Born and raised in Morris County, Angeline Lopez's perseverance reflects the strength and dedication of her immigrant parents, who fled Colombia in search of safety and opportunity in the United States.Angie's father worked at three jobs so her brother and Angeline could attend Catholic school and to provide for the family while her mother managed the household and raised their children. This commitment to education saw her through St. Virgil’s School, where she excelled and graduated second in her class.
At Morris Catholic High School, she thrived until her family faced a severe financial crisis during her senior year. Her father’s job loss and health issues, along with her mother’s struggle to make ends meet, placed enormous strain on the family. Angie took on two jobs to help, working at Dunkin Donuts and as a child fitness class aide at the YMCA, while keeping up with her studies and college applications.
During this challenging time, Morris Catholic informed the Lopez family about Tri-County Scholarship Fund. The scholarship brought peace, allowing her to complete her senior year, graduate third in her class and enabled her to attend Villanova University on a full financial aid package. At Villanova, she studied abroad in Urbino, Italy, and participated in a marketing strategy for a local winery, and secured a prestigious internship with Ernst & Young.
Her hard work paid off when she graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Accountancy in 2015 and passed her CPA exam within six months. Today, Angie works at Verizon in the Enterprise Risk Management group, focusing on sustainability reporting and managing related risks.
Reflecting on her journey, Angeline acknowledges the invaluable support she received.
She emphasizes the profound impact of the Tri-County Scholarship Fund on her life. Angeline’s trials and success are a powerful reminder of the impact that support and belief in a student’s potential can have:
“For all of you who have donated to the Tri-County previously, thank you for your kindness and generosity. You give us the chance to afford a great education, and a chance at success and prosperity.”
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Watch Angie tell her story in her own words from the 2024 Women of Achievement Luncheon:
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