Ariel Ventura-Lazo
Scholar Program Coordinator (DC)
Ariel Ventura-Lazo (he/him) is honored to serve as a Generation Hope Scholar Program Coordinator. As a dedicated advocate to the student parent voice, Ariel joins the team with six years of experience in higher education serving in multiple roles to increase student success at Northern Virginia Community College and two years as a fatherhood coach and case manager where he worked directly with fathers to build essential skills and competencies valuable to children, families, and communities.
Ariel Ventura-Lazo, father of two, is a first-generation American and the first in his family to graduate from college. Born and raised in Alexandria, VA, he embarked on his postsecondary journey for a second time in the Fall of 2014 after a five-year hiatus. Incepted into the Generation Hope scholar program as one of the first of three fathers, Ariel made a promise to finish school for his children. He began fiercely advocating for student parents and first-generation students locally and nationally serving as a Parent Advisor with Ascend at the Aspen Institute and participating in multiple think-tanks, policy forums, and initiatives to advance student parent success. He twice had the opportunity of working with former First Lady, Michelle Obama to elevate the student parent voice and was selected as a 2022 Top 50 Chegg.org Global Student Prize finalist for his work on campus and in the community.
As a Generation Hope Alumni and recent graduate of George Mason University, Ariel has demonstrated continued success as a leader among his peers and as a student father. He is excited to continue making a difference for parenting students with Generation Hope.
Quote:
“If you never know failure, you will never know success.” — Sugar Ray Leonard
Why I chose this quote:
I chose this quote because in my long journey through postsecondary I met failure multiple times. So many obstacles that could’ve held me back didn’t simply because I persisted and kept going. I believe the true joy is equally in the journey as much as it is the destination.