Lorena Pacheco is a single mother of a five-year-old daughter. She is a survivor of
domestic violence and states that she has suffered in an “extreme physical and
mentally abusive relationship” before filing a domestic violence case and heading
out on her own. She has suffered homelessness, and currently is living with
relatives, but will be homeless again soon as family are moving out of the area.
Throughout all the challenges, she continues with her education, often just one
course at a time. She has no daycare, therefore must take all courses online in a
world that correlates care of her young daughter before everything else. References
for Lorena speak highly of her strong motivation for education, work ethic, and
determination to obtain a finance degree.

Lorena is currently attending Southwestern College, studying accounting with a
plan to complete her baccalaureate degree in finance at San Diego State University.
She has experience working in the accounting environment and states that this is
her passion. Her professional short-term goal is to obtain an internship in a
finance environment.

Congratulation Lorena an award well deserved.