First-generation PBSC graduate earns national recognition

For many students, the path to college is clearly defined. For Vianca Cordon Lopez, it had to be created from scratch — a journey that led her to graduate this spring with her Associate in Arts degree and national recognition.

A first-generation college student and the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, Cordon Lopez graduated from Lake Worth Community High School in 2024 and chose to stay close to home to earn her A.A., as the idea of moving to a new city for college felt overwhelming.

“There’s a lot of stigma around community colleges, but I really thought it was the best option for me at the time because, as a first-generation student, I didn’t know what to expect at the university level,” Cordon Lopez said. “I wanted to start out locally and have support from my family.”

She found the support she needed through PBSC’s Next-Gen Summer Bridge program, a two-week initiative that helps first-time freshmen, many of them first-generation college students, navigate higher education by offering academic, financial and personal resources. She also participated in the TRIO program and later joined the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College. Together, these experiences provided the foundation she needed to succeed.

That success was reflected in her extensive campus involvement. During her time at PBSC, she was active in the Florida Engineering Society, the Student Civility Committee, the Physics Club, the Math Club, the Student Government Association and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Her academic achievement and leadership recently earned her national recognition when she was named as a semifinalist for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The scholarship can be as much as $55,000 a year for up to three years, making it one of the largest private scholarships for community college transfer students in the country. Initially hesitant to apply because of its competitiveness, she was encouraged by her mentors.

“It was surreal,” she said. “I’m very happy and proud of myself for getting there.”

Now a graduate, Cordon Lopez is looking ahead to the next step in her academic journey. She plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering, combining creativity with math and science to make a positive impact. She is also committed to expanding opportunities for others, especially women in STEM.

“One of my goals is to promote more women in STEM because I believe there’s not a lot of us,” she said. “The community could use more support, so other women aren’t afraid to join or won’t believe no one is there to support them.”

As she reflects on her college experience, she encourages other first-generation students to get involved on campus by joining organizations, taking on leadership roles, volunteering and building connections.

“I hope someone can see my story and think, ‘She was able to do so much,’ and feel inspired to be more engaged,” she said.