April 10, 2024
Joanna Portillo
Submitted by Elena Jaloma '03
I would like to recognize Joanna Portillo for her incredible determination. Joanna’s family is from El Salvador, they came here to give her and her sister a better life, and Joanna has not taken that sacrifice for granted. As the first person in her family to go to college, she has made this journey not just for herself but for her family as well. Now she will continue their journey in her next home at John Hopkins University where she will complete her graduate work. She embodies every bit of persistence mixed with a crave for education, she is part of what makes Cal Lutheran so special.