On Saturday, the Cuban native who immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 4 months old, will become the first in her family to graduate from college when she receives a marketing degree from Â鶹ԭ´´ College of Business.

The future looks bright for Diaz, who plans to pursue a career in sales after graduation, but her journey to become a Knight almost ended before it began. In her senior year of high school, Diaz’s father was losing his eyesight—and his job as a truck driver—to diabetes. With the family’s primary breadwinner out of work, she said her family’s home was headed into foreclosure.

“The dream of going to Â鶹ԭ´´ felt crushed when my father slowly began to lose his sight,â€� said Diaz, who gave up her own extracurricular activities, such as swimming and water polo, to support her family. She took on the responsibility of paying bills and serving as a translator for her Spanish-only speaking parents.

She said encouragement from her high school teachers along with witnessing her parents’ struggles motivated her to move out of her hometown of Hialeah and apply to Â鶹ԭ´´ two weeks before the enrollment deadline. She was accepted into Â鶹ԭ´´, but then came the hard part—figuring out how to pay for it.

“Through the efforts of so many people who believed in me and a lot of hard work, I received multiple scholarships,â€� she said, including the Virga Family Scholarship, a $10,000 annual scholarship available to full-time Â鶹ԭ´´ undergraduates who desire to be entrepreneurs.

“The Virga Family Scholarship allowed me to be a Knight for four years and have the full college experience and not worry about living expenses or how I would pay for my groceries for the week,� Diaz said.

With her finances settled, Diaz focused her energy on her academic courses and getting involved in the college’s many activities and student groups.

“Mery served in an important leadership role as a student ambassador of the college by helping create and execute events to engage the students,� said Jennifer Johnson, director of engagement and The EXCHANGE at the College of Business. “Mery has a strong dedication to her own professional development, and I have watched her blossom as an ambassador and participant in our prestigious Professional Selling Program.�

Bill Steiger, associate instructor and coordinator of Â鶹ԭ´´â€™s national-champion Professional Selling Program, said Diaz may have enrolled in the selling program as a student but she’s leaving as a professional.

“Her commitment to self-improvement was amazing,� Steiger said. “She faced numerous obstacles and never gave up or complained. She will be a rock star in sales.�

For her part, Diaz credits Â鶹ԭ´´ as “the best thing that has ever happened to me.â€�

“I am leaving here with a diploma, but more importantly, with knowledge, a good network, valuable and transferable skills and an undefeatable mentality,� she said. “I am going into the world understanding so much about relationships, partnerships, team building, vision and creation.�

Donors can contribute to first-generation scholarships to benefit other students at

“This opportunity is very exciting, in part because I bring a clear understanding of what employers in Central Florida are looking for in graduates,” says Johnson. “The EXCHANGE will expose students to all aspects of business through the stories and experiences of community and business thought leaders. At the Â鶹ԭ´´ College of Business, we plan to use real world conversations to elevate student engagement and enhance their academic experience.”

Johnson joins the college from BDO (formerly Cross, Fernandez and Riley (C/F/R) Accountants and Consultants), where she served as the Central Florida marketing director. In her previous role, her responsibilities included developing and executing the firm’s marketing and practice growth strategy, supporting and tracking business development and sales, developing niche campaigns, managing external communications and public relations, planning for firm seminars and events. In addition, she co-directed the firm’s recruiting efforts, developed internal education programs for employees on marketing and professional development topics, and oversaw a committee developing strategies for recruiting and retention, community involvement and promoting positive employee morale and well-being.

“We are thrilled that Jennifer has joined our external relations team as the director of engagement.” stated Â鶹ԭ´´ College of Business Dean Paul Jarley, Ph.D. “Her years of experience in business development, recruiting and training are a perfect fit for the College and The EXCHANGE. Jennifer will be an integral part of helping move our transformation at the Â鶹ԭ´´ College of Business Administration forward. The College’s culture is changing, the knowledge economy is shifting and technology is moving more rapidly than ever before.â€�

The EXCHANGE prepares students with the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for their first job and as future leaders in the communities they serve. It is designed to be a hub of ideas and educational activities that expand learning by connecting students with thought leaders, employers, faculty members and each other.

Each day during the fall and spring semesters, the room will be used to host a multitude of external speakers from every industry. In addition, the room will be a place for faculty to meet and engage with students outside of the classroom and for students to come and explore new business ventures. For more information on The EXCHANGE, visit

“The best education occurs when you get a chance to sit and have a conversation with someone who has something interesting to say. The more opportunities you have to participate in such conversations, the more you are going to learn,â€� states Paul Jarley, Ph.D., dean of the Â鶹ԭ´´ College of Business Administration. “So, we will provide that opportunity to more than 25,000 students each semester in The Exchange.â€�

Speakers will include employers, faculty, students and alumni, and will cover a wide variety of topics, including:

“The mission of The Exchange is to inspire and enable College of Business students to broaden their perspective and explore their potential outside of the classroom.  It will prepare students with the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for their first job and as future leaders in the communities they serve,� said Tiffany Hughes, senior director of community & corporate engagement.

Upcoming speakers at The Exchange include:

For more information or to start an interesting conversation, visit .