By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Juan Carlos Guzman wants every student to know that higher education is an option for them.
Even if there are obstacles, a college degree is something anyone can achieve.
“The opportunities are out there,” said Guzman, director of diversity outreach and partnerships at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, “but students need to prepare themselves for those opportunities. It’s going to take some time and work, they’re going to have to earn it, but a college education is within reach.”
For many students, the annual Nebraska Cultural Unity Conference represents a significant step toward that goal. Organized by UNK and hosted at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Tuesday’s event brought more than 200 high school and community college students from across Nebraska and Kansas together to connect with and inspire each other.
In its 21st year, the conference promotes leadership, higher education and personal and professional development through a variety of workshops and activities and gives attendees a chance to learn more about scholarships, financial aid and other tuition assistance programs. There’s also an opportunity to explore campus resources and academic programs, along with potential career paths.
“If a student goes to a community college then they come to UNK, it’s a win-win,” Guzman said. “If they serve in the military before they’re ready to study at UNK, that’s something we support. We’re solely focused on developing the future leaders and future professionals who will come back and improve their communities.”
Maira Mendez, who was recognized with the 2024 Alumni of the Year Award, is a shining example of the event’s impact.
Mendez was a junior in high school when she attended the Nebraska Cultural Unity Conference for the first time. She still remembers the keynote speaker and his message about finding your “why.” Later that day, Mendez returned home and cried with her mother, who recently passed away, wishing she could give her a better life.
“My parents coming to this country, not knowing the language, always kind of inspired me,” Mendez said.
They couldn’t afford to attend college, but they worked hard to provide for their family and always encouraged Mendez to pursue her dreams. They’re her reason why.
After graduating from Crete High School, Mendez enrolled at UNK and maintained her involvement in the Cultural Unity Conference as a member of the planning committee. She also served as president of the Multicultural Greek Council and was active in the Hispanic Student Association and Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority before graduating in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish education and an English as a second language endorsement.
Now, Mendez is an associate principal at Lincoln High School, where she helps open doors for students chasing their own dreams. She brought 40 of them to this year’s Cultural Unity Conference, allowing them to experience the event that changed her life.
“Take advantage of every single opportunity that you can get, to fulfill your parents’ dreams, to fulfill your own dreams,” Mendez said during her acceptance speech. “And take advantage of people like Mr. Juan Guzman who push you to be that person. Because without him and without UNK, I don’t know that my life would have been the same.”
Jaime Lopez shared a similar story.
The Gibbon native was one of four people featured during a “From First-Gen Student to Successful Professional” panel discussion. He started attending the Cultural Unity Conference as a freshman in high school, received a scholarship to attend UNK, and continued to assist with the event as a member of the Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity.
Lopez earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a supply chain management emphasis in 2016 and currently works as a rate analyst with Werner Enterprises, an Omaha-based transportation and logistics company.
“Being able to give back to this conference, which allowed me to attend college, is very fulfilling,” he said. “As a higher schooler, this event opened my eyes to the possibility of higher education for first-generation students. Now, we’re here to inspire the next generation. My little brother came to this event after I graduated, so it’s always nice to carry that on.”
Lopez, who also represented Werner during the academic and career fair, believes the Cultural Unity Conference can ignite “generational change” by breaking down barriers for families.
“You can change the course for your family,” he said. “Just remember, there’s always opportunities out there, you just have to make sure you look for them.”
