From One Generation to the Next A mother’s persistence inspires both her children
North Central’s campus was already a familiar place to Evelyn Escobedo ’23 when she transferred from a community college in 2021 to complete her undergraduate degree. Evelyn’s mother, Guadalupe, graduated from North Central in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She became the first in her family to finish college, and she earned the achievement while juggling parenthood. “I have no idea how I did it,” Guadalupe recalled. “I had my kids young and decided to go back to school, first to earn my GED, then to pursue a college degree. My husband was working two jobs, and it took a lot of effort.”
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Evelyn and her younger brother, César, have memories of doing their homework on the steps of Goldspohn Hall while waiting for Guadalupe to finish class. Their mother’s example inspired both to attend North Central. They knew she found support on campus, particularly through Teach First — the College's initial first-generation program, which was for education majors only. (In 2015, North Central launched Cardinal First, modeled after Teach First, which now provides programming for all first-generation students at the College.) “My mom definitely paved the road for me,” Evelyn said. “Had she not attended North Central, I wouldn’t have either. It was because of the personal connection I had with the school, campus and professors.”
