Fueled by determination she attributes to her raising as the daughter of immigrants, Andrea Amador of Batesville has created new opportunities for women of color during her four years at Arkansas Tech University.
“Coming from a small town, I was one of three Hispanic students who graduated in my class,” said Amador. “In college, there are more opportunities to create change. That is something that’s really strong in my life. As Hispanics, we tend to absorb into our own small groups. I’ve tried to open doors for other Hispanics, especially Latinas like me. We are here. We want to be included. We can do things that you can, too.”
Amador is the 2023 Margaret Young Award winner as the most outstanding senior female at ATU. She will be recognized during ATU spring commencement ceremonies at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday, May 6.
“When I was told about the award, I burst into tears,” said Amador. “I’m about to start crying now. I couldn’t see it in my life. I thought I was just another first-generation, Hispanic Latina trying to get her degree. Knowing that people actually took attention and want to hear what I have to say is just amazing. I feel so grateful. I didn’t expect it at all. I take every opportunity I can to try to do the best I can. I didn’t think people would want to take time to know who I am and to understand there are kids like me that are just trying to do the best they can. A pat on the shoulder would be enough, but this is way more than enough.”
Amador co-founded ATU student organizations Do Something, which has engaged in a variety of community service initiatives, and La Mariposa Experience, which seeks to empower women of color on campus, engage in community involvement and create mentorship opportunities.
She also initiated an interest group concerning the possible establishment of a chapter of Sigma Iota Alpha, a Latina-oriented sorority, at Arkansas Tech and was co-president of the ATU Pre-Law Society.
Amador was active in the ATU First-Gen Student Organization, the ATU Latin Student Organization, ATU Women in STEM and the ATU World Languages and Cultures Club. She performed community service for the League of United Latin American Citizens and River Valley Food 4 Kids.
“Our background is mostly always the same,” said Amador when asked about the value that Hispanic and Latina women contribute to society. “We know people struggle. We’ve been around it, so we’ve built up characteristics surrounding that. We’ve built up so much determination and courage because that’s what we have to do growing up with family who can’t speak English in an English-dominated country. We’ve grown to be leaders. We’ve had to do it our whole lives.
“We know how to take on the world because we’ve had to from the time we were young children,” continued Amador. “I’ve had to stand up for my family a lot. I’ve had to translate to adults over things I didn’t understand at the time. So, we mature at a very young age.”
That maturity allowed Amador to become a first-generation high school graduate when she earned her diploma at Southside High School in Independence County in 2019. She knew she wanted to major in international studies, and she found her fit at Arkansas Tech. It was the only campus she toured.
“I didn’t know how to do college at all,” said Amador. “Being a first-generation student, I highly enjoyed this campus in the sense of faculty and staff. Without them, I wouldn’t know where I was going after this. I have to give my credits to Dr. Brendan Toner. He’s the one who helped me the most, but I worked in the history and political science department as a student worker and every single one of them gave me an amazing push to let me know that law school is for me.”
Amador views Dr. Aaron McArthur, head of the ATU Department of History and Political Science, as a father figure and Gabriele Haulmark, instructor of German, as a mother figure.
The fact that she was in Haulmark’s classes reveals something significant about Amador’s character. Amador was required to minor in a foreign language as part of her degree plan. Spanish, the language she grew up with, was an option. Amador chose German.
“I told myself, I already know Spanish, why would I take the easy route?” said Amador. “I always like to challenge myself.”
Amador is graduating from ATU with Bachelor of Arts degrees in international studies and political science with two minors, the other being in business.
She expressed gratitude to legal studies faculty members Thomas Pennington and Tracy Cole for their guidance in helping her select the law school that best fits her goals.
After completing her Juris Doctorate at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Amador hopes to build her life and career in northwest Arkansas with a focus on employment law. She hopes to give back to her community by aiding Hispanic and Latin individuals.
“I always feel like that is my story,” said Amador. “My parents have worked so hard. If they were able to cross a border and establish a life here without knowing English, why can’t I go on to college and do better things? I am so grateful to have the family that I have and the background that I came from.
“Last-minute decisions are not terrible,” continued Amador. “I chose law school literally in July 2022. A really great thing I highly recommend is networking. Talk to as many people as you can. I knew the people I needed to know to get where I needed to be. Trusting your gut is so important.”
