06/04/2026
She did it! Harvard Class of 2026! I could not be more proud of Anouska…not only for graduating from Harvard among some of the brightest students in the world…but for the way she has moved through formidable spaces with her first-generation superpowers and continued to shine her light as a beacon of hope for every student who looks to her and sees what is possible.
Earning a degree in Mathematics and Science from Harvard as a first-generation Latina undergraduate is no small feat. Anouska stood shoulder to shoulder with students from generations of access, privilege, and preparation…and she belonged there. Fully.
Having the honor of seeing her on campus throughout these last four years reminded me again and again that Anouska was exactly who I knew her to be as a high school student in Long Beach…humble, centered, curious, confident, kind, authentic, hungry to learn, and deeply grounded in purpose.
From the day I met her, she has carried an inner compass that has guided her through every challenge. Her accomplishment is a reflection of her hard work, her grit, her faith, her loving family, and the extended village that believed in her every step of the way.
Spending two days at Harvard for graduation ceremonies with the Ortiz family and my UB “son” Natanael who welcomed Anouska to Boston four years ago and served as a host family…was a full circle moment. It was also a gift I will treasure forever. Watching Anouska receive her diploma was more than a proud moment…it was a sacred reminder of sacrifice, possibility, generational change, and the power of a dream nurtured by love and the Spirit of Ubuntu.
When our students dream big, work hard, and are surrounded by the right village, all things are possible. We are forever connected as chosen family and the Upward Bound ties that remind us why we proudly say TRIO Works! #2026
