Trailblazers: the impact first-generation students have on Warrington
At the Warrington College of Business, there are over 150 first-generation students. The term first-generation refers to someone whose parents or guardians did not receive a four-year college degree.
Kevin Bencomo, Elaine Buteau and Umar Lodhi are just three first-generation Business Gators who have taken on leadership roles to uplift their fellow peers. Read how these trailblazers are giving back while pursuing their degree.
Kevin Bencomo, BSAc ’27, Co-Founding President of First-Generation Business Leaders
When Kevin Bencomo (BSAc ’27) started his journey at the University of Florida at 17 years old, he didn’t know what to expect.
“I remember my parents dropping me off and I was scared,” Bencomo said.
He participated in the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars program’s summer camp that gave him an opportunity to meet other incoming first-generation freshman in the program, receive a peer mentor, network with faculty and attend educational workshops.
There, Bencomo said, “I really found my people.”
He dove headfirst into opportunities for first-generation students, including the First-Generation Leadership Program.
However, after attending Business Bash with fellow first-generation freshman Shane Allicock (BSAc ‘27), the duo realized there weren’t opportunities available for first-generation business students.
So, they made one.
Bencomo and Allicock founded First-Generation Business Leaders (FGBL) together, an organization with a mission to equip first-generation business students with mentorship, networking opportunities and access to real-world leadership.
FGBL allows students to “[connect] with peers that have like-minded interests and [face similar] difficulties throughout their college experience,” Bencomo said.
The organization currently has between fifteen and twenty members and is open to all students planning to pursue a major or minor in the Warrington College of Business.
This past spring, Bencomo was awarded the “Bright Idea Award” at the Heavener Gator Globes for First-Generation Business Leaders.
“Being a leader and a mentor has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me,” he said. “Not only because I’ve gotten to develop my skills personally, but I’ve also had that impact on [other] people.”
To him, being first generation means “breaking down barriers while building a bridge simultaneously.”
In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in wealth management to help others in his community strengthen their financial literacy.
He encourages his fellow peers to be curious and ambitious.
“We are at such a pivotal time in our lives that we can literally create anything,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to ask [questions and] definitely don’t do it alone.”
Elaine Buteau, BSBA Information Systems ’28, First-Generation Leadership Program Graduate
For Elaine Buteau (BSBA Information Systems ’28), being a part of first-generation leadership organizations has given her the drive, clarity and confidence to be who she is.
As a freshman, she participated in the First-Generation Leadership Program. This two-semester long program provides mentorship, networking opportunities and access to real-world leadership experiences for first-generation students.
“In the first semester, the focus was on [helping] us transition into college life,” Buteau explained. “We explored topics like time management, campus resources, personal identity and impostor syndrome, which gave me a strong foundation and helped me feel more confident navigating a new environment.”
In the second semester, members had the opportunity to learn how to grow as leaders and give back.
“I met some incredible people who truly understood the first-generation journey,” she said.
To Buteau, being first-generation means carrying both pride and a sense of responsibility.
“It’s about honoring my family’s sacrifices so I could be in this position, while also breaking cycles and opening doors for myself and for those who will come after me,” she said. “It’s a constant balance between learning and leading.”
Buteau’s motivation for leadership is personal.
“I want to create clarity where there is confusion and direction where there is doubt,” Buteau said. “That’s why leadership matters to me. Not because I need recognition, but because I know what it’s like to feel lost, and I don’t want others to go through that alone.”
Beyond the First-Generation Leadership Program, Buteau continues to build her foundation. She currently serves as secretary for First-Generation Business Leaders, where she helps structure meetings, manage communications and foster a sense of community.
Buteau has also attended career expo workshops hosted by the Warrington College of Business, which she credits for improving her professional skills.
“From refining my elevator pitch, learning how to approach recruiters or getting feedback on my resume, those sessions [also] helped build confidence.”
In the future, she hopes to work in a space where she can help solve everyday problems with technology. While she’s still exploring what path she wants to take, “I know I want to be in a role where strategy, innovation and impact intersect.”
She encourages her fellow peers to take initiative.
“Don’t wait until you feel ready, start where you are,” she said. “Being first gen means you bring a different kind of grit, creativity and drive to the table. That’s not something to hide, it’s something to lead with.”
Umar Lodhi, BSBA Finance ’27, Machen Florida Opportunity Scholar Peer Mentor
For Umar Lodhi (BSBA Finance ’27), the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholar Program offered him a support system.
“[The program provides] a lot of resources and an entire network of people that are there to help you,” he said.
The MFOS program was established in 2006 and supports low-income undergraduate students who are the first in their families to attend college.
“It’s definitely allowed me to grow for the better,” Lodhi said.
As a freshman, he received a student mentor who was a fellow Business Gator that offered him academic advice and social direction.
“That person was in my shoes just a year [before],” he said. “It was better than talking to a teacher or professor because they could relate to [me].”
The following year, Lodhi opted to take on the role of a mentor to give back to the program and his fellow first-generation Warrington peers.
Like the support he received, as a mentor, Lodhi would check in with them regularly, meet monthly, provide them with resources and offer his perspective on classes or coursework.
“By doing that, I was being a leader for them, but I was also growing with them,” Lodhi said. “It was an experience for me to lead and I felt like I learned just as much as [they did].”
As a first-generation student, Lodhi understands the importance of giving back.
“My brother and I now have a duty to drive generational change,” he said. “I felt lucky enough to be the first, but that comes with a responsibility.”
In addition to his role as a peer mentor in MFOS, Lodhi served as the vice president for First Generation Business Leaders and as an Industrials Sector Associate for Diversified Invested Student Securities (DISS) Capital Inc., a student managed investment fund.
He’s passionate about financial analysis and valuation and plans to pursue that in the future.
For his fellow first-generation peers, he encourages them to “stick with it.”
“In any goal that you set for yourself, there are thousands of spots for you to give up and fail,” he said. “It’s crucial that you stick to a plan [and] learn to control how you let failure affect you.”
