Arlington, VA – July 22, 2015
We are very proud of our Dream scholars Allison Barrera and Ilder Garcia, both 2015 recipients of TheDream.US scholarship, for being selected out of hundreds of students across the nation to attend a very special event, sponsored by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher education initiative. The event will take place at the White House on Thursday, July 23. According to the official White House statement: “This event will focus on sharing tools and strategies students can use to successfully transition to college and the resources they will need to complete the next level of their education.”
We are beyond thrilled for Allison and Ilder, not only to have this opportunity to meet with the First Lady and ask her specific questions regarding higher education and the many challenges facing students in this present time, but to represent the community of undocumented students, called DREAMers, across the United States.
Allison Barrera, 18, was born in Honduras, and is a role model in her family of five. She made her parents incredibly proud by graduating from high school and now has her sights set on a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Trinity Washington University, starting in the fall. As a DACAmented Dreamer, she is overjoyed to be continuing her education and wants to show her younger brothers that it is possible to beat the odds and succeed regardless of status.
Born in a small village in Guatemala, Ilder Gudiel Garcia, also 18, was left behind when his parents and older siblings came to America in search of a better life for the family. When he was old enough to join them, Ilder discovered a new life full of possibilities. He hopes to become a medical lab scientist and someday help his community in Guatemala. He will be attending Northern Virginia Community College in the fall.
Press release for “Beating the Odds” Summit: http://1.usa.gov/1JnueAB
To learn more about Reach Higher: https://www.whitehouse.gov/reach-higher