By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
Erick Leiva Lopez knows exactly what kind of educator he wants to be.
He already has plenty of examples to follow. The first-generation college graduate credits the teachers, coaches and mentors who supported him in Lexington and at the University of Nebraska at Kearney with helping him discover his own potential.
Now, as the newest counselor at Lexington High School, he has an opportunity to make the same impact on students’ lives.
“Growing up in Lexington, I was very fortunate to be surrounded by so many great educators and adults within the community,” he said. “This is my way of paying it forward in a sense.”
The importance of education was instilled in Leiva Lopez from an early age. His parents never had the chance to attend college, but they always viewed it as a pathway to a brighter future.
“They’ve been my biggest motivator when it came to college,” Leiva Lopez said. “When things got tough, I always thought about them.”
“They always stressed to me when I was growing up, ‘Take advantage of the opportunity that you have because there are so many other people who don’t have that same opportunity,’” he added. “That’s something I’d like to pass along to my students.”
Becoming a leader
That message stayed with Leiva Lopez as he considered colleges during his senior year of high school.
UNK stood out because it was close to home and affordable. “And I heard nothing but great things about it,” he noted.
Leiva Lopez arrived on campus “kind of shy and very timid.”
“I’d say I changed in the best way possible,” he said, thanks in large part to the Thompson Scholars Learning Community.
A living-learning community for recipients of the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Scholarship, that program provides academic and social support for students throughout their time at UNK. Participants live in the same residence hall as freshmen, take classes together and attend networking and professional development events while building a support system that carries them through their college experience.
“That was probably my saving grace in college,” Leiva Lopez said. “The scholarship is fantastic, but if I would have had the financial aspect of it without the learning community, I probably would have ended up dropping out because I had no idea what I was doing when I came to college. They were the people I went to when I needed guidance.”
Leiva Lopez served as a peer mentor during his second year in the program while immersing himself in other areas of campus life, including Men’s Project and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Jen Harvey, senior director of the Thompson Scholars program, watched him grow from a quiet first-year student into a leader who naturally connected with others.
“Erick has learned what it means to be student-centered,” Harvey said. “He has worked with many students through his time as a student leader and professional, and he takes into account their full needs while also fully believing in their ability to succeed. He serves from a place of genuine care about others and is driven by his values.”
Giving back to Lexington
Leiva Lopez graduated with honors in December 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in 7-12 social science education. After a semester of substitute teaching, the former campus tour guide joined the UNK Admissions team as a bilingual admissions recruiter.
Traveling across Nebraska, he worked with prospective students and families, helping them navigate the college search and application process. As someone who had once faced those same questions himself, the role felt like a natural fit.
“I really enjoyed being able to help students, being that person I needed when I was in high school,” he said.
Working as an educator remained his long-term goal, though. That desire led him back into the classroom as a graduate student in UNK’s school counseling program.
“Teaching is something I never necessarily closed the door on,” he said. “At the same time, I saw a need for more school counselors who come from first-generation backgrounds and understand the struggles these students can go through.”
Ümüt Arslan, an associate professor and chair of the school counseling program, recognized this sense of purpose right away.
“Erick has always had a clear vision for his future and a strong desire to give back to the people of Lexington,” Arslan said. “He already knows the strengths and needs of his hometown. I believe he will build strong connections between UNK and Lexington Public Schools while addressing the unique needs of the district. He will help strengthen opportunities and support for students, and I am confident he will make a lasting positive impact on the community.”
Harvey sees the same outcomes.
“While we will miss having Erick at UNK, I am proud of him for returning to Lexington Public Schools to have a positive impact on students, just as he has done in his time at UNK,” she said. “He can be a guide, role model and inspiration to many students who want to attend college based on his own experience. He knows how to holistically meet student needs, and I have no doubt he will positively impact families, fellow educators and community members in Lexington.”
Leiva Lopez’s final day as a UNK employee was July 17. He’ll continue working toward his master’s degree while beginning his new role at Lexington High School this fall.
“It means everything to me,” he said of the position. “There are a lot of people in that community who have given so much to me and now I’m able to give something back.”
