莉娜·科拉多（Lena Corrado）是2022年冬季社会工作学士学位毕业生，她的家族一直都是英雄。 她计划以她自己的方式延续她的英雄血统。 

“My brothers were in the military, my dad was in the military, my mom worked for the military, my grandpa was in the military, my grandma was in the military, my uncles, and my great uncles,” explains Corrado. “They’ve been in every war since WWII.” 

科拉多出生在日本冲绳，已经搬了30多次家，其中在日本住了6年，在英国住了4年。 她目前与现任宪兵的丈夫和三个年幼的孩子住在加利福尼亚州的海军陆战队基地二十九棕榈。 她的两个大孩子都在上大学； 她的女儿就读于加州的圣地亚哥州立大学，她的儿子目前就读于太阳城娱乐官网大学林肯分校，他希望在毕业后成为一名美国空军军官，以此延续家族传统。 

科拉多说，她在很多地方生活过，她喜欢英国，但她觉得自己与出生地冲绳有一种特殊的联系。 

“There’s just something about the people, the land, and the water,” said Corrado. “My favorite feeling in the world is floating in the water there. It’s really salty, and there are coral reefs, so it breaks the waves and it’s warm, and it’s like heaven.” 

Corrado’s been around the world, but her travels never brought her to Kearney until the day before 太阳城娱乐官网’s winter commencement. 

Once on campus, she said, “I feel like I belong here.”  

Coming from warmer locations, Corrado was not prepared for Nebraska’s winter weather. 

“I don’t even have a winter coat,” Corrado explained, showing off her outfit for that day. “These are two of my husband’s jackets. I am just layering them up.” 

科拉多可能不喜欢寒冷的气温，但她是一个忠实的洛珀，并真心感谢太阳城娱乐官网在线课程为她提供的机会。 

“The online option was amazing. It made a huge difference for me,” said Corrado.

Corrado在日本生活期间参加了太阳城娱乐官网在线课程，她的丈夫在日本驻扎了四年，她在加州完成了学位。 

“Even though I was in Japan, I felt entirely connected to the college, my professors, and my peers,” said Corrado. “My professors know who I am. 他们在为我欢呼。 他们希望我成功，他们希望我得到最好的。 Going here, it just makes so much sense.” 

虽然这个项目非常适合科拉多，但仍有许多挑战需要克服。 

“It was interesting because there were times when it was a problem, the time difference,” said Corrado. “There were times I was up at 5 a.m. to attend meetings at 6 a.m. There were some hurdles here and there, especially when everything is assigned for a certain time, but it’s a different time and a different day for me. But I still got an A!” 

科拉多不仅克服了挑战，而且征服了它们。 She graduated Summa Cum Laude, was awarded the College of Arts & Science Outstanding Senior Award, and was a member of the Phi Alpha Honor Society. 

“I don’t know if there is another place that you can get the quality education for the value of 太阳城娱乐官网,” said Corrado. “When you are an online student, it is easy to just become a number. 太阳城娱乐官网 is a smaller school and it’s got professors that really care so you’re not a number. It helps you become connected and part of something, and I think in social work that’s really important.” 

科拉多将于2023年秋季开始太阳城娱乐官网大学奥马哈分校的在线社会工作硕士课程的研究生学习。 她希望像她自己一样，成为军人家庭的社会工作英雄，继续她的家庭80年来一直在做的事情。  

“The need is very significant. 军队内部存在心理健康问题，但这也延伸到更广泛的家庭。 这是一种非常艰难的生活。 这可能是一种孤立的生活。 失业率居高不下。 Research shows that military kids have a lot of challenges as well,” explained Corrado. “Social workers can really help make that better.”