08/05/2026
Seahawk Stories: Elizabeth Hernandez ‘26
Photo: Jeff Janowski/UNCW
June 25, 2026
Spanish major Elizabeth Hernandez ’26 once thought that she would never go to college. Now, UNCW has become a place where she is redefining her future.
Originally from Dover, Florida, Hernandez describes her beginnings as humble. She moved around constantly as a child before settling in Rocky Point, North Carolina. Her interest in pursuing higher education began in high school where she joined the UNCW Precollege Mentoring Program and the summer bridge program as a mentee. The programs were where she first felt passion to go to college.
“I didn’t believe I wanted to go to college after high school because I didn’t know what to major in. But they [the programs] helped me a lot,” said Hernandez. “With the help from one of my greatest supporters, Mrs. Wall, my middle school ESL teacher, I was pushed to pursue a secondary education.”
With the support of these programs and mentors, Hernandez received the NC Next, C.M. and M.D. Suther and Education Abroad scholarships. She also received the Mubleria El Nido Scholarship, awarded by a local Wilmington business to the most promising Centro Hispano students. As a first-generation college student, this support is truly valued.
“It means a lot to me. I come from a family where my family members could not finish their education due to financial hardships,” she said. “It makes me very happy and proud to have achieved such an education.”
Upon arriving at UNCW, Hernandez was unsure of what to major in but soon found direction in her own life experiences and inspiration from professors.
“I really wanted to learn more about my native language,” she said. “I was greatly inspired by Profesora Rider during my first Spanish class. Her passion for teaching the Spanish language radiated and greatly inspired me to pursue it as a degree.”
[Read remaining interview in the comments.]
![Part 2 | More photos from Día de Bienvenida! [All photos will be added to UNCW Centro Hispano’s Facebook.]](https://img5.glunis.com/371/244/1684152473712444.jpg)
