Their Stories
Skyla Miranda Reyes
Skyla Miranda Reyes didn’t grow up glued to a screen. She got her first iPad later than most kids, and at first she didn’t even like it. But while other people were focused on games and trends, Skyla kept asking a different question: What’s underneath all of this?…
Justin Martinez
Justin Martinez didn’t grow up believing he was “a tech person.” In his first coding class, he struggled. He asked for help constantly. More than once, he wondered if he belonged in a field that felt intimidating and out of reach. But someone believed in him. And …
Katie Lopez
A Future 5 Ambassador, Katie credits Future 5 for providing a welcoming place where, as a shy student, she could build her confidence and follow her dreams.
Joaquin Diaz-Huerta
Although reading philosophy by Marcus Aurelius is only a pastime, there’s no question Joaquin digs deep to learn about and experience the world around him, and in his own words, he’s “committed to making an impact on mankind”.
Claudia Lucien
Following in the footsteps of her older brother, Shiller, an early Future 5 member who graduated from Stamford High School in 2012, Claudia joined Future 5 as a sophomore and hit the ground running.
Leslina Dangler
Leslina says she would never have reached her goal of becoming a dental hygienist without the support of Future 5, describing her youth as a perfect storm of every imaginable challenge.
Karlos Mikem
Karlos didn’t have the financial support he needed to attend UConn upon graduating from high school, but he was determined not to let life get in the way of his goals and aspirations.