As First Ascent Scholars Program participants, administrators, and supporters gathered Saturday afternoon for their annual End of Year Celebration, those in attendance paid tribute to students’ refusal to let disadvantageous circumstances in their backgrounds prove impediments to their success.

First Ascent (FA) is a scholarship program that enables academically focused students with significant financial need to attend the David Eccles School of Business, and to connect with the University of Utah as well as the local and global communities while reaching their full academic potential.

In between opening remarks from Program Manager Cisco Lopez and closing remarks from Belonging Cohorts Director Erica Rojas, First Ascent founders Jeff and Helen Cardon noted that this was the program’s 10th year and praised the 90% graduation rate of this fourth-year cohort. In thanking all parents, board members, mentors, and students, Helen Cardon pointed out that it truly takes a village to ensure student success.

A recurring theme of the student testimonials was heartfelt gratitude to program donors, staff, et cetera, for giving them such a life-changing opportunity. Before receiving their graduation stoles, some students were brought to tears as they also reflected on the challenges they faced, the bonds they forged, and the memories they made during their time together, all of which helped them become a family of sorts.

Emmanuel Okongo, the student selected to give an address at the event, took attendees on a journey through time, recalling the moment the group first came together under one roof, as well as an infamous camping trip in Moab in which a rappelling excursion was thrown into chaos by two participants’ fear of heights. He made the point that despite there being a dozen different backgrounds and personalities at play, and despite all their inherent differences, the cohort soon became inseparable.

“We felt like the new kids on the block, and the campus was our oasis,” Okongo said. “If you saw us, we would resemble a small pack of penguins just wandering around like no one’s business.”

In the ensuing years, they no longer all lived together, but the bond remained, even as they became less insular and tried out new things, becoming full participants in the college experience. A cohort pep rally experience led to the formation of a group dubbed the “FAvrites,” clubs were joined (and in some cases formed), majors were switched, relationships began and ended … And at this year’s senior retreat came the collective understanding that a chapter in their story was about to end, and the rest of their lives soon awaited them.

“At the core of it all, we were navigating that pivotal space between college life and adulthood, doing our best to prepare for the responsibilities we knew were just around the corner,” Okongo said.

Now, they will go their separate ways. Some have jobs lined up. Others will pursue graduate or law degrees. But regardless of what comes next, they vowed they would never forget the experience that united them — even if they sometimes drove each other nuts.

Okongo singled out each of the other graduating cohort members for their accomplishments: Diane Bahati, Nyayeek Deng, Dieumerci Kasemire, Sha Kler, Jesus Martinez-Rodriguez, Edith Molina, Jorisi Nsemgeyezu, Anwar Shelali, Jharna Subedi, and Brendan Tsang.

He also addressed First Ascent Scholars to come, imploring them not to be afraid to fail; to be willing to learn from others with different viewpoints and perspectives; to get out of their comfort zones and get involved; and to remember their roots, which are not baggage, but a foundation to grow from.

Okongo also made it a point to thank First Ascent’s board, donors, and directors, who make a higher education possible for the students admitted to the program.

“You have changed the lives of numerous people through your generosity. You have given us a chance to dream,” he said. “The privilege of having our education paid for is something most of us could never imagine, but you made it real.”

In a separate interview, Okongo — a marketing major with a minor in philosophy — grew philosophical about his past four years with the First Ascent Scholars Program, and how it blew away whatever expectations he had coming in.

“It completely changed my life for the better. I thought it was just going to be like another four years of high school — just at a bigger place, where you just can completely disappear, walk to class, go home, do whatever,” he said. “But they opened the doors to so many things that allowed us to do a lot of things outside of just a classroom, to do things outside First Ascent. They helped us with internships, mentorships, and just seeing a completely different world that we as immigrants, as first-gen students, thought was impossible. And I’ll forever be grateful for that.”

Congratulations to our First Ascent Graduates!

• Diane Bahati – Political Science BS; Business Administration Minor
• Nyayeek Deng – Marketing; BS
• Dieumerci Kasemire – Health, Society, and Policy, BS
• Sha Kler – Marketing, BS; Information Systems Minor
• Jesus Martinez-Rodriguez – Operations & Supply Chain, BS; Information Systems Minor
• Edith Molina – Accounting, BS; Information Systems Minor
• Jorisi Nsemgeyezu, International Studies, BS
• Emmanuel Okongo – Marketing, BS; Philosophy Minor
• Anwar Shelali – Accounting, BS; Business Administration Minor
• Jharna Subedi – Political Science, BS; Business Administration Minor
• Brendan Tsang – Operations & Supply Chain, BS; Information Systems, BS

The First Ascent Scholars Program cultivates, encourages, and enables academically focused students with significant financial need to attend the Eccles School and connect with the University of Utah community while reaching their full academic potential. For more information, visit Eccles.Link/first-ascent.