For our latest alumni spotlight, we are excited to feature mid-year graduate Claudia Alfonso-Alcaide. Colonial High School alumna Claudia graduated from the University of Central Florida in December 2023 with a major in communication sciences and disorders.
We caught up with Claudia to find out what she’s been up to since graduation.
Elevation Scholars: How has being an Elevation Scholar impacted your life so far?
Claudia: Being an Elevation Scholar has been a life-changing experience for me. As a first-generation college graduate, I am forever grateful for the support and opportunities provided by Elevation. Thanks to their connections in the community, I graduated debt-free and gained valuable shadowing experiences at AdventHealth. They truly understood where I needed to be and when which was invaluable in navigating the university system.
Elevation: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned about yourself through your Elevation journey?
Claudia: I’ve had significant personal and professional growth through my Elevation journey. The most important lesson for me has been recognizing my ability to be a strong leader in my community. While I may not always be the one speaking in front of a crowd, the work I do has the power to change lives. This realization became clear to me when I spoke at the recent breakfast fundraiser for the Scholars program, where I discussed my work with children with cerebral palsy and autism in my community during undergrad.
Elevation: What or who keeps you motivated during life’s most difficult times?
Claudia: The stories of my Cuban immigrant parents and those who came before them have always motivated me. Growing up, I was fortunate to be surrounded by opportunities in this amazing country. This concept of opportunity has guided me through navigating college and gaining experiences beyond the classroom. This motivation led me to apply for the Elevation Scholars program in my junior year of high school, and I’m incredibly grateful that I did.
Elevation: What are you up to these days? We’d love to hear about your current endeavors.
Claudia: After graduating in December, I’m relaxing and visiting my sister at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I’m also working with a local therapist to learn techniques I can apply as a speech-language pathologist in my future practice. Additionally, I’ll be starting a master’s program this fall to become a licensed speech-language pathologist, though the specific location is yet to be determined!
Your Elevation Scholars family looks forward to witnessing your ongoing success, Claudia!
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