A widowed mother, a Filipino immigrant, and a Rochester bus driver are defying the odds in their pursuit of higher education at Nazareth College. Elizabeth Wyatt ‘18G, Joanna Barber Parker ‘18, and Hannelore Heredia ‘19 have been recognized for the Rochester Area Colleges Continuing Education (RACCE) Outstanding Adult Student Awards because of their continued commitment to higher education and their academic excellence.
Elizabeth Wyatt is pursuing a masters degree in Early Childhood Inclusive Education. Wyatt has defied in the odds in her pursuit of higher education after becoming unexpectedly widowed during her pregnancy and starting her program at Nazareth four months after giving birth to her daughter. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA during her time at the College and wants to use her education to make a difference in young lives.
Joanna Barber Parker is a Social Work major at Nazareth College who was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States at the age of nine. She experienced limited resources during her childhood which gave her the motivation to pursue a career in social work with the goal of strengthening her community and increasing social and economic justice.
Hannelore Heredia is a Nursing major at Nazareth who manages to excel in the classroom while working as a bus driver for the Rochester Transit Service. Her drive to pursue a nursing degree stems from working with developmentally disabled individuals for 13 years and wanting to find a way to make an even greater impact.
The RACCE Outstanding Adult Student Awards are given to candidates who show an intense dedication to their education despite the challenges adult learners typically face. In order to be considered for this award, students must show excellence in academics and an ability to balance personal and professional responsibilities while working towards a college degree.
Nazareth is committed to offering adult students every opportunity to achieve a degree and support their professional success.
Julie Long | Nazareth Chief Public Relations Officer | (585) 389-2456 | jlong2@naz.edu
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.