When he was nine, Miguel Galvez’s mother brought him to the U.S. seeking better opportunities. They were on the verge of homelessness as his mom, a single parent, struggled to make ends meet at her manufacturing job in Mexico. Then, being part of an elite academic team years later was the furthest thing from his mind.
But, in high school, Galvez flourished. He had a 4.0 GPA and always thought of going to college, but he knew without any documents or residency it would be tough. As his senior year drew near and his friends were accepted to colleges, his own outlook wasn’t good.
“My options for college were none,” Galvez says. “Toward my senior year I didn’t even take the SATs or ACTs because I knew if I did well I wouldn’t get in. I saw my friend go to Yale, and I was helping him with his homework,” he adds.
But faith and a backup plan kept him going; if he didn’t go to college here, he’d attend a university in Mexico.
“I was just praying to get into a community college, though, that would help me out with tuition,” Galvez explains. “At the time I had to pay out-of-state tuition. The odds were pretty bad.”
In 2014, Galvez received residency allowing him to apply for scholarships, like the LIFT (Learn and Invest in your Future Training) program at GateWay Community College, which paid for his first summer semester.
The LIFT program helps underrepresented and at-risk students seamlessly transition from high school to college.
“Miguel is a great example of what students can achieve when provided with the right opportunity,” says GateWay advisor Lily Lough. “If it wasn’t for that bond or relationship we have with our students, they might get lost; we can catch them before they fall,” Lough says about the LIFT program.
Lough helped Galvez search for scholarships, on-campus employment and connected him to teachers. ““If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know if I would have come to college,” says Galvez.
Today, he is a math tutor for the LIFT program and also a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honors Society, the Math Club, works on-campus and volunteers with his church.
In addition, he was nominated to the All-Arizona Academic team. He will be recognized along with fellow All-Arizona candidates at a luncheon in March at the Hilton Phoenix/Mesa. Recipients will receive a scholarship for 60 undergraduate credits at any of Arizona’s public universities.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “This weight lifted off my shoulders.” Galvez says now he doesn’t have to worry about how he’ll pay for tuition once he transfers to Arizona State University.
Galvez will receive his associate of science degree from GateWay Community College in May 2016. His goal is to become an actuary for the insurance industry and an entrepreneur.
“My ultimate goal is to create an institution that gives out scholarships for people that went through what I did,” Galvez says.
Galvez was selected to be on the first team at the All-Arizona Academic team, meaning he will also receive a $1,000 scholarship. In addition, he was recently named as a Coca Cola Silver Scholar and will receive an additional $1250 scholarship.