When senior Kaleigh Del Greco started her FYE 101: Succeed at the G course during her freshman year, she made a strong connection with her Peer Academic Leader (PAL).
“I thought it was a really unique opportunity. I never had teaching assistants in class before or someone that met one-on-one with me that genuinely cared about who I was as a student,” Del Greco says.
FYE 101 is a 3-credit course that helps students transition successfully in academic and student life. The PALs serve as mentors, advocates and teaching assistants in the class.
Make an impact
But when a mix of homesickness and the COVID-19 pandemic made Del Greco consider leaving UNCG after her first year; it was her desire to make a difference, like her PAL made for her, that convinced her to stay.
“I came to UNCG for the sole purpose of feeling like I belonged here,” Del Greco says. “When I stepped foot on campus, I loved the diversity, I loved the inclusion I felt. It was a home away from home and I knew that feeling wasn’t going to go anywhere. I wanted to come back because I knew I could make an impact.”
And an impact she has made. Along with becoming a PAL herself, she served on the Spartan Orientation Staff, is the Attorney General for the undergraduate student body, and is the First Year Assistant for First Year Experience.
A Great Role Model
Now, Del Greco is one of five students across the country to receive the Jordan Smith Undergraduate Student Fellowship through the National Resource Center for First Year Experience & Students in Transition.
“I cried when I found out I got the fellowship. I was so excited,” says Del Greco. “It was a whirlwind of emotions.”
In February, Del Greco attended the Annual Conference on the First Year Experience in Los Angeles at no-cost.
Photo courtesy: Kaleigh Del Greco
“The fellowship is all about recognizing the recipient’s ongoing commitment and dedication to our first year students and also the commitment to themselves,” says Emily Wiersma, the director of First Year Experience at UNCG. “Kaleigh is just exemplary in everything she does. She’s a great role model and example of exactly what we are trying to do with FYE.”
It was a full circle moment for Del Greco as she made a presentation on the PAL program with her original FYE instructor Mackenzie Radford.
“I had fun sharing my experience as an undergraduate student because I think that perspective was not only needed but appreciated when thinking about how you work with undergraduate students in student leadership,” Del Greco says.
The conference was also a positive networking opportunity, allowing Del Greco to interact with higher education professionals. Right now, Del Greco is working toward a bachelor of arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Psychology. But, her next steps are graduate studies in higher education.
“I want to supervise a full team of student leaders; develop them, train them, and create a curriculum for a program like FYE,” says Del Greco.
And it all goes back to making an impact. After graduation, she may not be on the UNCG campus, but UNCG gave her the skills to make a difference for future students.
SEE HOW UNCG HELPS FIRST YEAR STUDENTS THRIVE!
Story by Avery Craine Powell, University Communications
Photos by Sean Norona, University Communications
