The University of Iowa Eight Over 80 Award

A first-generation student from small-town beginnings finds community and success at Iowa. PHOTO: John Emigh Hawkeye Marching Band section leader Clayton Garmon reflects on navigating the first-generation college experience and looks forward to a promising engineering career. Clayton Garmon (24BSE) grew up in the 100-person town of Floris, Iowa, thinking more about the family farm than college. However, his parents saw his growing passion for the sciences and encouraged him to explore what life could look like with a degree. This led Garmon through the complicated college application process. He navigated surprise fees, complex finances, and confusing requirements—and after being accepted to the University of Iowa, he did it all again while applying for financial aid and coordinating his living arrangements. “The most difficult thing was looking at the different aid packages,” Garmon says. “It was confusing, but Iowa’s financial aid department helped me straighten it out.” His next challenge was making the move from a small farming town to the constant noise and action of Iowa City. He felt overwhelmed by its sheer size—and by the prospect of meeting so many strangers—after being around familiar faces his whole life. “My family had been in Floris for generations,” says Garmon. “Taking that step forward, and leaving them behind, was daunting.” Despite those fears, he quickly discovered a love for Iowa City’s many offerings and events. He also found community, close friendships, and unforgettable experiences through his involvement in the Hawkeye Marching Band. “The Hawkeye Marching Band was my family, and my happy place was on the field at Kinnick,” he says. As he adjusted to college life, Garmon took advantage of Iowa’s First Gen Hawks program, which connected him to a variety of campus resources—everything from tutoring services to student health—that helped him succeed in and out of the classroom. In addition, he led the Hawkeye Marching Band’s sousaphone section and completed several engineering internships. These opportunities prepared him for his current role in crafting sustainable energy solutions as a mechanical engineer at Design Engineers, of Madison, Wis. He also is pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan. “I felt like a whole new person after being at the University of Iowa,” he says. “It helped me step into leadership roles and become confident in myself.”