Milagros Palacios, Liberal Studies (Early Childhood Education)
School of Education
As Milagros Palacios can attest, being the eldest daughter is not for the weak.
The Wildwood resident became the first of four to graduate in her family, which wasn’t an easy decision for her to make. Rather than let the lack of footprints scare her, she created some of her own for her siblings behind her to follow.
Thankfully, she had some help along the way from peers and mentors at ĢƵ.
“I looked for resources as a ĢƵ student who could support my education, support me as a person, and offer growth opportunities,” Palacios said. “This includes the many people I met along the way, such as Dr. Stacey Culleny, Naheel Naber, Logan Papp and many more. Through it all, I am incredibly grateful for the unwavering support my family has given me over the past four years.”
Taking those steps soon proved to be the best decision for her. Throughout her four years, she became an Admissions Ambassador, a sister of Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority and a staff member and mentor for the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program on the Galloway campus. Her efforts within the EOF program earned her the First-Generation Trailblazer Award during April’s Rising STARs Recognition Ceremony.
In addition, Palacios has spoken and shared her journey with students at university events, including Instant Decision Day and Discover ĢƵ Day, and has even been unexpectedly recognized by a prospective student while out and about.
On the academic side, Palacios earned a spot in the Order of Omega honor society for fraternity and sorority members due to maintaining a 3.95 GPA in her courses, where she studied childhood education. All of this culminated with a student teacher placement in the Ocean City school district, where she gained a mentor in alumna Gabriel Savino ’22.
“We had the same professors, so she was familiar with the whole process,” Palacios shared. “There were times when I needed to interview her or record something for class, and she always understood and made me feel comfortable.”
I am eager to pursue a career in education after completing my undergraduate studies and am currently applying to multiple districts in the area. My goal is to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young children and foster a love for learning in the next generation.”
When asked about her desire to inspire the next generation of student leaders, she recalled a time when a guest read to her preschool class during the nationwide program, Read Across America.
The guest reader’s interaction with Palacios inspired him to launch his own school-based program, leading to the creation of Wildwood’s Lunch with Lynch Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides educational opportunities and encourages kindness in and out of the classroom.
After he bestowed her with the title “co-founder,” Palacios has worked closely with John Lynch to spread awareness of their various programs and initiatives, with hopes to continue expanding their offerings after she graduates.
“Our philosophy is changing the world one child at a time, and our motto is, ‘Thumbs up for kindness.’ We have given back so much, both physical and emotional, support to our community to enhance the childhood experiences of the children on the island,” Palacios said.
“A year ago, a friend I went to school with was diagnosed with brain cancer, so the girl’s sister and I reached out to Mr. Lynch, and we created a walk-a-thon and raised money for her,” Palacios continued. “Once I’m a teacher, I want to initiate different programs and events like that for the community and have Mr. Lynch come into classrooms to read to and speak with the students.”
These collegiate experiences, paired with her lived experience as a multilingual learner and first-generation student, have forged her passion for education.
“I am eager to pursue a career in education after completing my undergraduate studies and am currently applying to multiple districts in the area,” Palacios said. “My goal is to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young children and foster a love for learning in the next generation.”
Palacios looks back on her undergraduate years at ĢƵ with nothing but love and admiration for the supportive community she cultivated as a student.
“My ĢƵ community is inclusive, unique, energetic and meaningful,” Palacios said. “The people and connections I have made with staff and students here are what make my undergrad years coming to an end feel bittersweet.”
