Undocumented Immigrant Turned US Citizen Receives Prestigious Academic Award

Maria Alcívar-Zúñiga has reached different milestones in her life since her illegal arrival in the United States of America in 1999 with her family, according to the Ames Tribune. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Iowa State University. Before 1999, she lived in Ecuador.

A Story of Success of a Once Undocumented Immigrant

Alcívar-Zúñiga is married with one child, recently became a legal citizen of the United States, attained her masters, and is currently in the process of receiving her doctorate. She has accomplished a lot in the United States since 1999. 

She gave birth to her child in December 2019. Three days before, she received an important email. 

As she opened her email account to read messages, one message stood out. The message contains an invitation to Washington D.C. Seven other students in their graduate studies across the US also received the invitation. 

In six weeks, Alcívar-Zúñiga will be going to Washington D.C. for the acceptance of the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award. The award is granted to graduate students who are perceived to become the future leaders of higher education. Also, the award is granted to students who had shown dedication in creating academic and showcasing civic responsibility for themselves and to the community. Lastly, the award is given to those whose works emphasize on learning and teaching. 

Alcívar-Zúñiga said that she was shocked to receive such a prestigious award. She shared that it took her an entire day to realize that there are people who believed in her leadership skills and it will be recognized in a few weeks.

Her Work about Iowa Immigration Policy and Latin Community Empowerment

To most of her colleagues and mentors at the Iowa State University, the award was a reward for her exemplary work about immigration policy and the empowerment of the Iowa Latin community.

Alcívar-Zúñiga will soon receive her doctorate in human development and family studies. As an immigrant who arrived in the United States when she was only 11, she did not think that reaching such a milestone in life would be possible for her. 

Her work's focus is on the empowerment of the Iowan Latin community for both the youth and families. Her past had inspired her to pursue such studies. 

Her personal experience and journey as a previously undocumented immigrant in the United States to a legal citizen of the United States, her academic achievements, and research had inspired her to make a study about general immigration policies and families. 

The Iowa State University's Program that Helped Her in Her Work

Iowa State University and the Department of Human Services in Iowa partners every year for a research training campaign. 

Alcívar-Zuñiga developed a specific webinar that caters to social workers who need assistance for helping immigrant families and immigrants who survived domestic violence. 

These training campaigns are not permanent for the Department of Human Services. However, Alcívar-Zuñiga's efforts had made the webinar services as a permanent program to assist its staff members. 

Life as an Undocumented Immigrant

Alcívar-Zuñiga had difficulties adjusting after arriving in the United States with her mother and brother in 1999 as undocumented immigrants. She had difficulties learning in a new school system. Also, she had problems learning a new language. Additionally, she had to adjust to a new culture and social norms.

Upon their arrival in the US, they stayed in a one-bedroom apartment. They stayed in the apartment with her cousin. They stayed there until they were able to pay rent. 

Her struggles were endless in their first few years in a new country. However, Alcívar-Zuñiga studied hard to reach her goals. 

Now, she is an example of a once undocumented immigrant who had made it in the United States with nothing but a brave and hopeful heart. She is now a very capable US citizen who has great power to shape and improve the society, especially the Latino Community through her academic successes.