Lopez continued success after MCC
MARSHALLTOWN – Marshalltown Community College was just the first step in Amanda Lopez’s educational success and path. Lopez, originally from Valencia, Venezuela, is now going into her senior year at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, has earned three scholarships to help with the cost of her college education. She is a Political Science major with a minor in Gender Studies.
The scholarships she received were from the AVMO (Association of Venezuelans in Missouri) St. Louis chapter, (PRS) Puerto Rican Society, and an academic scholarship from the UMSL Pierre Laclede Honors College. Lopez had to have a GPA of 3.5 and be a full-time student for all of the scholarships. She also had to write essays about her engagement and advocacy within the Latinx community and an essay about why she chose to pursue Political Science as her major for the AVMO and PRS scholarships. Each scholarship was $1,000.
Lopez was very involved on campus when she attended MCC. She was vice president of the multicultural club, a member of the ecology club, vice president of the student senate and co-president of LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens). She was also in the honors program and a member of PTK (Phi Theta Kappa).
When asked how her time at MCC has prepared her for the next step in her education she said, “My time at MCC showed me my passion for leadership and helped me realize how much being involved at school means to me. It allowed me to explore different paths and prepared me academically and professionally to reach my goals. I wouldn’t be as involved as I am on campus right now if it wasn’t for the great foundation I got at MCC. The honors program at MCC also prepared me for the honors program here at UMSL. I only joined the honors college here because of the great experience I had at MCC.”
Lopez continues to make the most out of her college education by continuing to be involved on campus as she attends UMSL. She is the president of the PRIZM (UMSL’s LGBTQ+ Organization) and ASUM (The Associated Students of the University of Missouri), and an officer for the Political Science Academy at UMSL. She also serves in the Civic Engagement Coalition, Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, LGBTQ+ History month committee, a part of UMSL Sustainability, and works as a tour guide for the admissions office.
Lopez loved her time at MCC and the opportunities she was able to experience. “My favorite part of being at MCC was the student involvement opportunities and how they helped me meet new people and become a more extroverted person.” Lopez will be graduating from UMSL May 2022.