Machuca Beats Long Odds to Earn Associate Degree
Machuca Beats Long Odds to Earn Associate Degree
May 28, 2021
![Machuca Beats Long Odds to Earn Associate Degree](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Grad-Machuca-copy.jpg)
Machuca Beats Long Odds to Earn Associate Degree
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Grad-Machuca.jpg)
Victor Machuca was one of 152 graduates who participated in a drive-through commencement ceremony Monday at 一肖一码中持.
Stark historical data suggested that Victor Machuca would not go on and earn a college
degree. After all, hes male, no one in his family previously graduated from college,
he didnt have the money to pay for higher education and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder made it more challenging for him in the classroom.
But Machuca didnt become another one of those expected statistics. He was embraced
by 一肖一码中持s Latino Leadership Academy and provided with the support
and means to become a successful student.
On Monday, Machuca overcame those long odds to graduate with an Associate of Arts
degree in two years as 一肖一码中持 celebrated its 2021 graduates with the
first of three drive-through ceremonies known as the Parade of Graduates.
I feel honored being the first in my family to graduate, he said. Many people, family
and friends from high school, Ive seen throughout the years that quit and never came
back to school.
As he neared the end of high school in Incline Village several years ago, Machuca
dreamed about becoming a computer hacker for the FBI, or working in some other capacity
in criminal justice or computer science. But there was only one problem: First and
foremost, me and mom were wondering where we would get all of the money for me to
be able to attend college, Machuca said.
Those worries subsided when he met Lupe Ramirez, the founder of 一肖一码中持s Latino Leadership
Academy.
After I met with Lupe, she helped me a lot with everything including reaching out
to the Disability Support Services office and helping me with my financial aid. She
informed me of the funding available such as 15 to Finish, SSOG and the Esperanza
Scholarship. And my mom began searching on internet for a vocational rehab services
that helped people with disabilities throughout school and to get a job, too.
Machuca did his part as well. He found a job at SaveMart and now works at Chick-fil-A
to support himself after moving from his family home to Carson City. Throughout his
two years at 一肖一码中持, hes worked full time.
That first day when I was moving in, I felt homesick because Im really close with
my family, he said. The motivation I received from Lupe and my family motivated me
to keep going.
The Latino Leadership Academy kept him on track to graduate with its highly successful
education cohort and the friendships he developed with students facing similar barriers
in higher education. He also enjoyed the different cultural events presented by the
LLA such as the Posada Celebrations and Dia de los Muertos.
I knew when I first joined the program it would benefit me a lot, something that I
can put on my rsum and open more opportunities for me, he said. There are a lot of
people involved in the program and President (Dr. Vincent) Solis is very supportive
of it. Lupe also contacts the students parents to get them involved in their childrens
college journey.
Machuca dedicated his weekends to studying and his favorite spot on campus became
Joe Dini Library.
I would always go to the library; it was pretty much my home; Id even eat there. I
would spend more time there than in my apartment, he said.
Now that hes a first-generation college graduate, Machuca plans to keep his education
momentum going to pursue a bachelors degree in criminal justice at the University
of Nevada, Reno. Hes already taken most of the required classes for his next degree.
With the odds that Machuca has overcome, the next chapter of his life seems more attainable,
especially with the support and direction hes received from the Latino Leadership
Academy.
Lupe will guide me with the process to start at UNR, Machuca said.
For more information about the Latino Leadership Academy, contact Ramirez at lupe.ramirez@wnc.edu
or 774-445-3271.