Maria Emma Arcia Lopez

Finding academic, social and financial support

Maria Emma Arcia Lopez arrived at KU as a teenager who had been living with her family in Chinandega, Nicaragua. By the time she earned her bachelor’s degree in business analytics, she had learned to cook, have a car, manage a schedule and work a part-time job to cover the rent.

“KU helped me move from a teenager, living with my parents, to becoming a fully independent adult,” said Arcia, who graduated this spring and now works as an application support analyst at Advisors Excel in Topeka.

When exploring colleges, Arcia said it was not an option to stay in Nicaragua because of the sociopolitical situation. She picked KU because it strongly supported international students and provided scholarships and other academic opportunities.

Arcia had never been to Kansas before coming to KU and wasn’t expecting to be among 100-plus other Latin American students when she arrived.

“I thought I was going to be the only one from my country, but then I got here, and the international network of students is incredible,” Arcia said.

Arriving in January 2020, Arcia’s time on campus came to an abrupt halt just as she was settling in and making friends. The global pandemic hit, and in March she returned to Nicaragua, where she stayed through the summer and fall taking online classes.

When she returned to campus in spring 2021, she was determined to take advantage of the opportunities outside of the classroom that were difficult to connect to remotely. She joined the University and Business Honors programs.

“I was super happy to be back and ready to do different activities than just my classes,” Arcia said.

For Arcia a greater stressor than the global pandemic was the financial burden of college. With COVID-19 and the sociopolitical climate in Nicaragua, paying for college each semester was a challenge for her family.

“It was bittersweet,” Arcia said. “I was enjoying my time here, but I was worried about the situation. It was stressful.”

To help, KU was flexible with payments and Arcia found part-time work at the KU Bookstore and with KU IT. The family managed a way to cover the expenses until the end of Arcia’s junior year when she wasn’t sure how they would pay. That’s when International Support Services offered assistance through the Mildred F. Law fund.

“That was my salvation,” Arcia said. “I will always be grateful for that.”

Hazel Rogers, special programs coordinator for International Admissions, said Arcia was tenacious in working to finance her education. Rogers is thankful that KU has resources, such as the Law scholarship, to help students like Arcia achieve their goals.

“Maria Emma is an incredible success story. She’s exactly the kind of student we want representing our international scholarship programs,” Rogers said. “In addition to her excellent academic performance, she’s genuine and warm.”

While Arcia said having more financial support earlier would have created the capacity for more opportunities on campus, the experience made her stronger and more appreciative. For example, she is grateful for the support of her family and loved ones, along with the help she received from her professors at the School of Business, the enriching experience of the honors programs and the wide variety of cultures and backgrounds she encountered at KU.

“There were so many things as an international student, exchanges and experiences, that were incredible,” Arcia said. “KU is in my heart now. I will never forget about it.”

By Christine Metz Howard