Scholarship helped student be the first to attend college in her family

Determination is a trait she attributes to her parents

Editor's Note: We caught up with Azira in December 2020, three years after graduation. She's now a public school teacher in Arizona. Read about her experiences teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic in "Mathematical and emotional support."

March 5, 2017

When Azira Rivera left her hometown of Colorado Springs, Colo., to become a mathematics student at the University of Minnesota, she became the first in her family to attend college. Determination is a trait she attributes to her parents, who have worked hard to provide for her and her five siblings.

Although she came to the University not knowing anyone, Rivera wasted no time getting involved on campus with organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers, North Star STEM Alliance, and CSE Ambassadors. She also studied abroad in Guam, where she has family ties.

As a Richard M. Kruger Scholarship recipient, Rivera is able to pursue these activities and doesn’t have to spend her free time working to cover the cost of out-of-state tuition.

Watch this video to learn more about Rivera.

If you’d like to support students through scholarships, visit our CSE giving page.