Marching toward success
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 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,” says the fifth-year mechanical engineering student. “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 is my family, and my happy place is on the field at Kinnick,” he says.
As he adjusted to college life, Garmon also 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 have helped him succeed in and out of the classroom.
Today, Garmon leads the band’s sousaphone section and has completed several mechanical engineering internships. These opportunities have prepared him to fulfill his goals after graduation: to develop sustainable energy solutions for the Design Engineers firm and to pursue a master’s degree in energy systems engineering.
“I feel like a whole new person after being at the University of Iowa,” he says. It’s helped me step into leadership roles and become confident in myself.”
