence.

The program has been very successful since its inception in 2010.:

Program Director Rebekah McCloud attributes the program’s success to an amazing staff and the comprehensive programming provided to participants. “We do everything from helping students to select courses, consider career options, find internships, prepare for interviews, engage in extracurricular activities, create budgets and set goals. Additionally, we provide peer mentoring and individualized tutoring.”

PRIME STEM/Student Support Services is the only STEM program on campus that supports students from freshman through senior year.

National TRiO Day brings awareness to the continuing needs of low-income and first generation students and the thousands of student lives TRiO programs have changed. This year marked the 50th anniversary of the legislation which established the federally funded TRiO programs. The UCF PRIME STEM Program/Student Support Services celebrated National TRiO Day by hosting 50 visitors, students, staff and faculty at a recent reception (sponsored in part by Fairwinds Credit Union) where the City of Orlando presented PRIME STEM Program with a Proclamation.

The reception provided an overview of the TRiO grant programs offered at UCF and the accomplishments of Student Support Services scholars enrolled in the program.

The event highlighted student accomplishments during the 2013-14 academic year. Outstanding Achievement Awards were given to 11 students who earned (4.0-3.6) grade point averages and Merit Awards were awarded to 22 students who earned grade point averages between (3.5-3.0). Outstanding Service Awards and Financial Literacy Awards were presented to 10 scholars. Also, the program recognized outstanding Peer Mentors and Peer Tutors at the event.

Mike Nichola, grant coordinator for Congressman Grayson’s office, was present for the event. He gave special recognition to scholars who demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and leadership by presenting PRIME STEM scholars with Congressional Awards from Congressman Grayson’s office. Thirteen scholars who were presented Congressional Awards were recognized on the UCF dean’s List and President’s Honor Roll this year.

PRIME STEM staff recognized SDES staff and UCF departments. Friends of TRiO Awards were presented to staff that support the goals and mission of TRiO programs at UCF.

The UCF Student Support Services program provides academic advising, mentoring, tutoring, financial literacy instruction and assistance in locating various university resources. Students receive assistance applying for financial aid and scholarships, as well as, graduate and professional schools. Students enrolled in Student Support Services persist, advance, and graduate at higher rates than similar students not enrolled in the program. The program which began in 2010, to date has served 198 students and has graduated 59.

The learning communities are scholar facilitated (and can be aided by PRIME STEM peer tutor and mentor staff). Each community organizes its meetings and participants bring their own study materials. The PRIME STEM/Student Support Services office is available for scholars to use as a resource center including study materials, study spaces, computers, free printing, and access to program tutors and mentors.

The Learning Community also includes study aids for biology, chemistry, trigonometry, calculus and algebra. Additionally, there are study skills materials: time management, note-taking, effective studying techniques, and testing-taking tips and a core group of modules for program participants. Modules include:

“Since we have instituted the learning communities/study groups, we have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of scholars who come into the office to meet with study groups, utilize resources and/or meet with a peer tutor or peer mentor,” said Rebekah McCloud, program director.

For those scholars who prefer to meet virtually, PRIME STEM was recently awarded an Information Fluency grant to expand its web course (PSP1000) through Canvas. In the future, the program will expand the course offerings to develop major-specific virtual learning communities. These communities will be supported by tutors who will deliver assistance virtually. Additionally, this grant will assist the program in developing a number of modules that will address fluency (information, textual, scientific and mechanical).

This initiative began because PRIME STEM staff noticed that students (especially the Biomedical Sciences majors) were changing their majors to Health Sciences and the program was no longer able to service them. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) at the Institute of Education Sciences (US Department of Education) noted that some 28 percent of beginning  bachelor degree students …entered a STEM field at some point during their enrollment…and 48 percent had left these fields by either changing their majors or leaving college altogether without completing a degree or certificate.

“It is imperative that we are proactive in doing all we can to assist our students to pursue a STEM major. I do not want any of them to become a statistic,” said McCloud. “Of the 180 students PRIME STEM has served, to date 32 (17%) have changed their majors. Clearly not as high as NCES reports, this number is still cause for concern, Informal dialogue with PRIME STEM ‘major changers’ revealed that the overwhelming majority changed their majors because they experienced failure with math and sciences courses (most among the GEP), particularly calculus, trigonometry, and chemistry. We are hopeful that these learning communities will help students to increase their academic performance,” McCloud added.

PRIME STEM/Student Support Services is a program in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

“Peer Mentors create a spirit of teamwork in our program by involving our scholars, staff and the UCF campus community” according to Rebekah McCloud, project director.

The goal of SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants. Peer mentors are trained in their role and responsibilities. However, PRIME STEM staff wanted to expand their efforts and offer our peer mentors certification credentials and extensive training. This is a new perspective and opportunity to attract highly motivated mentors into the program and secure greater student and faculty confidence in our services.

PRIME STEM is in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services. The PRIME STEM Peer Mentoring Project is CRLA certified until March 2014. For additional information, contact Student Development and Enrollment Services TRiO Center at 407.823.4165.