How OSU has helped you achieve your goals: All I have learned has helped me forge a solid foundation on which I will continue to build. I will take what OSU has given me and keep learning.
Fabian plans to work in Washington D.C. for a year and then go to Switzerland to work in international relations.


Lia Lissette Letellier Luna
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Degree: B.S.H.E. in Textiles and Clothing

A piece of advice for those considering OSU: OSU is an excellent university. There are so many ways you can get involved. Study hard and always get to know your professors.
Lia plans to work as a fashion designer and later open her own fashion line.


Samuel Saldivar III
Weslaco, Texas
Degree: B.A. in English

Most important academic achievement: Creating, through the University-Wide Council of Hispanic Organizations (UCHO), OSU’s first ever “Hispanics In Higher Education” conference.
Samuel is currently working in student recruitment at OSU.


Faustino Ceballos
Weslaco, Texas
Degree: B.S. in Social Work

How OSU has helped you achieve your goals: The university atmosphere is very acceptable and it has great programs to get you through the multitude of problems that can stop you from getting a great education.
Faustino plans to be a social worker in either Ohio or Texas.


Sandra Margarita Patiño-Lemus
Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico and Mansfield, Ohio
Degree: B.A. in French

How OSU has helped me achieve my goals: I took a break from my studies in 1998 and found many great changes upon returning to the OSU Columbus campus in 2006. Within the French & Italian Department, I saw the remodeling of Haggerty Hall, which offered the opportunity for all the language departments to be housed in one building. I enjoyed being surrounded by people who enjoyed conversations in their native or second language.


Luis Diez
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Degree: Master in Business Administration

Your best memory of OSU: My two favorite memories would have to be my first game in Ohio Stadium and getting chills the first time I heard the OSU Marching Band playing “Hang On Sloopy” during Welcome Week.
Luis plans to move to Orlando, Florida to start his career with an established industry leader.


James Diaz
Toledo, Ohio
Degree: B.S. in Nursing

A piece of advice for those considering OSU: OSU is the best university in the country. It is well rounded in academics and sports and will give you the best opportunities of your life. The environment on campus is positive and everyone wants to do well, so you want to keep up with everyone and do well too. James plans to work as a nurse and pursue a futher education in anesthesia.


Elizabeth Pages
Beavercreek, Ohio
Degree: B.S. in Biology

A piece of advice for those considering OSU: Get involved!!! It is possible to work, go to school, and be involved with organizations. By getting involved, you have the opportunity to take on leadership roles. Elizabeth plans to attend graduate school in the area of higher education and student affairs.


Andrea Medina Vallenilla
Caracas, Venezuela
Degree: B.A. in Economics and International Relations

A piece of advice for those considering OSU: Get to know your professors well, because they don’t only have experience in your field, but they can also help you find opportunities to achieve your dreams, get to know yourself better and figure out where you want to go in the future. My professors have really taught me that you have to work hard for what you want, and don’t let anyone ever tell you what you can’t do.


Lydia Letticia Saldivar
Fremont, Ohio
Degree: B.S.H.E. in Early Childhood Development

How OSU has helped you achieve your goals: Graduating from OSU has really made me feel like I accomplished something big. If you would have told me four years ago I would be graduating in four years, married and with a family, I would have said, “No way, I can’t do that,” but being here at OSU has given me confidence in my abilities and has pushed me further than I thought I could ever go.
Lydia plans to work in the area of early childhood education.


Luis Velazquez-Vargas
Zamora, Mexico
Degree: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

A piece of advice for those considering OSU: For those who are planning to attend OSU, I would tell them to have as many friends as they can. Having close friends is very important, especially during the difficult times and more important during the happy times. Although studying here can be stressful sometimes, it is good to know that you can count on them. For people like me, who came from a different country and do not have our family here, friends can be like our family.


Samantha Martir Garcia
Puerto Rico
Degree: M.A. in Integrated Teaching and Learning

How OSU has helped you achieve your goals: My main goal was to finish my M.A. in Education. My professors in the Department of Teaching and Learning have been of great help and encouragement. Since the beginning, they took into consideration and respect my background as a Puerto Rican. They also were very understanding with my pregnancy and the birth of my new child. A good advice for new students is not to be afraid to talk with your professors; they are of great help.
Samantha plans to go back to Puerto Rico, teach, and complete a Ph.D. in the future.

Humberto Herrera Plascencia
Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Degree: M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering

How OSU has helped you achieve your goals: OSU is a great university and it definitively help me to grow up ethically, morally and professionally. OSU gave me the confidence of knowing that I’m able to reach any goal I want to.


Samuel Patiño
Mansfield, Ohio
Degree: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Your future plans: Work for Tyco Electronics Hartman Division in Mansfield, marry my wonderful girlfriend, Fabiana, and start a family.





María del Carmen Arata Cockburn
Lima, Peru
Degree: M.A. in Latin American Literatures and Cultures

Most important academic achievement:One of the most challenging experiences was to prepare and present papers for graduate conferences around the United States. Now I feel comfortable with cultural studies’ theories and I am able to use critical thinking to understand the current Latin American globalized reality.


Vivianne Romero
La Paz, Bolivia
Degree: M.A in Latin American Literatures and Cultural Studies

Your future plans: After graduating I will be working hard in a non-governmental organization in my country, with many women who live in poor neighborhoods in Bolivia. I am very excited about this and planning to come back to see the new library, once the renovation is finished. One of my favorite places to study was there, in the last floor looking over the oval through the window and noticing the small people walking on the green rug.