Following in Her Parents’ Footsteps

A LEGACY OF LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP

Naomi Lopez’s journey is rooted in a deep family commitment to education. Raised in Mankato by parents who emigrated from Puerto Rico to pursue advanced degrees, Naomi grew up with a strong appreciation for learning and opportunity. Her mother, Mari, and father, Javier, overcame financial challenges to earn graduate degrees and eventually settled in Minnesota, where Javier became a professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

“Education is everything,” Naomi says. “It provided my parents with opportunities they couldn’t have realized on the island. My mom sacrificed everything so my sister and I could have a head start.”

Naomi was awarded the Ogden W. and Jane M. Confer Scholarship in 2018, recognizing her leadership, community involvement, and commitment to pursuing a liberal arts education. She went on to graduate from Carleton College, where she studied political science and public policy, inspired by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

The scholarship was established by Ogden and Jane Confer to support students who exemplify leadership and a dedication to community. Though Ogden has since passed away, his belief in the power of education lives on through the students the scholarship continues to support. “We believe in a broad, liberal arts education,” Ogden once said. “Kids should be exposed to a lot of information, and there’s no better place to do that than college. It’s not just about preparing for employment—it’s about preparing for life.”

Throughout her academic journey, Naomi remained passionate about social justice, with aspirations to work in family and immigration law. Her leadership in high school—through music, advocacy, and church involvement—reflected her drive to make a difference, a commitment she carried into college and beyond.

“My parents always reminded us that because we are blessed, we need to be advocates for others,” Naomi says. “This scholarship and my education brought me one step closer to that dream.”