Riccy Amador
Loyola University Maryland
Riccy Amador is a second-year student at Loyola University Maryland who is passionate about addressing social injustices in her community, particularly immigration and poverty. A Honduran immigrant to Baltimore City, Riccy is a model of civic leadership on our campus and in our Baltimore community. From her very first months as an undergraduate student, Riccy stepped into a leadership role on campus, volunteering for voter registration drives, leading neighborhood resident and student bridge-building days, and participating in an educational immersion in Apopka, Fla., to learn more about the lives and working conditions of migrant farm workers. Motivated by her own experiences of discrimination, Riccy participated in racial justice training and leadership to inspire her campus peers to interrupt instances of interpersonal racism and work to address systemic inequities in policies such as immigration.
Personal Statement
Having been born in Honduras during a time of violence and lack of a proper education, I was brought to the U.S. at an early age. Attending a Jesuit high school and university throughout my entire education has given me an opportunity to grow my awareness of equality for all. For an immigrant it is very difficult to attend a private university; I had a hard time understanding that I was not eligible for government financial aid. After waiting 14 years for my green card, I understood that a piece of paper saying you are a “Resident” really does change your whole life. If anyone would have asked me if I felt any different the day after my green card arrived, I would have said no. I am the same person I was the day before. Having documentation that says I can stay in the U.S. is not what I want-- I want everyone to see that I came to the U.S. to have a future. I am here NOW to spread awareness on the equality we all deserve no matter what label we have under the government’s eyes.
