Alumni Spotlight

“Honoring a life of tradition, I established my purpose to be the one in a new generation to create a new life for my family and me. My family’s legacy is what motivates me to strive for the best I can in my lifetime. I aspire to be a first-generation female to attend college and enter aerospace engineering. I am reminded to put in the work ethic every day in my academics to be able to earn the opportunity to reach the stars my family’s generations have lived under.”

This image was taken from the AZALAS Celebrating the Senior Scholarship Recipients of 2024 publication.

I graduated from UH in 2013 and went on to study supply chain management at ASU. While I was at ASU, I started working for Starbucks as a barista, and I’m hoping to join Starbucks corporate office after finishing. I’m grateful for all I was able to learn while at UH. The chance to give back to this community every year via the Annie Lewis Scholarship is the accomplishment I’m most proud of.

Daniel Rodriguez graduated from University High School in 2020. He went on to attend Colgate University in New York. After graduating he began to work on the election campaign for Ruben Gallego. Since Gallego was elected in November, Daniel has accepted a permanent position with Outreach as part of Senator Gallego’s staff.

After I graduated from UH back in 2010, I went on to attend Loras College and graduated with a degree in sociology and social work in 2014. After graduating, I worked as a behavioral coach for a non-profit for about a year before transitioning to case management work and court-ordered treatment for Valle Del Sol. I received my master’s degree in social work in 2022 from GCU after so many years of working in the field and gaining different experiences. 

Prior to working for UH as their school social worker, I worked with an organization called The Arizona Pet Project, which helped me work with both pets and people. I wanted to come back to UH to help students not only accomplish their goals and dreams, but also to provide them a safe space to be themselves. By being back at UH, I hope to provide students with the same help I received when I attended.

I graduated from University High School in 2022. I am a first-generation immigrant about to graduate from Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a minor in Business Analytics. University High School has taught me the value of hard work and perseverance, and my commitment to learning and growing is all thanks to the wonderful teachers and counselor at UH. It is thanks to them that I have been successful since leaving UH, and every day I am reminded of that old phrase from our graduating class – “Get up, get after it!”

Since leaving UH, I have become a member of Tolleson Community Coalition – a wonderful nonprofit organization based in Tolleson, dedicated to helping and serving the local community. I have also served as an intern with Aliento – an Arizona-based nonprofit organization dedicated to serving and empowering immigrant students and families through storytelling, advocacy, and education. I also served as the Event Coordinator and Vice President for the Canyon Dreamers Club at GCU – a club dedicated to building a community for mixed-immigration-status students on campus. Additionally, I am the owner and founder of Tres Rios Valley Pool & Tile, a small and growing company specializing in pool service and maintenance, as well as pool tile installation and repair. Every day, I am reminded of the work ethic and the dedication I forged at UH, as well as the wonderful people there who supported me along my journey. I will continue to remember and honor them as I move forward and find new ways to harness the power of my dreams.