The Truman Scholarship is allowing one UNM student’s dreams to come true.
Cara Valente-Compton, who got the $30,000 award, said she’s wanted to attend the UNM School of Law her entire life, and her award is allowing her to do so.
“My plan has always been to attend the UNM School of Law. Ever since I was a kid, I have wanted to be a lawyer,” she said. “I am fascinated by law and government, so that’s the plan. If UNM will accept me, I am going to go and pursue my degree.”
Kiyoko Simmons of UNM’s National and International Scholarships and Fellowships said Valente-Compton earned the award because of her passion to serve the state.
“In my opinion, the primary reasons she got it (is) her determination, her academic excellence, scholastic skill and community services,” she said. “Cara has just strong determination to work for the New Mexico state population.”
As a mother of five, Valente-Compton said she wants to inspire other women to return to school.
“I came back to school a year ago, and I have been so happy here. I feel like I am finally accomplishing the goals that I set out for myself long ago,” she said. “I think it’s especially important for young women to know that you can leave academia and start a family and come back, finish your degree and accomplish the goals that you established for yourself when you were young.”
Valente-Compton’s course plan is immigration law, she said.
“One of the things I am most concerned about, especially here in New Mexico, is how people are really at a disadvantage when it comes to immigration process,” she said. “They are discriminated against and the bias that prevents them from seeking or accomplishing citizenship has forced a lot of people underground.”
The Truman Scholarship is an intense application process Simmons said, but the end result is well worth the work.
“There are not many scholarships available for nontraditional students,” she said. “It is not just a prestigious scholarship, but it helps a lot. They recruit students their junior year because they want to mentor them and make sure they are going on the right path to graduate school.”
Resources for scholarships are plentiful at UNM, especially through the office of National and International Scholarships and Fellowships, Simmons said.
“This office is brand new. We just started last year and we are still tweaking the process so we can help students better apply for scholarships,” she said. “I’m just trying to increase the awareness of these scholarships because not many people know it. Anyone that is interested in scholarships with the right qualifications can contact me.”
Valente-Compton said she wants to help students educate and prepare themselves for scholarship opportunities.
“One of the things that I’m interested in doing is helping mentor other students that are interested in applying for national scholarships,” she said. “Helping coach them through the application and interview process so they feel confident that they can put together the best application possible and come across well in their interview.”
State pride is a major source of motivation, Valente-Compton said, and whatever career path she ends up taking will serve New Mexico.
“Mostly I want to be an advocate for the people of New Mexico,” she said. “I love my state. It’s done so much for me … and I hope to do for it what it has done for me.”
