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ND Journey: Sophia Ochoa ’25 expresses creativity, builds community

Shannon Rooney

Sophia Ochoa first heard about Notre Dame when she was a senior in high school. Her uncle talked up Notre Dame so much that, since Ochoa couldn’t get to the States from her hometown of Manila in the Philippines due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, she decided to attend an online information session hosted by the director of international recruitment.

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FirstGen@ND: Daniel Lapsley, professor of psychology and ACE collegiate professor

Shannon Rooney

Notre Dame Professor of Psychology Daniel Lapsley uses the word “naive” to describe himself as a young student approaching his college years. He grew up with five siblings near Pittsburgh. His father was a steel worker and his mother was a homemaker. Neither of Lapsley’s parents had been to college, but he knew he wanted to go. …

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FirstGen@ND: Tavin Martin ’25

Shannon Rooney

As a first-generation college student, Tavin Martin ’25 faced a lack of knowledge and resources when it came to applying to college.  A high-achieving student, she knew she was headed toward higher education, but neither of her parents had been through the college application process. Though her older brother went to college, he went to a local college and the...

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FirstGen@ND: Department of American Studies Professor Jennifer Huynh was the first in her family to attend college

Shannon Rooney

Department of American Studies Professor Jennifer Huynh was the first person in her family to go to college. “Attending university wasn’t only for myself; it was for my family and for a better future,” says Huynh. Her father was a refugee from Vietnam and her mother was a hairdresser. They were proud of Huynh’s admission to the universities she applied...

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FirstGen@ND: Carlos Flores '23, Architecture Major and Varsity Cheerleader

Shannon Rooney

For Carlos Flores '23, choosing a major was tough. He started out at Notre Dame as an engineering major, but upon taking an architecture elective, he discovered that he liked both engineering and architecture equally.  Luckily, he had some help from a mentor back home in Oklahoma, who told him to choose the major that he thought would provide him...

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FirstGen@ND: Karyme Grosso '23, design major, resident advisor, and Ballet Folklórico dancer

Shannon Rooney

Karyme Grosso ’23 is a senior design major with a minor in studio art. Originally from Mission, Texas, Grosso is a first-generation college student whose older brother also attended Notre Dame. She learned about the University through that connection and was impressed with the breadth of academics available as well as Notre Dame’s Catholic character. …

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