Elena Alicea graduated from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health science, according to an April 30 announcement. She dedicated her achievement to her late family members during the Wednesday morning commencement ceremony.
Alicea’s journey highlights the challenges faced by nontraditional students and the personal motivations that drive them. Growing up in a foster home, she said she understood how home life affects children’s well-being and wanted to help children and families through social work.
“I have always wanted to be a family advocate, a liaison or a social worker,” Alicea said. “I am really passionate about helping children with their mental health issues and think it’s really important to help families. GCU has been transformative. Even as an online student, I still felt connected to the school. My instructors helped me feel comfortable in the schoolwork I was doing, and as I look forward to the future, I do so with pride and the hope of inspiring others.”
Alicea’s pursuit of higher education began when her workplace encouraged her to earn a college degree. However, after enrolling at Green River Community College in 2018, she experienced tragedy when her husband, daughter, son, and nephew died in a car accident. “The grief was overwhelming,” Alicea said. “I didn’t know what direction to go in… But as a parent, I knew I couldn’t just give up like that for the sake of my surviving child and in memory of my loved ones.” She continued working toward her goal after meeting a Grand Canyon University representative at a conference.
During commencement at Global Credit Union Arena, Alicea wore a pendant featuring photos of lost loved ones while being joined by her daughter Zoie Cross and husband Tomas Alicea on stage. Reflecting on achieving her degree despite adversity, she said: “My (late) daughter’s words became a source of motivation during my most difficult moments… My family had supported me then, and this is to honor them for supporting me… There were many moments along the way where I felt like I was failing… so achieving my degree means everything to me.”
Grand Canyon University is located in Phoenix, Arizona; it is described as a private Christian educational institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs such as nursing, business and healthcare with both campus-based and online learning options; its focus on Christian values aims at supporting students’ potential; its programs have received high rankings for nursing, campus life and education according to the official website.
The story underscores how personal loss can shape educational paths while demonstrating resilience among nontraditional graduates.