Alexis Torres Castro is a first-generation college student at Arizona State University. He is the youngest son of Mexican immigrants. He was born and raised in South Phoenix. His parents are from Guanajuato, Mexico. He is the first in his family to go straight to university after graduating high school. He is currently a third year majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a double minor in Construction Management and Tourism Development and Management. He is the Vice President of his fraternity, Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Incorporated. He loves to listen to music, play video games, work out, and spend time with friends and family.

Vanessa Martinez Arredondo is a student at Mesa High, part of the class of 2025. She comes from a Mexican mother and a Guatemalan father and is the youngest child out of three. She is excited to state that she will be the first to attend college. Her hobbies include exercising, drawing/painting, cooking, baking, playing the piano, french horn, violin, viola, cleaning, and spending time with her friends and family!

Luis Reyes is a first-generation Mexican-American student at Arizona State University. He is studying Political Science and Justice Studies with a minor in Spanish. His mom is from Veracruz, Mexico, and came to the United States seeking better opportunities for myself and for my brother, who is deaf. When he is not attending different events and meetings or catching up on homework, he loves to spend time with friends making Carne Asada or staying home to watch movies and shows. 

Jose Morales graduated from Bioscience High School. His parents are from Durango and Juarez, Mexico. He was born and raised in Phoenix. His hobbies include playing golf and fishing.

Betsy Arcos Juan will be a senior at Mesa High and is part of the class of 2024! She's the youngest of four and her family immigrated from Veracruz, Mexico, in 1999. She was born and raised in Mesa and she loves playing the guitar, skating, drawing, reading, and baking.

Octavio Garcia Ramirez is a junior student at Arizona State University. He is part of a mixed-status family, and his mom is from Mexicali, Baja California. Some of the hobbies he enjoys are cooking, basketball, and walking. Octavio would like to continue promoting higher education in his community.

Xiomara Flores graduated from Mountain View High School. She was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona, and is the oldest of 6 and a first-generation student from a mixed-status family.

Adriana Aguilar, who graduated from Saint Mary’s Catholic High School, is a first-generation student from a mixed-status family. She was born and raised in Phoenix and her hobbies include painting, crocheting, and guitar playing among others.

Miah Gomez, who graduated from Mesa High School, is a first-generation Mexican-American who aspires to major in journalism and political science at UH Manoa.

Daniel Martinez Romero, who graduated from Brophy College Prep, is a young immigration activist. Daniel is part of a mixed-immigration-status family. He draws upon his Latino background to give him perspective on education, immigration, and politics.

Nathalya Galvez, a Senior at Arizona State University, is studying Political Science and Global Studies. She comes from a mixed-status family and was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a first-generation college student that loves listening to music, reading, and exercising during her free time.

I wake up in the morning and the sun brushes my face
As I welcome another day full of dreams left to chase
The further you go the prouder we’ll be
Were the words that my parents said to me

Hello, my name is Hidalty Gonzalez. I am currently a recent graduate from Mountain View high school. I’m from Guatemala and grew up in Mesa, Arizona. I will be attending Grand Canyon University.

Marisol Castro graduated from GCU in December 2023 with her Bachelor’s degree in Government with an emphasis in Legal Studies and minor in Business Management. She enjoys going on early morning hikes, visiting coffee shops around the valley, only doing legs at the gym, practicing nail care, and caring for her plants.

My family is the definition of the American dream. My parents immigrated to the United States to give themselves and their future children a chance at a better life than what they lived. They spent a decade building themselves up.

Marisol Castro graduated from GCU in December 2023 with her Bachelor’s degree in Government with an emphasis in Legal Studies and minor in Business Management. She enjoys going on early morning hikes, visiting coffee shops around the valley, only doing legs at the gym, practicing nail care, and caring for her plants.

My name is Bryanda Moreno Verdugo. I was born in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. My family immigrated to Phoenix when I was two years old and have stayed here ever since. Now I live with my mom and two younger siblings while studying Psychology at GCU, with a full ride scholarship from Dream.US, while waiting for my DACA application to be approved.

Hello! My name is Priscila Romero. I am a 21 year old paving my way through higher education. Currently, I am finishing off my third year at Arizona State University.

For the entirety of my life, I have been continually confronted with political issues related to my citizenship status. My adolescence revolved around the controversial debate of deportation of undocumented immigrants. While my classmates had the opportunity to explore the endless terrain of our country, I longed for the possibility of leaving the four walls of my room.

I began to volunteer with Aliento as a senior in high school to learn more about the work they were doing and was motivated to continue to work with them. While volunteering, I learned about the impact of tuition inequity for undocumented students.