It wasn’t until her senior year of high school that Evelyn Carreto realized the challenge ahead of her. The David City, Neb., resident arrived in the U.S. from Guatemala with her parents when she was six years old. While she is Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) eligible, federal financial aid to help pay for college was still unavailable to her.
“I was applying to all these other scholarships,” Evelyn said. “I got a good amount, but it wasn’t going to be enough to get me through college.”
Then her high school counselor told her about College of Saint Mary’s Misericordia Scholarship, which opens the door to education for undocumented students of diverse backgrounds who are not eligible for federal assistance. It is donor funded.
Evelyn applied and was put on the waitlist. Then, a week before graduation, Evelyn got the call. The scholarship was hers if she wanted it.
“It felt like this weight had been lifted off me. I was walking out of the building, and I remember collapsing. ‘Oh my gosh, I got it. This is what I’m going to do for the next four years,’” she said. “It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I was going to college.”
Evelyn, now a senior, is a chemistry major and a forensic science minor. She was selected as an INBRE Scholar. Established in 2001, the INBRE Scholars Program was created to expose students to professional biomedical research and build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between undergraduate and graduate institutions. Students enter the program after completing their sophomore year of college upon the recommendation of their college professors. It is a two-year comprehensive training program designed to prepare students for graduate school.
Evelyn has gained experience working in a lab doing pharmaceutical research for cancer at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The research has heightened her interest in chemistry.
“That’s something I want to do for the rest of my life,” Evelyn said, adding that she hopes to work in a lab following graduation and eventually seek her PhD.
During her college career, Evelyn has been involved in a number of activities and organizations, including Campus Activities Board, student ambassador, Residence Hall Council, Latinas Empowering Others, and Spanish Club.
In her final year, Evelyn added one more extracurricular: track. She was a discus thrower on her high school track team. She thought it was likely too late to participate in college until a Flames track athlete encouraged her to talk to the coach.
“It’s my last year. I love track, I love throwing,” Evelyn said. “I would love to do it one more year if that’s all I get.”
The coach agreed, and Evelyn joined the team for the 2022-23 school year. However, there were some challenges. Not only had she not competed for three years, but she also had to learn a new throwing technique.
“It wasn’t until the first meet that it raised my spirits because I got a personal best,” Evelyn said.
As she prepares for graduation in May, Evelyn said College of Saint Mary gave her the college experience she sought and would recommend the University to others.
“It’s nice being in a large city where there are things to do but also a small community when it comes to your academics because you’re able to get that one on one with your professors, and you’re not just a number,” she said.
