Latino Leadership 2024
Meet the Latino Leadership students of 2024 below!
Aaron Madrigal
Health Science Major
Aaron Madrigal Jr is from Augusta Kansas and graduated from Campus High School. His family is from Chihuahua, Mexico. Aaron plans to complete his degree in Health Science. He plans on attending WSU to get his BSN in nursing after Friends then to get his DNAP (doctorate of nurse anesthesia practice) to become a CRNA. Aaron will graduate Friends at 19 years old due to bringing many credits from high school. He is also a part of the baseball team as a pitcher. His hobbies include hunting, lifting and playing disc golf. Aaron’s biggest inspiration is his father, Aaron Madrigal Sr, who also graduated from Friends and who pushed him through sports and life and is a big reason he is who he became today.
Abby Zortman
Elementary Education Major and Spanish Minor
Abby Zortman is from Fowler, Kansas and graduated from Meade High School. She enjoys playing the piano and has a scholarship for piano at Friends University. Abby is a part of Latino Leadership, Choir, Intramural Sports, and the Worship Band at Friends University. She is currently attending a Hispanic Friends Church in Wichita and serves on the worship team. Abby wants to eventually become a second grade teacher in a rural town to impact the lives of her students and their families.
Alex Fonseca
Accounting and Finance Major
Alexa Fonseca is a double major in Accounting and Finance at Friends University, where she also is a student-athlete on the women’s soccer team. A proud first-generation college student from Dallas, Texas, Alexa draws strength and inspiration from her family’s roots in Guanajuato and Querétaro, Mexico.
Deeply involved on campus, Alexa participates in several organizations including Business Professionals of America, the Student-Led Investing group, and the CECE Scholarship Program. With a passion for financial literacy and a heart for service, she hopes to use her education to empower underserved communities with the tools and knowledge they need to achieve financial stability and independence.
Angel Malagon
Christian Spiritual Formation Major
Angel Malagon is a graduate of Wichita South High School and is currently enrolled to be a sophomore this Fall of 2025. Angel is a first generation student who is majoring in Christian Spiritual Formation here at Friends University. He is from Latino descent; both of his parents are from Mexico. Angel is also a part of the Latino Leadership program. What motivated him to take this pathway was his relationship with Christ which began just a year before college. Angel’s faith is one of the primary reasons why he decided to go to Friends; he wanted to find a place where he could grow in his relationship with God. After graduating from Friends, he is considering going into ministry, specifically in evangelism. He is looking forward to growing not just in his relationship with God but to also grow closer to the people that share the same purpose with him. What Angel desires to get out of Friends is to enable him to preach the good news of the gospel to all nations.
Anna Hope-Sant’anna
International Business and Spanish Major
Anna Hope is a junior double majoring in international business and Spanish. She aspires to travel the world with her future career. She is from Arnett, Oklahoma, but was born and raised in Londrina, Brazil until 2015. Anna is part of the basketball team at Friends and is also involved in the Spanish Club and Sigma Delta Pi. She loves spending any free time with her friends and family. Anna Hope is an animal loving girl that is always ready to serve with a kind heart!
Brooklyn Foster
Marketing Major
Brooklyn is a graduate from Sedgwick High School and is currently a sophomore at Friends University. She is a first-generation college student who is majoring in Marketing. Brooklyn is looking forward to making lifelong friends and completing her bachelor’s degree. In addition to being a part of Latino Leadership, she is also on the Women’s Wrestling team. While at Friends, she hopes to be an example for other students as a leader and to give back to others.
Isaac Duran Gijon
Health Science Major and Spanish Minor
Isaac Duran-Gijon is from Wichita, Kansas, and graduated from West High School. His father is from El Salvador, and his mother is from Mexico. He is a first-generation college student who plans to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Health Science at Friends University and then transfer to WSU to gain his physician assistant’s license.
Isaac is also involved in fine arts at Friends, participating in concert choir, chamber choir, and symphony orchestra, while serving as a Latino leader. During his time at Friends, he plans to grow in his relationship with Christ, connect with his Hispanic roots by taking Spanish courses, and be a reflection of God’s love. Isaac’s ultimate goal is to give back to the community that has helped him get to where he is today.
Lethecia Flores
Health Management Major, Natural Science and Business Administration Minor
Lethecia Flores is from Kansas and has been here for 19 years. She plans to attend Friends university through a 4 year program studying Health Management and Minoring in Natural Science and Business administration. Lethecia is the first female in her family to attend college. Academics are fun and all but Lethecia chose Friends because spiritually she knew it would help her create a better bond with God. She is also involved with the Friends University Cheer team; another reason she chose Friends. She has cheered since she was in elementary school! It’s always been a passion for her to cheer for the NCA one day as well as to learn some tumbling skills! Attending friends has brought her so many opportunities and friendships, as it will continue to do so throughout her education here. Lethecia is beyond grateful for the support and love that is given everyday on campus from all the professors and administrators!
Teagan Moreno
Zoo Science Major
Teagan Moreno is from Riverside California and graduated from Riverside Polytechnic High School. She is currently a freshman studying Zoo Science. Along with the Latino Leadership program, Teagan is also a part of the softball team. After college, she hopes to one day work as an animal trainer or be a part of an educational outreach program at a zoo. Teagan’s biggest inspiration is her family because they have supported her through every up and down of life. She is most looking forward to seeing what new experiences the rest of her time at Friends will bring!
Valeria Crespo
Health and Physical Education Major, Coaching Minor
Valeria Crespo is a Health and Physical Education major with a minor in Coaching. Originally from Puerto Rico and raised in West Texas, she is a dedicated member of the track and field team and actively involved in Latino Leadership. Valeria is passionate about working with children, drawing from her experience in kids ministry and her love for volunteering at church. She plans to pursue a career as either an athletic trainer or a PE coach. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and giving back to her community.
Vanessa Tellez
Criminal Justice and Spanish Major
Vanessa Tellez is from Wichita, Kansas and graduated from Wichita East High School. Her mothers family is from Zacatecas, Mexico and her fathers family is from Guanajuato, Mexico. Vanessa is majoring in Criminal Justice and Spanish with plans to help others and meet new people in the future. She is the oldest of two siblings and her mother is a Friends Alumni. In addition to being a part of Latino Leadership,she is also a part of the Women’s Wrestling team. Vanessa’s parents have always been hardworking, pushing her to set the limit higher whether it was school or sport related. Vanessa aspires to work as hard as them and continue to learn about others within her future career.