Steven Lopez

October 16, 2024

Steven Lopez’s migrant parents beamed with pride as they dropped him off for his first year at Stanford University—in the same region of California which they had picked fruit from years before to make a living. Appreciating the sacrifices and hard work of his parents to give him a better life and opportunities, Lopez dedicated […]


Rossy Perales

October 16, 2024

Rossy Belle Perales pursues opportunities with great confidence and inspiration from the quote, “Shoot for the moon. Even If you miss you will land among the stars.” Identifying herself with the people of Puerto Rico, her native land, and with the Hispanic community of Houston, Ms. Perales has embraced the culture and traditions of both […]


Paul Afnan

October 16, 2024

With encouragement toward higher education from his El Salvadorian mother, Paul Afnan earned a bachelor’s degree in conservation and resources studies and made the dean’s list with a 4.0 GPA at the University of California, Berkeley. He knew he wanted to make a difference in people’s health. So he interned with a scientific agency in […]


Ramon Torres

October 16, 2024

Ramon Conception Torres, who experienced disparities and discrimination in his home town in Puerto Rico and the U.S., can sympathize with minorities’ struggles. Growing up in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, as a vivacious child without much adult supervision, Torres often found himself in mischief. Finding grace in the eyes of a security guard, his […]


Roger Figueroa

October 16, 2024

Puerto Rico native Roger Figueroa could be called a modern-day pioneer. With limited resources and limited knowledge of English, he ventured to the U.S. seeking better career opportunities and a better life. He’s already having great success, completing his master’s degree in health and kinesiology at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and […]


Melawhy Garcia

October 16, 2024

Melawhy Garcia was just 17 when her mother was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure and colon cancer—unfortunately giving her firsthand knowledge of the income, insurance and other barriers faced by Latino cancer patients. Since then, Garcia has put cancer in her crosshairs. Garcia already has helped conduct research and awareness on cervical cancers and other […]


Lizbeth Del Toro

October 16, 2024

Puerto Rican native Lizbeth Del Toro was always encouraged by her sharp-as-a-tack grandmother, who advised her to hang with the right crowd, do her chores, and stay focused on her grades and her studies. Her grandmother passed away shortly after being diagnosed with cancer in 2010. But Del Toro took her advice to heart as […]


Lizette Rangel

October 16, 2024

Lizette Rangel, who grew up in a low-income Latino community, had two life choices. The easy choice: A life of gangs, early pregnancy, poverty and a daily struggle to live. The hard choice: A life of difficult study and education. Fortunately, Rangel chose the hard path, embraced a “nerd” attitude and devoted herself to studying […]


Jeanette Mendez

October 16, 2024

Jeanette Mendez isn’t only a new mother. Mendez, who has 1-year-old daughter, is making contributions to clinical research at her job and proving that a Latina can enter motherhood and still pursue career goals. “When she was born it reminded me of my grandmother, who did pass away from cancer. It reminded me of the […]


Jenny Castillo

October 16, 2024

Native San Antonio resident Jenny Castillo not only cares about helping Latinos get off the couch and get fit to beat disease, she also knows the value of incorporating culturally infused methods of physical activity. For example, her passion for flamenco and folklorico dance represent an exciting way to bring Latino families together to get […]