No one finds their way to college alone. For twin sisters Nanzy and Nataly Ramirez-Moreno, getting into college took a village, some of whom the sisters know and love, like their family, who worked tirelessly to create opportunities and mentors who encouraged them to aim higher; others they may never meet, like the donors whose generosity helped make their education possible.  This fall, the DeSoto County High School graduates will become the first in their family to attend college.

As they prepare for this next chapter, both sisters are among the more than 200 students receiving over $775,000 in aid through Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast)’s scholarship program. The program is made possible by donors who have chosen to invest in local students’ futures, often without ever meeting the young people whose lives they change. Administered by Scholarship America®, the program supports students with financial need as they pursue higher education at colleges and vocational-technical schools across the United States. This year, DeSoto County students received more than $40,000 in scholarship support through the program, helping them continue their education at colleges and universities throughout Florida.

But for Nanzy and Nataly, reaching college has always been about more than an acceptance letter. It represents the culmination of years of hard work and the support of a village that helped them believe this future was possible. 

As two of five siblings, the sisters grew up in a family where everyone worked together to make ends meet. With their mother caring for the family and their older brothers helping support the household, the path to college required persistence and planning.

Through Links to Success, a DeSoto County nonprofit that provides free college and career readiness programs and Family Navigation services that help students and families overcome barriers and prepare for the future, the sisters found guidance as they explored their futures and navigated the college process.

“That is the type of people Links to Success has: people who truly go far and beyond to help the youth in our small town of Arcadia,” Nataly shared. “Without Links to Success, I would have never been the salutatorian of my class, graduated high school with my associate’s degree, or been accepted into my dream school.”

“They took full advantage of every opportunity, came prepared, asked thoughtful questions, and followed through on every recommendation,” says Ashley Coone, co-founder and CEO of Links to Success.

That determination has shaped the futures both sisters are working toward. 

For Nanzy, the next chapter represents the opportunity to pursue a career that has long inspired her. She will attend the University of South Florida to study elementary education, with the goal of becoming an educator and making a meaningful impact in her community. “Continuing my education is the only path toward the career I’ve always dreamed of, and I’m determined to make it a reality,” Nanzy wrote in her scholarship application.

Nataly’s personal experiences with mental health shaped a desire to help others facing their own challenges. She will attend the University of Central Florida to study psychology. “I want to help others with the support and understanding that seventh-grade Nataly once needed,” Nataly says.

Both sisters have also grown as leaders through their involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast, where they serve as mentors to younger students and help guide others who may be navigating challenges like those they once faced. “These two girls are spectacular,” says Crystal Walter, Regional Program Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast. “I’ve seen them really step up when they’re with their littles and be the best that they can be in their presence.” 

“I was raised in a household where a good work ethic was valued, and I’ve carried that value into everything I do...” Nanzy wrote. “Despite [some] challenges, nothing is holding me back.”

As the sisters leave DeSoto County for college, they carry their village with them: the family who raised them, the organizations who guided them, and the donors who believed in a future they'll now go build.