RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE

Linda and Luis Perez

Promote the Benefits of Catholic Education

Linda and Luis Perez have a very personal understanding of how difficult it can be to overcome barriers and attain a college education.

As one of the first generation in her family to attend college, Linda knew she would have to pay for it on her own. She began working at age 14 to save money for her tuition and eventually put herself through school, working while earning a bachelor’s degree and then continuing with a law degree. She held a judicial clerkship in Washington, D.C., before becoming a commercial litigator in Orlando.

Luis immigrated to Central Florida from Cuba. He attended a public high school that did not accommodate non-English speakers. By the time he graduated, he had received a scholarship to Rollins College. Today, Luis is a corporate lawyer with Reed Smith in South Florida, with a special focus on the renewable energy sector.

The Perezes not only support education in general, they strongly believe in Catholic education and its commitment to making a social impact. Linda attended Catholic school from kindergarten through high school, and both she and Luis graduated from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. Their daughter attended 17 years of Catholic school as well, and is currently earning double master’s degrees at Boston College.

“A Catholic education emphasizes making a difference in the world, understanding a responsibility to serve and being community focused,” says Linda.

The scholarship Luis received made a big difference in his life, inspiring him to pay it forward, particularly for minority students. Realizing that their values aligned closely with those of Barry University, Linda and Luis established an Opportunity Scholarship at Barry that would provide a partial scholarship each year for all four years for a student who might otherwise not be able to complete a degree.

Linda also gives her time to Barry as a member of the Board of Trustees, an experience she describes as enriching.

“I’m getting to know about the school, the academic offerings, the student population and just how important Barry is to the community,” she says. Her early financial challenges mirror those of many Barry students, so she brings a valuable perspective to the role.