Scholar Spotlight - Elizabeth Herrera Mounteer

We caught up with Elizabeth on college life, tips she has for students and what being an HDF Scholar means to her. Here is what she had to say:

As a Latinx educator and graduate student, what advice would you give college students just getting started on their higher education journey, and to those who are considering a graduate program/professional school?

One piece of advice for college students is to build your support system. I found a community through the Avanzando Program at UMKC. Check out your college’s website for a list of groups and organizations; some might be specifically for Latinx students. Reach out to me on LinkedIn if you have any questions—college access is my passion!

Would you share one of the biggest obstacles you’ve had to overcome throughout your college career?

Balancing motherhood and schoolwork is one of my biggest challenges throughout my college career. Calendars, reminders, and checklists are life savers.

What about one of the biggest rewards?

My biggest reward was walking across the stage at my college graduation. The late nights of studying, stress, tests, and tears paid off!

When it comes to civic engagement, we know the Census 2020 deadline is fast approaching (Sept 30th) and a General Election is coming up in November.  Why is it important that our scholars and community complete the Census and show up to vote (if they are eligible)?

It is important to complete the Census because it helps determine funding for years to come. If you are eligible, please vote on behalf of all of those who can’t. Remember: “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” -Mexican proverb

During Hispanic Heritage Month, HDF has our annual Cambio Para Cambio fundraising campaign, where all donations are matched dollar to dollar.  I understand you’ve led a Cambio team in the past, can you share a bit about what your experience was like?

Cambio Para Cambio shows the power of our community. There is a ripple effect when we come together to support students and their college aspirations. We open a door of opportunity for HDF scholars and their friends and family, too.

What does it mean for you to be an HDF Scholar?

Being an HDF Scholar means that we can move forward and bring our community along with us. HDF scholars become part of the HDF family. ¡Juntos podemos!