By Amos Chukwudi
Nigerian scholar and PhD candidate, Ugochukwu Madu, has been named the recipient of the highly selective 2024–2025 1stGen@Iowa Award for First-Generation Student Achievement by the University of Iowa’s Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.
The award, presented during a formal ceremony on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the Iowa Memorial Union International Ballroom, is conferred annually on only two students: one undergraduate and one graduate or professional student from the university’s 6,117 first-generation student population. The recognition highlights exceptional academic performance, ambitious goal-setting, and demonstrated impact on campus and in the wider society.
Madu, who is pursuing a PhD in Mass Communication with a Health Communication concentration, was nominated by the University of Iowa Dean for Graduate Development and Postdoctoral Affairs Dr. Jennifer Teitle, Prof. David Dowling, Prof. Brian Ekdale, and Prof. Rachel Young, who endorsed and praised his dedication to mentoring other first-generation students, both locally and globally. His award was formally presented in the presence of University President Dr. Barbara Wilson, who addressed the audience and posed for photographs with this year’s honorees.
The 1stGen@Iowa Award celebrates students who not only excel academically but also pave the way for others from similar backgrounds. Madu’s perfect GPA, multiple awards, advocacy and mentorship work primarily through LinkedIn, where he shares scholarship opportunities and graduate school insights with thousands of prospective applicants was a core part of his nomination. His efforts have helped numerous international students, especially from Africa, gain admission and full funding into top global universities.
While giving his award acceptance speech, Madu said: “To my fellow first-generation students, I dedicate this award to you. Let’s continue to lift each other up and create opportunities for our generation and the next.”
The University of Iowa has a total enrollment of 32,199 students and 19% of that number are first-generation students and scholars. Madu’s meritorious selection from Iowa’s 6,117 first-generation student population underscores both the competitive nature of the award and the far-reaching influence of first-generation scholars who defy odds to achieve academic distinction and societal impact.
The university defines first-generation students as those whose parents or legal guardians did not complete a four-year college degree. The 1stGen@Iowa program aims to support this segment of the student population through awards, leadership development, and community recognition.
