STUDENTS JOHANNA MOROCHO LOZANO SUNY BINGHAMTON SENIOR & FORMER VIKING ROADS SCHOLAR To help out, Johanna worked, first alongside her mother as a housekeeper, and later when she realized there was a need for bi-lingual professionals, part-time for a building contractor. Meanwhile, even as she worked part-time, Johanna was excelling in high school. She was motivated by the knowledge that if she wanted to attend a four-year college, she would need a generous amount of financial aid, and for that, she would need an outstanding application. Like so many children of immigrants, she had to navigate the college application process largely by herself, and while she graduated with a 4.0 and glowing recommendations, her SAT score was not where she needed it to be. Johanna’s only option was to enroll in a community college. At first she was disappointed about starting at SUNY WCC. She’d internalized the stigma that community college wasn’t for “good” students. But by the end of her first semester, she had, in her own words, “matured,” and realized that “everyone has their own, unique path.” At SUNY WCC, Johanna felt supported and seen by the staff and teachers, from her Viking ROADS academic counselor, Michelle Valesquez, to Professor Han who encouraged her to enroll in the finance and accounting program. Johanna thrived. She became Treasurer of the Student Government Association and chair of the fundraising committee. She participated in meetings with Foundation leadership which she found intimidating, but ultimately, empowering. As an officer in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and student representative for the Faculty Student Association, she learned how to make arguments in a professional and convincing manner, just one of many valuable life skills she learned during this time. In 2023, Johanna graduated with her A.A.S. in Accounting and Finance, and moved on to SUNY Binghamton, where she is now a senior working toward a B.S. degree in Accounting. The transition was simplified thanks to a transfer agreement between the two schools. She hopes to pursue her master’s degree, take the CPA exam, and become a certified public accountant with her own small business serving the Hispanic immigrant community. Johanna credits her parents for this entrepreneurial spirit: today her mother’s housekeeping business has seven employees, and her dad, now a contractor, is his own boss. They have bought their first home. Johanna knows the path is not going to be easy moving forward. She is concerned about how she will finance a master’s degree as her immigration status renders her ineligible for most national scholarships. But she is also very thankful for the excellent education and generous support she received from SUNY WCC, and is equipped with the skills and determination to accomplish her goals. Tenacity, Hard Work and a Solid Foundation Johanna has always had an immense amount of focus and drive. As a child, she immigrated to the United States with her two siblings and parents whom she describes as “the most hardworking people you’ve ever known,” though as a housekeeper and handyman, they struggled to pay rent and put food on the table. Dr. Miles with Johanna 4
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