News & Updates
Each year at DREAM, Achieving the Dream brings together community college leaders, educators, and advocates to explore bold ideas and share a vision for the future of higher education. At the heart of this convening are the DREAM Scholars — eight exceptional students selected through a highly competitive application process to take part in an immersive conference experience.
The 2026 DREAM Scholars represent a wide range of backgrounds, fields of study, and life experiences. They are resilient, imaginative, and driven — students whose stories reflect the transformative power of community colleges. This March, they will step onto the DREAM stage to share their journeys, their challenges, and their aspirations with the conference community, offering perspectives that inspire, challenge, and remind us why student voices belong at the center of the conversation.
Get to know this year’s DREAM Scholars, and if you’re attending DREAM 2026, prepare to hear their stories in their own words — each one a testament to courage, perseverance, and the limitless possibilities that community colleges help unlock.
Bohdan Andrashko
Elgin Community College (Illinois)
Bohdan’s journey spans five countries and years of starting over. After growing up in Ukraine and seeing his family and community deeply impacted by war, he rebuilt his life in the United States, where he found stability and purpose at Elgin Community College. He raised his math placement score in two weeks, earned a 4.0 GPA, completed 43 credits in one year, and stepped into leadership as executive treasurer and a credit union board member.
Bohdan hopes to study finance and economics at a four-year university and use those skills to support communities recovering from conflict, especially Ukrainians living with trauma. His perseverance and focus on rebuilding align strongly with ATD’s mission of expanding access and creating opportunity. He shows how community colleges can change a person’s direction and how one student’s resilience can impact others. Bohdan brings a global perspective, a commitment to service, and a clear desire to turn hardship into long-term impact.
“Education didn’t just change my direction; it changed my identity. Every test, every class, every day of hard work gave me hope that I could turn survival into success.”
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Chormrern “Chom” Chan
Middlesex Community College (Massachusetts)
Chom was raised in a Khmer refugee family, carrying the responsibility that came with being the eldest daughter. From a young age, she balanced caring for her siblings, translating, and navigating the emotional and financial challenges that shaped her family’s daily life. Through these experiences, resilience, responsibility, and care became foundational to who she is.
Returning to college through MassReconnect marked a turning point, giving Chom the space to reconnect with her purpose. As an aspiring art therapist, she sees creativity and art as powerful tools for healing. This belief shapes her commitment to expanding mental health access and educational equity for first-generation, immigrant, and low-income students in Lowell. Her commitment to community mirrors ATD’s focus on equity and belonging. She leads with intention, empathy, and creativity, grounded in a clear understanding of how systemic barriers shape opportunity.
Chom moves forward with a deep commitment to healing, equity, and community —working to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
“Ultimately, being a DREAM Scholar is more than an honor — it’s an opportunity to cultivate the skills, connections, and insight I need to serve as a catalyst for change, lifting up those around me while continuing to grow toward the sun.”
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Josiah A. Rodriguez
San Antonio College (Texas)
Josiah grew up in one of San Antonio’s most underresourced neighborhoods, where community taught him resilience and early responsibility. After supporting his siblings and working to help his family, he returned to college with a promise that his mother would earn her GED alongside him. He now maintains a 4.0 GPA, serves as Texas’ only community college student trustee, and co-founded the First-Generation Club.
Josiah believes one isn’t born into poverty but born into systematic failures that cause poverty; he aims to change that.
He wants to use political science to advocate for equitable housing and education policies. His belief in listening to all voices aligns closely with ATD’s commitment to inclusive leadership. He offers personal insight into systemic inequity and a record of service grounded in empathy.
“Education has taught me that everything is possible. The power of education can move mountains and even uplift people out of poverty into a future with endless possibilities.”
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Leolora “LiiLii” Wiggins
Pierce College (Washington)
A proud Pacific Islander and Army veteran, Leolora, — or LiiLii, as she likes to be called — returned to college to show her daughters, one of whom lives with epilepsy, that determination can overcome any obstacle. Balancing school, work, and family, LiiLii earned her place as a mentor and advocate at Pierce College’s Military and Veterans Resource Center, where she helps veterans and Pacific Islander students find community and resources.
Her dream is to open a business focused on healthy, medicinal cooking, blending her love for wellness with her business studies. For LiiLii, education is more than a personal goal; it’s a way to lift others. She believes leadership means listening first and creating spaces where every voice matters. Her commitment to access and community impact mirrors ATD’s mission to advance equity and opportunity. She hopes to inspire students who feel unseen and remind them that persistence and purpose can change lives. Becoming a DREAM Scholar is her chance to grow as a leader and amplify voices from communities often left out of the conversation.
“The DREAM Scholars program is something I want to do for me. It represents my commitment to finally putting myself first, not out of selfishness but because I know that when I invest in my own growth, I become a stronger leader, mother, and advocate.”
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Nubia Garza
Front Range Community College (Gateway to College program, Colorado)
Nubia’s story is rooted in a deep desire to create understanding and empathy for others. Growing up, she often felt out of place and faced bullying, especially after choosing to wear a hijab. Instead of giving in to isolation, she turned inward, finding strength in her Muslim faith and a love for learning.
Her mother’s perseverance through numerous challenges inspired Nubia to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. Education became her anchor. Through the Gateway to College program, she regained her footing and discovered a renewed sense of purpose.
In the future, Nubia hopes to work within the Muslim community to organize and plan events that bring people together and strengthen connections. She is also interested in creating opportunities for people outside the community to learn about Islam, with the goal of spreading understanding and awareness beyond media stereotypes. Her commitment to fostering dialogue, countering harmful stereotypes, and building bridges across communities reflects ATD’s mission to advance equity and a strong sense of belonging.
“I know that throughout my life, I have done my best to persevere through thick and thin. Persistence is a key value in my life because I know that hard work always pays off.”
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Sarah Cochran
Salish Kootenai College (Montana)
Sarah’s story is rooted in loss but focuses on healing and her commitment to her Indigenous community. After struggling with losses and mental health, she redirected her trauma and used it to pursue her education and career goals. At Salish Kootenai College (SKC), she found belonging, stability, and a clearer sense of purpose. Now majoring in Tribal governance and administration, she serves as student senate president and the SKC Graduate Honoring Powwow ambassador. These roles helped her build confidence, advocate for students, and reconnect deeply with her culture.
Sarah hopes to pursue a master’s degree in public administration and eventually work in tribal law and justice, focusing on safety, sovereignty, and trauma-informed advocacy to amplify the voices of Indigenous peoples. Her goals align with ATD’s mission by centering access, community impact, and the power of representation. She brings courage, humility, and a clear vision for improving life in tribal communities — using education not only to heal herself but to push for long-overdue justice for her people.
“I strive to speak up for Tribal communities and promote a vibrant, healthy, and functioning life for Indigenous peoples.”
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Victor Aigbedion
Anne Arundel Community College (Maryland)
Victor moved from Nigeria to the U.S. at age 9 and spent years rebuilding confidence and identity. After being bullied and feeling overlooked, he chose a fresh start at Glen Burnie High School and began taking college courses through Anne Arundel Community College (AACC), where he is dually enrolled
He now serves as the outreach director of the Student Ambassador Program at AACC and strives for a world where success among youth, especially those from overlooked populations, is not the exception but rather the expectation.
Victor hopes to study political science at George Washington University and one day develop policies that strengthen opportunities for underrepresented communities. His focus on service, faith, and gratitude aligns directly with ATD’s mission of mobility and community impact. He has transformed hardship into purpose and is ready to lead with integrity and compassion.
“I’ve experienced firsthand what happens when someone believes in you. I know how one conversation, one chance, or one person can completely change the course of your life. That is what happened to me. And now, I want to be that person for someone else.”
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Zoe Bok
University of the Western Cape (Cape Town, South Africa)
Zoe is pursuing a master’s degree in social work at the University of the Western Cape. Her journey reflects resilience shaped by socioeconomic challenges and a commitment to social justice. Zoe’s goals center on creating inclusive spaces for marginalized voices, particularly women and children, and addressing systemic inequalities in education and community development.
Through her role as a first-year transitioning officer in the Siyaphumelela First-Year Experience program, Zoe has actively supported students navigating the transition to university, fostering belonging and empowerment. Her leadership extends beyond campus through advocacy and community engagement, including mentoring and youth development initiatives.
Zoe’s aspirations align strongly with ATD’s mission: She champions access and equity, builds momentum for student success, and seeks to create lasting community impact. Her story of perseverance and her dedication to transforming educational spaces make her an outstanding choice for the DREAM Scholars program.
“My identity hasn’t just shaped my educational path; it has become the foundation of my professional commitment to creating spaces where marginalized voices are heard and celebrated, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic status.”
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