Mariana Lopez Baez

Mariana Lopez Baez had initially been focused on a career in health sciences, thinking of nursing since high school. She graduated from the Academy of Arts, Careers, and Technology, having demonstrated her determination and persistence. However, despite her success in winning admission to the University of Nevada – Reno (UNR) with a scholarship, obstacles stood in her way. She is a first-generation Mexican-American whose family struggles with basic living expenses: food, transportation, and rent. She had no one to prepare her for the special demands a university makes, beyond even examinations and assignments. She had to figure out which classes would qualify her to apply to nursing school. She needed to learn time management. She needed health insurance, groceries, and some help navigating the UNR landscape and figuring out which classes would help her qualify for admission to nursing school. On top of that, the pandemic made the learning environment far more challenging than she and most of her classmates anticipated, and adjusting to it was a physically and emotionally exhausting experience.

But Mariana, who works very hard, is a high-potential, talented, curious and compassionate student. That is why the Foundation has paid for many of those expenses and provided mentoring and guidance. Through her journey at the University, Mariana developed a passion for athletic training, and switched her major to kinesiology. She has seen success and fulfillment as a student assistant athletic trainer for the University of Nevada’s Wolfpack football team. Mariana is now a senior, on track to graduate in December 2024, and will be applying to graduate school to earn a master’s degree in athletic training. Her career goal is to become an athletic trainer for a professional or University sports team, and one day, to run an athletic training program. We are thrilled and gratified by her professional and personal growth.