Nubia Garza is one of eight students in the US—and the only high schooler in the country—to earn this honor.
Front Range Community College student Nubia Garza has been selected as one of just eight students nationwide—and the only high school student in the country—to be a 2026 DREAM Scholar. Nubia is in FRCC’s Gateway to College program, which supports students in completing their high school diplomas while also taking college classes.
She was chosen through a highly competitive application process by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization dedicated to advancing community colleges as engines of opportunity, belonging and economic mobility.
Emerging Leaders, Big Dreams
As a participant in the prestigious DREAM Scholars program, Nubia and her fellow scholars will represent community colleges across the nationwide Achieving the Dream Network at ATD’s annual conference in Portland, Oregon this March. The program is a powerful opportunity for eight students from participating institutions to enhance key leadership, critical thinking and networking skills.
A 17-year-old Mexican American student from Brighton, Colorado, Nubia is charting her own unique path to success. Following experiences with bullying in middle and high school, Nubia struggled to find her place in a traditional educational setting, so she decided to make a change and enrolled in FRCC’s Gateway to College program to finish high school and get a head start on college.
Facing Down Bullies
Nubia’s story is rooted in a deep desire to create understanding and empathy for others. She describes her younger self as a social butterfly—but by the time she hit middle school, she often felt out of place and faced bullying, especially after choosing to wear a hijab.
One boy who she considered a friend tore off her headscarf at school. Another group teased her relentlessly, making inappropriate and offensive jokes about Muslims.
As a proud Mexican American, Nubia speaks fluent Spanish and English. Still, in her early teen years she felt like she didn’t quite fit in with the Latino community because of her religion. “I needed to show people that being Muslim wasn’t anything bad,” she recalls. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
“I had no friends.”
Nubia’s family moved to a new community as she hit ninth grade, so she started freshman year at a high school where she didn’t know a soul. Instead of giving in to isolation, she turned inward, finding strength in her religious faith and a love for learning.
“I discovered my love for learning through Islam,” she says.
School was no longer all about her social life—it was all about knowledge. “I started digging into the Quran and stopped being so focused on pleasing other people. I focused on doing my best to improve myself and on caring about other people.”
A Big Decision
A couple of years later, Nubia now feels she needed that time to be alone—to learn to love and fully appreciate herself. She told her mom that she wanted to start home schooling.
But Nubia’s mom told her about FRCC’s Gateway to College program, which had been a wonderful support for her years ago when she had found herself pregnant in high school. Gateway to College students learn how to succeed in an educational setting under the guidance of a caring team of instructors and resource specialists who have experience with at-risk youth.
“I thought it sounded scary because it meant taking college classes,” Nubia laughs. “I wasn’t sure I was capable.” Her mom made her apply anyway—and she hasn’t looked back since.
“It has been better than I ever hoped, and has helped me get to the place where I am now with a 4.0 GPA,” she beams. “I am learning so much and building connections that are deep and long-lasting.”
Regaining Her Footing
Nubias’ faith—and her mother’s perseverance through numerous life challenges—inspired her to keep moving forward, despite any obstacles. Education has become her anchor.
Through the Gateway to College program, she regained her footing and discovered a renewed sense of purpose. “The staff are so loving and understanding and so passionate about helping students get everything they need to learn,” she gushes.
“They are so focused on their students, making us feel comfortable and safe and loved. They get to really know the students and they help set us up for success in the future.”
Ivy League Dreams
Nubia still has another year left in high school—she will graduate in the spring of 2027 when her high school peers graduate. By then she will also be halfway to earning an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in communication from FRCC.
She plans to complete that AA degree at Front Range, then transfer to a four-year university. She has her eyes on a couple of Ivy League schools—something she says she never would have thought possible before Gateway. If that doesn’t pan out, she’d like to stay in Colorado to major in communication at CU Boulder.
Fostering Understanding Through Perseverance
In the future, Nubia hopes to work within the Muslim community to organize and plan events that bring people together and strengthen connections. She is also interested in creating opportunities for people outside the community to learn about Islam, with the goal of spreading understanding and awareness beyond media stereotypes.
Her commitment to fostering dialogue, countering harmful stereotypes and building bridges across communities reflects FRCC’s mission to advance equity and a strong sense of belonging.
“I know that throughout my life, I have done my best to persevere through thick and thin,” Nubia says. “Persistence is a key value in my life because I know that hard work always pays off.”
Participating in DREAM 2026
Being a DREAM Scholar will take Nubia out of her comfort zone this spring—and into the spotlight. She’ll get to take part in an immersive leadership and learning experience at DREAM 2026, ATD’s annual convening, which will be held in March in Portland, Oregon.
During the conference, the DREAM Scholars will engage with community college leaders from across the country and beyond, participate in leadership development opportunities and attend sessions focused on student success and its role in economic mobility and community prosperity.
Becoming a Leader
Each DREAM Scholar will also deliver an individual presentation at the conference, sharing their personal journey and offering insight into how their college supports student learning, completion and opportunity. In addition, each 2026 DREAM Scholar receives a financial scholarship to support their educational or personal journey, along with access to leadership development, mentoring and professional networks.
With all of these amazing opportunities, Nubia is most excited about meeting the other seven scholars in person.
“I’ve read their stories and these people are amazing,” she says with an earnest light in her eyes. “They are brilliant and sweet and well spoken—and I already love them all.”
Elevating Student Voices
Achieving the Dream President and CEO Dr. Karen A. Stout emphasized the importance of student leadership within the program.
“The 2026 DREAM Scholars bring clarity, courage and conviction to the conversations shaping the future of higher education,” she said. “Their stories illuminate both the barriers students continue to face and the potential that emerges when institutions listen deeply and act boldly. When community colleges center student voice, they strengthen not just individual lives but the vitality of entire communities.”
The DREAM Scholars program elevates student voices at the center of national conversations about higher education and recognizes students whose experiences reflect the transformative power of community colleges.
About the DREAM Scholars Program
The DREAM Student Scholars program is an experiential learning opportunity for community college students designed to strengthen leadership, critical thinking, and professional networks. The program integrates authentic student perspectives into Achieving the Dream’s annual DREAM conference and is supported through private gifts from ATD Network members, employees, coaches, board members, and partners.
About Achieving the Dream
Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a partner and champion of more than 300 community colleges nationwide. Through expert coaching, evidence-based practices, and a powerful peer network, ATD supports colleges in building capacity and implementing strategies that help students succeed academically, personally, and economically. ATD’s vision is for every college to be a catalyst for equitable and economically vibrant communities. Learn more at www.achievingthedream.org.
About Front Range Community College
FRCC is Colorado’s largest community college, serving more than 27,000 students each year. With courses offered at multiple locations, online and through our high school concurrent enrollment programs, at FRCC, learners can choose from more than 200 degrees and certificates in a wide variety of fields. For more information, visit frontrange.edu.
The college’s strategic plan, Forward, Together, focuses on five strategic priorities:
- Learning Without Limits
- Success for Every Learner
- Vibrant Culture
- College Excellence
- Transformational Partnerships
FRCC is proud to be part of the Colorado Community College System, advancing educational access and workforce development across the state.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) CCCS comprises 13 colleges and more than 35 locations, serving over 124,000 students annually. Together, its colleges play a vital role in delivering workforce-aligned education, expanding economic mobility, and serving as the first and best path to opportunity for Coloradans of all backgrounds.
