Realizing the Dream
Congratulations to these Realizing the Dream Recipients!
Realizing a dream takes commitment, hard work, and, most often, a helping hand from family and others. And that’s exactly what these students from Indiana’s 29 private, non-profit colleges and universities are celebrating.
These students have realized the dream of being the first in their families to attend college, have been selected by their colleges for outstanding achievement in the freshman year, and are successfully advancing towards completing their bachelor’s degrees. Each recipient shares what it means to them to be a first-generation college student and gives thanks to an influential educator in the videos below. Click here to read the press release.
REALIZING THE DREAM RECIPIENTS
Elliandra Christina Gonzalez
College: Anderson University
Most Influential Educator: Alaina Kent, Indiana Connections Academy
Abbie Suiter
College: Bethel University
Most Influential Educator: Deborah Yoder, Elkhart Christian Academy
Brianna Copenhaver
College: Butler University
Most Influential Educator: Stephen Blackburn, Promise Road Elementary School
AnnaMaria Hernandez
College: Calumet College of St. Joseph
Most Influential Educator: Wendy Akers, Area Career Center (Hammond)
Jeremy Espinoza
College: DePauw University
Most Influential Educator: Elise Maller, Weisser Park School
Diana Santiago-Cruz
College: Earlham College
Most Influential Educator: Tre Ronne, Richmond High School
Darian Porter
College: Franklin College
Most Influential Educator: Knetra Shaw, Lincoln School
Bryan A. Moreno
College: Goshen College
Most Influential Educator: Matthew P. James, Goshen High School
DaZhané Jones
College: Grace College
Most Influential Educator: Alicia Hervey, The PATH School
Mya Urba
College: Hanover College
Most Influential Educator: Jason Bousman, Westfield High School
Julian Garcilazo
College: Holy Cross College
Most Influential Educator: Andrea Smolinski, Saint Joseph High School
Olivia Grace Markley
College: Huntington University
Most Influential Educator: Mark Buzzard, Huntington North High School
Jaelyn Fox
College: Indiana Institute of Technology
Most Influential Educator: Jordan Turner, Churubusco Jr/Sr High school
Jaileen Diaz
College: Indiana Wesleyan University
Most Influential Educator: Trinitie Braner, Portage High School
Valeria Jimenez
College: Manchester University
Most Influential Educator: Kristopher Walker, Tippecanoe Valley High School
Luis Oviedo
College: Marian University
Most Influential Educator: Jason Hendrickson, North Central High School Career Center
Khloye V. Stickland
College: Oakland City University
Most Influential Educator: Gary Horrall, Waldo J. Wood Memorial High School
Courtney Valmore
College: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Most Influential Educator: Jillian Pualen, Herron high School
Isabell Coryea
College: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Most Influential Educator: Shane Abrell, Plainfield High School
Hannah Stewart
College: Saint Mary’s College
Most Influential Educator: Bobbi Hall, Westchester Intermediate School
Kelsey Denison
College: Taylor University
Most Influential Educator: Jennifer Knarr, Blackhawk Middle School
Kristen Azzue
College: Trine University
Most Influential Educator: Susan Zuber, DeKalb High School (retired)
Jenna Littlejohn
College: University of Evansville
Most Influential Educator: Bridget Lester, The Indiana Academy for Science
Mariana Fletes-Cuevas
College: University of Indianapolis
Most Influential Educator: Jennifer Teague, Shelbyville Central Schools
Gavin Wade Ealey
College: University of Notre Dame
Most Influential Educator: Alicia Baumgartner, Bishop Luers High School
Elma Cehic
College: University of St. Francis
Most Influential Educator: Greg Novak, Canterbury School
Fatima Garcia
College: Valparaiso University
Most Influential Educator: James Asbury, Portage High School
Richard Pan
College: Wabash College
Most Influential Educator: Anita Harris, Mollie B. Hoover Elementary