Value In Education
Natalia Reyes '18
To help students like Natalia, make your gift here.
Natalia Reyes has set the bar high this semester by taking advantage of the opportunities around her. As an English major concentrating in broadcasting, Natalia loves to network and connect with those in her community. Through the generosity of the Hardman Family Endowment, Natalia has already networked with New York Times’ writer Nicholas Kristof and MSNBC correspondent Joy Reid. She says her experience with these two speakers has inspired her to continue developing her skills while at MCLA so that when she graduates she will have the tools to pursue the same level of success when it’s her time to work in the industry.
Natalia identifies herself as a confident, independent individual, characteristics she believes MCLA’s close-knit community fosters in its students. Natalia feels that her education at MCLA is culturally driven, and she credits this wide range of knowledge as a foundation for her life. She says, “MCLA offers every opportunity I could possibly need to accomplish my dream”, and believes her aspirations are not far from reach because of her drive to succeed, something that is encouraged and nourished by the faculty, staff, students and alumni who have inspired her.
When Natalia has the opportunity to speak to alumni, she thoroughly enjoys the stories each of them has to share. On behalf of her education and experiences, Natalia thrives to ensure a relationship is built between students and post-graduates. She recognizes how this connection can bring the College community to life because it extends support both within and beyond the campus. She aspires to be an alum who will take responsibility and give back what opportunities were given to her and believes achievement is most satisfying when people of the community accomplish it together.
During her time at MCLA, Shadea has fully embraced the many opportunities available to her, participating in theatre, the WJJW Radio Station, and Dance Company. This semester, Shadea is embarking on what may be “one of the most rewarding experiences of her life,” studying abroad at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas. While there she will be taking classes in English, Communications, and Theatre, auditioning for their dance team, and exploring opportunities with the University’s radio station. Shadea’s study abroad experience was made possible through the National Student Exchange Program and was funded by applying her financial aid awards from MCLA.
Shadea is just one example of the impact financial aid makes. Did you know that 46% percent of all MCLA students were eligible for Federal Pell Grants last year and that 90% of all MCLA students applied for financial aid? Due to this increasingly pressing need, this year the College has introduced a special scholarship initiative to help increase funds available to our students and their families. The need is greater now than ever before. When you give to the Alumni Fund, you are making it possible for MCLA’s students, like Shadea, to begin and complete their journey; allowing them to fulfill their dreams and discover their passions.
Kenneth Rivera '19
Natalia Reyes, returning Phonathon caller, sets the bar high this semester by taking advantage of the opportunities around her. As an English major concentrated in broadcasting, Natalia loves to network and connect with those in her community. During her time at MCLA, Natalia has already networked with New York Times’ writer Nicholas Kristof and correspondent Joy Reid from MSNBC. She claims her experience with the two has encouraged her to pursue the same level of success when it’s her time to work in the industry.
Fortunately, Natalia’s confidence stems from her appreciation for MCLA’s close-knit community that enables her personal as well as professional growth and development. Natalia identifies herself as an independent individual, and she believes the College invites its students to assume this notion of freedom. Similarly, Natalia trusts that her education at MCLA is culturally driven, and she credits this wide range of knowledge as a foundation for her life.
She says, “MCLA offers every opportunity I could possibly need to accomplish my dream,” and said aspiration isn’t far from reach because Natalia is ambitious when it comes to achievement.
As a returning Phonathon caller, Natalia is familiar with the program’s initiative to promote student success. Although she is aware of the program’s efforts to raise donations for scholarship aid, Natalia acknowledges Phonathon’s greater purpose: reciprocity. On behalf of her education and experiences, Natalia works with Phonathon to ensure a relationship is built between students and post-graduates.
When she speaks to alumni over the phone, Natalia thoroughly enjoys the stories each of them have to share. She recognizes how this connection can bring the College community to life because it extends support both within and outside the campus. She aspires to be an alum who will take responsibility and give back what opportunities were given to her. Natalia believes achievement is most satisfying when accomplished together.