{"id":223937,"date":"2024-05-06T13:35:55","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T17:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=223937"},"modified":"2024-06-05T11:06:01","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T15:06:01","slug":"from-childhood-tragedy-to-commencement-triumph","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2024\/05\/06\/from-childhood-tragedy-to-commencement-triumph\/","title":{"rendered":"From Childhood Tragedy to Commencement Triumph"},"content":{"rendered":"

Senior Biology major Mariana Luna-Martinez never forgot the outpouring of love and support she and her family received when her childhood home in Newark burned down years ago. That and volunteering alongside her grandmother sparked her passion for giving back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven though we had so little, sharing those resources can definitely make a big difference in someone else\u2019s life,\u201d she says. \u201cMy family and also my community have definitely influenced my community and public service. It\u2019s just become second nature at this point.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a member of the<\/span> Bonner Leader Program<\/span><\/a> at Montclair State University for four years, Luna-Martinez gave back many times over. From organizing beach cleanups, homebuilding with Habitat for Humanity and toy drives for underprivileged children, Luna-Martinez has worked on dozens of service projects, including Montclair\u2019s MLK Jr. Day of Service. She also found the time to serve in the Student Government Association as the voting student representative on the University Board of Trustees \u2013 all while holding down three jobs, as Bonner\u2019s senior intern of Community Partnerships, part-time sales at Indigo Bookstore in Short Hills, New Jersey, and part-time medical scribe at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luna-Martinez, who will be graduating at<\/span> Spring Commencement<\/span><\/a> on May 13 at Prudential Center, also has served as an admissions ambassador, traveled to Italy to learn about its health-care system and to Panama to assist physicians as part of the Global Medical Brigade.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnywhere you need her, she’s there,\u201d says Bonner Leader and Service Coordinator Mikaela Guzman who supervised Luna-Martinez as Bonner\u2019s intern of Community Partnerships. \u201cShe had two additional jobs on top of Bonner and SGA and her commitments with the trustees, and somehow, she’s also found a way to get her jobs involved in our community work. The bookstore where she works donated over 100 toys to our toy drive. She\u2019s a hub for different connections and gets everybody involved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Student
Mariana Luna-Martinez, left, worked as senior intern of Community Partnerships for the Bonner Leader Program alongside Bonner Leader and Service Coordinator Mikaela Guzman, who credits her with making an impact on service projects and students. (Photo by John J. LaRosa for Montclair State University.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Guzman also credits Luna-Martinez with organizing Bonner\u2019s first collaboration with Next Generation Service Corps students both at Montclair and Arizona State University, after traveling to Arizona for the Habitat for Humanity service project.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe has such natural leadership skills,\u201d she says. \u201cMariana was pretty integral in helping create tons of service opportunities for the students, getting them involved with things like the SGA and talking to them about some of the things that the foundation has to offer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, Guzman credits Luna-Martinez with making her new role as a Bonner Leader easier. \u201cWithout her, my first year would have been really difficult. She\u2019s always there to lend a helping hand, and she does so in a way that makes a big impact on people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A first-generation college graduate, Luna-Martinez is grateful for all of the opportunities Montclair has afforded her, including the study abroad program in Italy. \u201cIt was definitely an unforgettable experience, and without Montclair, I would have never gone,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

She also credits Montclair and the Bonner program with changing her future. As a freshman, she majored in Biology because it was a subject she liked and excelled in. After her involvement in many service projects, she has decided to pursue a master\u2019s in Urban Planning at New York University\u2019s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mariana
Mariana Luna-Martinez brushes up on her drywall skills as part of a Bonner service project in Galloway, New Jersey. (Photo courtesy of the Bonner Leader Program.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cBonner definitely changed my life. I was involved in different projects throughout my four years that included housing insecurity, food insecurity, and because I am a product of public service and a recipient of different resources and because of my work with Bonner, I want to pursue a career in public service.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Luna-Martinez is among the first Montclair students to win a Bonner scholarship to help cover half the cost of her master\u2019s tuition. \u201cShe\u2019s a super hard worker. The whole office was literally overjoyed when we found out that she got into graduate school,\u201d says Guzman.<\/span><\/p>\n

A participant in the Bonner Leader Program since her freshman year, Luna-Martinez has received numerous other accolades, including being named a Presidential Scholar and a member of the Honors Program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ana Garcia, the grandmother who influenced Luna-Martinez to give back, along with several family members, will be at Commencement to celebrate their star graduate when she receives her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Leadership Development through Civic Engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mariana
Mariana Luna-Martinez in a moment of relaxation with therapy dogs at Montclair State University. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters<\/a><\/strong>.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Story by Staff Writer<\/span> Sylvia A. Martinez<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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