Maria is the first in her family to attend college. Balancing coursework with a part-time job to help at home was not easy, but Maria remained focused on her dream of becoming a social worker.

With the support of The Shield Foundation Scholarship, she is now pursuing a degree in Social Work at Texas State University. She is actively involved on campus and volunteers with local youth organizations.

Maria’s goal is to help young people in her community navigate challenges and build brighter futures just as others helped her.