Making Mom Proud: USD Alumnus and Avera Leader Reflects on Experience as a First-Gen Student
Berberovic was born in Bosnia but fled to Germany with his mother when he was three years old to escape war. During the six years he and his mother lived in Germany, they spent a significant portion of that time living in a refugee camp. Then, they moved to Sioux Falls, and Berberovic has considered South Dakota his home ever since.
Berberovic's father had died in the Bosnian War when Berberovic was only three years old. His mother did not obtain a college degree but imagined a brighter future with more opportunities for her son. As the first in his family to have college presented as a feasible option, Berberovic felt inspired to create a life that never seemed possible and make his mother proud.
“My mom inspired me to go to college,” he said. “She always wanted to make sure that I had a life that I could have never had had we stayed in Bosnia. Part of that life meant that I would be highly encouraged to seek post-secondary education.”
Pursuing a college degree was not always easy, though, and Berberovic faced challenges like navigating the FASFA and scholarship process and knowing what to bring to campus on move-in day – all first-time experiences for both Berberovic and his mother. However, whenever Berberovic had a challenge, USD met him with support from friends and mentors.
“My life was changed at USD,” said Berberovic. “Not only that, but also my mom’s life was changed. While I was at USD, she didn’t have to work three jobs, but instead could work incredibly hard at two jobs, knowing that I would be fine on campus.”
When thinking about the support that got him through his educational journey at USD, Berberovic remembers the people. He remembers the mentors that guided him, the professors that inspired him and the peers that supported him.
“I met my deepest friends in life at USD and had countless mentors who provided me the support that someone who came into college as a first-generation student and from a single-parent household would not otherwise experience,” Berberovic said.
“On campus I learned that you can be your authentic self. You could be extremely kind and outgoing, and people would respect that – in fact, they would embrace that,” he continued. “USD is a place where those qualities are celebrated. I think that helped me every step of my college journey and beyond.”
Berberovic received his bachelor’s degree in media & journalism from USD in 2011. During his time at the state’s flagship university, he was heavily involved across campus and pursued leadership opportunities whenever they were made available to him.
He served as the president of Dakotathon, was involved in Alternative Week of Learning and helped lead as a Student Ambassador. He also helped with summer orientation through Coyote Crew, was a technology fellow for the Department of History and got involved in Greek Life through the Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) fraternity. Berberovic was also crowned Dakota Days king in 2010.
“I’m humbled by the experiences I was offered at USD,” Berberovic said. “I learned that we, in our lifetimes, are custodians of amazing causes and organizations for a short period of time, and if we pour our hearts into those experiences, we can truly leave them better than how we found them."
“When you’re a first-generation student, you don’t always know how important co-curricular involvement is. For me, it would not have been possible had I not met the people I did while on campus," he continued. "They saw something in me that I likely did not see in myself. They encouraged me to get involved, and I’m really thankful that I did.”
Berberovic always knew he wanted to give back and work in the non-profit sector. “In many ways, I was blessed early on to figure out my life’s work because of the experiences I had,” he said.
“Philanthropy and generous individuals were part of my life’s journey and part of some of the most pivotal moments in my life,” he continued. “My journey, especially my experience as a first-generation student, informed my passion in life – which is to help people.”
Now, Berberovic gives back every day through his position as chief philanthropy officer at Avera Health, where he leads the health system's philanthropic efforts across the organization.
In multiple capacities, Berberovic also gives back to people in his community who are walking the same path he walked. He is involved in The Banquet, which is the largest feeding ministry in South Dakota, and is a trustee of the Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation. He is also on the global board of directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), a professional association of individuals and organizations that generate philanthropic support for a wide variety of charitable institutions.
He gives back to the university he used to call home by serving on the Advisory Board for the College of Arts & Sciences, and he and his wife Kelsey established a scholarship endowment at USD to help future generations of Coyotes.
“USD today is just as special to me as it was many years ago when I toured the campus,” Berberovic said. “I not only found the person who I was meant to be, but I met people who saw potential in me. They made my life better."
After everything he has accomplished so far in his life, Berberovic wants to remind other first-generation students that where they come from has nothing to do with where they’re going.
"My mom recently told me that never in her dreams could she have imagined that I would go from fleeing a war at three years old to being in the position that I'm in right now," Berberovic said. "For her to see that her child is serving in the leadership role I serve in now shows that education can change everything in one generation. It is humbling.
“That’s the power of a college degree and relationships formed at USD,” he continued.
Read more first-generation student stories.
