Mariana Lemus Lara
As the youngest of seven children and the first in her family to attend college, Mariana Lemus Lara knew she wanted to go to college but was unsure how she would ever afford higher education. But Riverland helped her chart a path—starting with PSEO classes, one-on-one support with financial aid, and the life-changing Austin Assurance Scholarship.
“Riverland made college feel possible,” Mariana says. “Riverland staff are working really hard to remove barriers. They were in my high school, and they helped me fill in the paperwork-which is really hard if English isn’t your first language. They helped me plan a path-PSEO to complete my pre-requisites, CNA the summer after I graduated, and into the nursing program.”
Mariana continued, “My mom believed I would succeed in college, but she told me we couldn’t afford it. Getting the Austin Assurance Scholarship meant everything-it was the only way for me to complete my degree and I’m so grateful. The Austin Assurance Scholarship gives people license to dream about what they can do with a college education.
While earning her nursing degree, she gained confidence through hands-on learning in the college’s simulation center and found faculty mentors who encouraged her leadership. After graduating in 2024, she began her nursing career at Mayo Clinic. In just over a year, Mariana’s nursing and leadership skills were recognized, and she became a preceptor for the students in clinical rotation and a member of her floor’s Unit Coordinating Council.
Now, in a full-circle moment, Mariana has returned to Riverland to assist in the nursing simulation labs, training the next generation of nurses.
And thanks to major new investments in Riverland’s simulation labs, she now teaches with some of the most advanced training equipment available in the region.
“It’s incredible to see how far the program has come,” she says, “these new simulation tools give students an even stronger start than I had.” She sees the difference in the new students she helps through the simulation center and the students moving through their clinical rotations. Her message to those who invest in Riverland is simple:
“I think the more that we can invest here at Riverland, the better prepared students will be for the workplace.”