When Brenda Rodriguez read the magazine ad for Smile Train, she immediately wrote a check to the non-profit charity, which provides free cleft-palate surgeries for children in developing countries.

“Every child deserves an opportunity to lead a happy, successful life, and I consider myself fortunate to be able to help in any way I can,” says Brenda, manager of Student Services for ACC’s Los Angeles campus. Brenda’s compassionate philosophy carries over to her interactions with ACC’s students. Her job gives her the unique perspective of following students’ entire progress, beginning with their very first day of classes all the way through graduation.

Deeply committed to helping them succeed – and knowing that many of them face major obstacles along the road to earning their diplomas – Brenda helps arrange child care, transportation, housing, and a myriad of other services that allow them to remain in school and focused on their studies. “For me, commencement is the proudest day in my entire year,” Brenda says. “For so many of our students, it represents the end of a difficult journey and the beginning of a promising new chapter.

Watching them cross the stage to the cheers – and tears – of their families