Evelyn Nunez

Evelyn Nuñez put all of her eggs in one basket when she applied and was accepted to St. Ambrose University – without so much as a single campus visit.

However, a chance meeting and a big welcome-to-our-Ambrosian-family hug from admissions counselor Karen Eden gave Evelyn a good idea of what the next four years would hold. "It was my first SAU experience and it warmed my heart. She knew my name just from emails we had exchanged. It felt nice to get that recognition and it was like wow, this is the school for me," she said.

It was that type of unconditional, consistent Ambrosian support that helped Evelyn realize her power to work through a series of obstacles and finish her education.

"One thing I've learned is everyone struggles with looking at their strengths," she said, "And sometimes it is hard to say, ‘Yes, I did that. I am proud of that.' But I know for sure, looking at myself, I am strong. I did do this."

Evelyn is the daughter of immigrants and the first in her family to graduate from high school. On May 9, she graduated from St. Ambrose with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology and Spanish.

A Freeman Pollard scholarship recipient, Evelyn came to SAU from Tama, Iowa, a bit shy, and 100 percent focused on academics. A great first roommate unveiled the value of college friendships and she began to branch out and enjoy campus activities.

Evelyn served four years as a Student Government Association representative, was on the executive board of the Multicultural Affairs Committee for Community Action, and the SAU chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Evelyn used her voice to promote equality, social justice, and civil rights.

She volunteered at Taste of St. Ambrose, attended campus and community leadership conferences, the National Student Diversity Leadership Convention, completed an internship at Davenport Central High School, worked in the SAU Student Success Center and the IT department, served as a peer assistant her junior year, and spent spring break on a Campus Ministry service trip.

Throughout her academics and activities, Evelyn faced a string of challenges that tested her determination, starting her sophomore year. "All my life, I watched my parents living paycheck to paycheck. I knew they wanted to help me with my schooling," she said, adding she worried her education was a financial weight she didn't want them to carry. "I told them I didn't think I could do this anymore. My parents told me no, I was not leaving school. I'd already made it half way," she said.

At the end of winter term her junior year, Evelyn learned her Godmother had become ill and had to leave the U.S. and return to Mexico. Her parents wanted her to complete finals before telling her. Then, months later, her uncle had a seizure that took his life. It was hard for Evelyn to work through each loss.

This past fall, right before leaving to study abroad in South America, Evelyn's dad lost his job. "I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay. My parents told me ‘No. You've put so much into this you need to continue.' I left for South America with the scholarship I had knowing it had to take me through the whole semester. It so was hard being away from family when I knew they were struggling," she said.

However, Evelyn's experience abroad led her to realize her independence and resilience are strengths. "It helped me see that sometimes what I see as a setback isn't really a setback," she said. "I became more determined and grateful for what I'd learned so far and I began to appreciate things more."

Throughout her education, Evelyn was surrounded by supporters, including professors in the Psychology, Spanish, and Women and Gender Studies programs, and staff in Student Activities, Campus Ministry, and the Student Success Center.

"The people I've connected with pushed me forward to keep moving on, to keep going and branch out of my comfort zone. If I had not had that, I do not think I would have been as successful," she said.

Now, she said her goal is to support others. Evelyn plans a career working with at-risk youth who face a language barrier.

"I will miss a lot about St. Ambrose, that feeling of my home away from home, the people, the other students I grew up with these last four years," she said.

Evelyn plans to reconnect with them this fall when she returns for commencement ceremonies. Her mom told her to order her graduation regalia and decorate her cap so she could wear it for a small family celebration on May 9. "You are going to get dressed up and take photos so you can tell you kids one day: I did this," Evelyn said, recalling her mother's words.

And, Evelyn is proud that yes, she did push on and achieved her goal.

"Today, I am so much more determined. My freshman year, I was nervous and uncertain about things, not willing to take risks. Now that I am older, I see I can do this. No matter what happens, I need to put myself out there. Whatever I have gone through does not make me weak or set me apart; if anything it makes me stronger and I can use that to my advantage," she said. "I can do this because I went through that."