TRIO/ GEAR UP 2006 HONOREE

Maria L. Parra-Sandoval

Maria L. Parra-Sandoval came to the United States from a small Mexican village when she was 6 years-old. She attended Valley High School and graduated third in her class with a 4.6 G.P.A. She is a first generation college student at UNLV. Maria participated in CAEO’s Educational Talent Search Program while attending Valley High School.

Maria’s outstanding academic performance, led to several scholarships and admission into the Honors College at UNLV. Maria was one of 50 students selected nationally to attend the Public Policy and Leadership Conference at the John F. Kennedy School of government at Harvard University. This spring she will serve as the political communications intern for Senator Harry Reid in Washington, D.C. Currently a junior at UNLV, Maria is also in the McNair Scholars Program.

She is an immigrant on a quest to become a United States citizen and this will soon become a reality. Dreams beyond UNLV include both a law degree and a master’s in public policy from Harvard so that she can someday practice immigration law. She says “My parents have always said that I am the American Dream, but I believe above that, I am their dream come true.”