OUR STORIES

Hispanic Heritage Month

Learn About the Experiences of Hispanic Students at WGU

Every student is unique. We believe that your educational experience should be as unique as you are. We celebrate the differences in our students because we know that diversity brings strength—it's why we endeavor to be the most inclusive university in the world. WGU is bridging the gap between talent and opportunity.

We aim to recognize, support, and amplify students' voices while creating greater pathways to opportunities for students across the country. This focus drives us to offer high-quality, equitable higher education that is accessible regardless of your location or background. By putting degree opportunities within reach and improving access to learning, we advance equity for every student.

Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and recognize how students and employees are making a difference in their communities around the country.

Student & Employee Spotlights

Hispanic Heritage Month Employee Spotlight: Mark Bernal

As an Enrollment Counselor Coordinator for WGU’s School of Technology, Mark Bernal is passionate about making higher education more accessible and inclusive, especially for Spanish-speaking students.

Hispanic Heritage Month Employee Spotlight: Cristina Valentino

Cristina seized the opportunity to apply for an open English language learner instructor position at WGU, drawing from her experience as an English to Speakers of Other Languages consultant for Florida’s Department of Education. As an experienced educator, Cristina understands the importance of social interaction in the learning process.

Hispanic Heritage Month Student Spotlight: Efrain Ramirez

After moving as a child from Mexico to the U.S., battling ADHD, and climbing the career ladder, Efrain Ramirez became the first in his family to graduate college.

"The Principal Mission of the Latinx Owls ERG is to be a strategic partner with WGU to promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion through continual learning, provide an avenue for WGU Latinx Owls employees to come together to expand knowledge, awareness, and opportunity for the Latinx community within WGU while maintaining a strong focus on the overall mission of WGU as a whole, advance the understanding and inclusion of employees with a common background, set of interests, and/or goals. The vision, mission, goals, policies, and activities of WGU Latinx Owls are fully aligned with those of WGU's mission, goals, and promise."

–Latinx Owls at WGU

"I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead WGU efforts in Texas and the South Region, helping individuals overcome financial barriers and time constraints to earning their bachelor’s or master’s degree."

–Linda Garza Battles, Regional Vice President, Chancellor of WGU Texas

Read Linda's Story

WGU Commencement Speaker

Thirty years ABC News anchor veteran, seven national Emmy® awards, and creator and host of What Would You Do? John Quiñones delivered the WGU Commencement Address.

"Before my degree, I was very hesitant to be ‘out there,’ but after I graduated, I had a lot more confidence to support my team and WGU goals as well. It also helped me as I moved through the courses to be able to apply the concepts even before I graduated."

–Anna Striedel , WGU Alumna & Senior Program Mentor

Hispanic Heritage Month: A mentor profile

College of IT Program Mentor Anna Striedel shares her thoughts on WGU, going back to school, and the culture, heritage, and influence of family.

How students of color can beat barriers to education

The racial makeup of higher education is changing—for the better. Students of color earned 31.5 percent of the bachelor's degrees awarded in the United States in 2016, according to a 2019 American Council on Education (ACE) report.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Q&A, Dr. Raymund Paredes

A Conversation with Linda Battles, Acting Regional Vice President for WGU South Region, and Raymund Paredes, former Commissioner of Texas Higher Education

WGU: A Latinx Student's Experience

Since its inception, Western Governors University has focused on advancing equity by increasing access to higher education. The Latinx community is one of the best-represented in WGU's student body.

Scholarships Available for Affordable Education

Scholarships are one of the many ways in which WGU removes obstacles from your path to achieving your education goals and improving your career opportunities.

View WGU Scholarships

WGU B4 Women in Tech Persistence and Possibility Grant

This grant is available to new, readmission, and current students. The donor desires that when awarding this scholarship, special consideration be given for students who have demonstrated experience in or commitment to working with historically underserved or underrepresented populations, such as Black, Latina and Native American women.

WGU Collaborative Agreement Scholarship

WGU is pleased to offer the WGU Collaborative Agreement Partner Scholarship to new students or returning graduates. These scholarships, each valued up to $2,500, are designed for employees of WGU’s partner collaboratives that are seeking to advance their education in any of WGU’s four schools.

Opportunity Grant

The Opportunity Grant, is an investment to allow underserved populations the funding necessary to achieve this goal. Created for individuals who do not have access to traditional state and federal funding—such as Pell Grants and student loans—this $10,000 grant will help up to 50 potential undergraduate WGU students earn a bachelor's degree in any of WGU's four schools.