{"id":245306,"date":"2026-05-05T12:09:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T16:09:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=245306"},"modified":"2026-05-06T14:27:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T18:27:53","slug":"19-bilingual-ct-adelante-scholars-to-graduate-with-msw-degrees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2026\/05\/19-bilingual-ct-adelante-scholars-to-graduate-with-msw-degrees\/","title":{"rendered":"19 Bilingual CT \u00a1Adelante! Scholars to Graduate with MSW Degrees"},"content":{"rendered":"

In seventh grade, Nicole Vega<\/strong> ’26 MSW was often absent from school and struggled with behavioral challenges. At home, her mother was bedridden, and as the youngest child, Vega took on caregiving responsibilities.<\/p>\n

Despite these challenges, she excelled academically. When a principal recommended transferring her to an alternative school, a counselor intervened\u2014advocating for Vega to stay.<\/p>\n

That moment would shape her future.<\/p>\n

A lifelong resident of Waterbury, Connecticut, Vega grew up in a Spanish-speaking household. Her mother, a first-generation Puerto Rican who moved to the U.S., and her father, an immigrant from Colombia who recently became a U.S. citizen, instilled in her a strong sense of resilience.<\/p>\n

Vega didn\u2019t begin learning English until preschool. Now 31, Vega is a mother to a two-and-a-half-year-old son and works full time for the Department of Children and Families. On May 9, she will graduate with a Master of Social Work<\/a> through the Connecticut \u00a1Adelante! Scholars Program<\/a>\u2014part of the program\u2019s largest cohort to date. The program offers MSW students bilingual Spanish\/English clinical training to address the growing need for Spanish-speaking social workers in Connecticut.<\/p>\n

Our CT \u00a1Adelante! Scholars . . . bring lived experience, cultural knowledge, and a deep commitment to serving their communities\u2014qualities that will make them impactful leaders in the social work profession. \u2014 Milagros Marrero-Johnson, UConn School of Social Work<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re so proud of our CT \u00a1Adelante! Scholars, many of whom have overcome significant challenges to be in the program,\u201d says CT \u00a1Adelante! Scholars Program director Milagros Marrero-Johnson, senior director of strategic initiatives and community engagement at the UConn School of Social Work. \u201cThey bring lived experience, cultural knowledge, and a deep commitment to serving their communities\u2014qualities that will make them impactful leaders in the social work profession.\u201d<\/p>\n

The counselor who once advocated for her is a driving force behind Vega\u2019s decision to pursue social work.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn high school, I always wanted to help people be successful and reach their full potential,\u201d Vega says. \u201cI knew people had the ability to do well\u2014they just needed extra support. As a social worker, I want to connect people with resources, educate them, and advocate for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

As an \u00a1Adelante! Scholar, Vega found a sense of belonging among a cohort of bilingual Latino and Hispanic students she describes as a \u201ccommunity and family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, I felt very Americanized, but this group helped me reconnect with my cultural identity,\u201d she says. \u201cMy son is Puerto Rican, Colombian, Mexican, and Dominican, and I want him to embrace and love every part of who he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through these connections, Vega also strengthened her Spanish-language skills, particularly terminology relevant to social work practice.<\/p>\n

After graduation, Vega plans to continue her work with the Department of Children and Families while pursuing advancement opportunities, with the goal of becoming a supervisor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to make a difference\u2014whether big or small\u2014and support families,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"Lucas<\/a>
Lucas Amestoy ’26 MSW, Jashleen Abreu Flores ’26 MSW, Glendaly Bermudez ’26 MSW, Jeimy Tiga Segura ’26 MSW, and Alejandra Vazquez ’26 MSW enjoy the graduation reception.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jeimy Tiga Segura<\/strong>
\nSeven years ago, Jeimy Tiga Segura ’26 MSW arrived in the United States from Colombia with a clear goal:\u00a0\u201cI wanted to learn English,\u201d she says. \u201cI wanted to become a bilingual teacher.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tiga Segura began her journey as an au pair, living with American families for two years and immersing herself in the language and culture while caring for their children. As she prepared to return to teaching, she unexpectedly found a role as a care coordinator serving the Latino community in Norwalk, Connecticut.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough this role, I discovered how much I loved serving others\u2014especially my own community,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

While exploring graduate programs, Tiga Segura attended an information session at the UConn School of Social Work. There, Milagros Marrero-Johnson spoke with her in Spanish about the support available to students in the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that moment, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be\u2014both academically and professionally,\u201d Tiga Segura says. \u201cHaving a strong Latino community around me was a major reason why I chose UConn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tiga Segura enrolled in the School\u2019s three-year, part-time Master of Social Work program and became an \u00a1Adelante! Scholar in her second year, taking courses in both English and Spanish.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking bilingual classes has been an incredible experience,\u201d she says. \u201cI supported my classmates with Spanish, and in return, they helped me tremendously with my English\u2014improving my pronunciation, clarifying concepts, and helping me better understand the culture. We truly cared for one another.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, the scholarship provided by the \u00a1Adelante! program helped cover her school expenses, gas, and meals on campus. “It was a tremendous relief not having to worry about finances during my studies, and it truly made a meaningful difference. I am deeply grateful.”<\/div>\n

Now 33 and residing in Stratford, Tiga Segura is a first-generation immigrant, married, and a proud \u201cHusky mom.\u201d She enjoys nature and traveling and has already recommended the \u00a1Adelante! Scholars Program to colleagues.<\/p>\n

\u201cI recommend it because it creates a sense of community, empowers students, and allows us to feel proud of who we are as immigrants,\u201d she says. \u201cTo me, this program feels like a home for my people.\u201d<\/p>\n

After graduation, Tiga Segura plans to pursue a role as a bilingual clinician, ideally in an intensive outpatient program for adolescents, where she can combine her background in teaching with her social work training.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel honored to say that I completed my master\u2019s degree at UConn and can confidently provide services in both English and Spanish,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"Emily
As a Connecticut \u00a1Adelante! Scholar, Emily Lopez ’26 MSW found mentorship, financial support, and a network of peers with shared experiences.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Emily Lopez
\n<\/strong>Emily Lopez ’26 MSW has always understood the power of language, community, and access.<\/p>\n

A 27-year-old Latina, bilingual, and first-generation student, Lopez was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, in a family with roots in Guatemala. Spanish was her first language, and with support from her older brother, she developed both her Spanish and English skills early.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing bilingual has always been a core part of who I am,\u201d Lopez says. \u201cIt continues to shape both my personal and professional life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lopez did not begin her college journey in social work. Initially a political science major, she quickly realized the path wasn\u2019t the right fit. It wasn\u2019t until a career fair introduced her to the field that something clicked.<\/p>\n

\"Emily<\/a>
Emily Lopez ’26 MSW and Andres Pacheco ’26 MSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cGrowing up in an underserved community, I saw firsthand how limited access to resources and support can impact individuals and families,\u201d she says. \u201cThat inspired me to pursue social work\u2014to provide direct support while also advocating for systemic change.\u201d<\/p>\n

While researching graduate programs, Lopez discovered the UConn School of Social Work and the Connecticut \u00a1Adelante! Scholars Program. Its focus on supporting bilingual and bicultural students immediately stood out.
\n\u201cI hadn\u2019t seen a program like this at other schools,\u201d she says. \u201cI knew it would help me grow professionally and give me a strong sense of community.\u201d<\/p>\n

As an \u00a1Adelante! Scholar, Lopez found exactly that\u2014mentorship, financial support, and a network of peers with shared experiences and goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the most meaningful aspects has been being part of a cohort where I felt seen and supported,\u201d she says. \u201cI also gained confidence using Spanish in clinical and professional settings.\u201d<\/p>\n

This spring, Lopez will graduate with her Master of Social Work and plans to sit for the LMSW exam at the end of May. She has also recently been promoted to a full-time role as a family support specialist at a nonprofit agency in New Haven, working with children and families.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited to continue working in underserved communities and use my bilingual skills to help bridge gaps in access to care and resources,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

The other graduating \u00a1Adelante! Scholars are Jashleen Abreu Flores, \u201926 MSW; Lucas Daniel Amestoy, \u201926 MSW; Jaileen Bedoya, \u201926 MSW; Glendaly Bermudez, \u201926 MSW; Kayla Cruz, \u201926 MSW; Gerardo Enriquez-Rivera, \u201926 MSW; Stephanie Escobar, \u201926 MSW; Daniel Gutierrez, \u201926 MSW; Shayla Lindo, \u201926 MSW; Raynia Martinez, \u201926 MSW; Viviana Mora, \u201926 MSW; Andres Pacheco, \u201926 MSW; Kimberly Rios, \u201926 MSW; Jazmine Silva, \u201926 MSW; Maricielo Valencia, \u201926 MSW; and Alejandra Vazquez, \u201926 MSW.<\/p>\n

Watch the NBC CT stories, in English<\/a> and in Spanish<\/a>, about Connecticut \u00a1Adelante!<\/p>\n

View additional photos below: (Photos by Kimberly Rios and Alejandra Vazquez)<\/p>\n

\"Gerardo<\/a>
Gerardo Enriquez-Rivera ’26 MSW, and wife Melody Rivera Hernandez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jashleen<\/a>
Jashleen Abreu Flores ’26 MSW and Kimberly Rios ’26 MSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Maricielo<\/a>
Maricielo Valencia ’26 MSW and Kayla Cruz ’26 MSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Adelante
Jeimy Tiga Segura ’26 MSW, Emily Lopez ’26 MSW, and Kimberly Rios ’26 MSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jashleen
Jashleen Abreu Flores \u201926 MSW, Alejandra Vazquez \u201926 MSW and Kayla Cruz ’26 MSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lucas
Lucas Amestoy ’26 MSW, Jashleen Abreu Flores ’26 MSW, Kimberly Rios ’26MSW, and Alejandra Vazquez ’26 MSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Connecticut \u00a1Adelante! Scholars Program offers MSW students bilingual Spanish\/English clinical training to address the growing need for Spanish-speaking social workers in Connecticut<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":201,"featured_media":245318,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1870,92],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[2514],"class_list":["post-245306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ssw","category-uconn-hartford"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-13 16:07:36","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/201"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=245306"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":245502,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245306\/revisions\/245502"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/245318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=245306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245306"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=245306"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=245306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}