DACA & Undocumented Student Resources

As a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) student, Oscar’s progression to college was limited despite having been academically prepared.  Fortunately, the Maricopa Community Colleges stood by their values to provide a quality higher education to all students and provided in-state tuition prices to DACA recipients.  PVCC became “home for his initial college years due to the financial accessibility to DACA recipients and the broader commitment by the Maricopa colleges to educate those that make up its communities.”

Oscar recalls a number of influencers during his educational journey at PVCC. Without these interactions, from big to small, Oscar “would have not turned in to the Puma he is proud of being.”

Hispanic Heritage in the Southwest professor who challenged the class to question their position in society and to ask bigger questions about how our current society functions;
 Microeconomics professor taught him how, through economics, capitalism can work for the people, but requires integrity by parties involved;
Computer Systems professor increased his appreciation for and understanding of technology and its functions;

• He will always be grateful for both of his passionate and forward-thinking Sustainability professors who encouraged him to obtain his sustainability certificate;
• Criminal Justice professor demonstrated how learning can be fun, by mesmerizing the class with conversations that allowed all students to participate;
• Geography professor who sparked his curiosity about our planet;
• The academic services team was so helpful, showing him how he could best showcase his abilities as a student and as a young professional; and
• Lastly, the Student Life staff provided a space for Oscar and other leaders to come together to be part of the change they wanted to see.  They gave him access to professional opportunities early on in his undergraduate years.

His fondest memory at PVCC was “Spike for the Cure,” a volleyball tournament hosted by the student government (STUGO) to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness. STUGO came together to organize and advertise the event. “The tournament itself was a lot of fun, it was one of those moments that made me proud of my campus for participating in a good cause.”

As President of STUGO in his Sophomore year, Oscar participated in the Student Public Policy Forum (SPPF). Through this program, he began to understand the different power structures at various levels of government in Arizona. Additionally, the SPFF created spaces to discuss issues affecting local communities and provided a bridge to insight from local politicians and community leaders. This opportunity refined his professional skills but more importantly was one of the reasons he pursued a degree in Public Policy.

Oscar’s advice to students is to "challenge themselves to grow academically, socially, and professionally. College is meant to be a learning experience, not simply to attend for certification." While joining extracurricular events or participating in campus events does not always fit everyone’s schedule, in his opinion, "it is the ultimate way to ensure a path of success."

PVCC holds a special place in Oscar’s heart. “I believe that this campus contributed to shaping me into the person and professional I am today. Every milestone I hit, I always take time to reflect on how it all started at PVCC. I am happy for the professors I had, the mentors and friendships I made, but I am more joyful over choosing PVCC because I was able to experience college with people from my own neighborhood.  I think PVCC is great because it affords opportunities to all while still representing the communities it serves.”

After his time as a Puma, Oscar moved on to Arizona State University to pursue a degree in Public Policy and a minor in Justice Studies. While at ASU, he was involved in various extracurricular and student roles. As a senior, Oscar gave back to his ASU community by working for the First-Year Success Center as a Sophomore Success Coach mentoring and advising young ASU students. During his time as a coach, he worked with other ASU students to found Undocumented Students for Educational Equity (USEE). This organization supports the undocumented community by providing resources to undocumented students, educating the ASU community on how to be an ally, and bringing awareness to the broader community. 

Currently, Oscar is a fifth-grade teacher in Avondale thanks to the guidance from Teacher for America. As a second-year teacher, Oscar is excited to be part of the Arizona Department of Education Latinx Advisory Board. Oscar is committed to paying it forward as he acknowledges all those who supported him along his journey.