Lysha Pineda

For Lysha Pineda, business sophomore, her mother was a large motivation and inspiration for her going to college. Pineda’s mother had her when she was 18 years old and raised her as a single mother working many jobs throughout her childhood.

“My mom is my main role model,” Pineda said. “She couldn’t do the whole college thing. Being able to [attend college] and share these memories with her, like telling her, ‘Hey mom I got an A on my test,’ makes me happy to see her happy and proud of me that I am ‘solida adelante,’ meaning to go and move forward.”

The same Best Colleges report stated women made up the overwhelming majority of the total U.S Hispanic and Latino/graduate student population. 95,560 Hispanic and Latino/graduate students and around 185,060 (66%) were women in 2022. Hispanic and Latina women impact education in an immense way, and first-generation students bring great pride and joy and many families and individuals in the community.