My name is Maria Fernanda Martinez and I am the Executive Director and Founder of Rio Progress.

I was born, raised, and educated in the RGV until I got to high school when worlds of possibility opened up. I was named a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar which allowed me to start exploring educational opportunities outside of the valley. Shortly after, I attended a prestigious boarding school , went on to Columbia University for my bachelor's degree, and most recently received my Masters in Education from Harvard all of it for free. I do not say this to brag, but to show you that it is possible.

I attribute my success largely to the community right here in the RGV that gave me the tools I would need in the future to succeed. This is where I grew my roots and my wings. I was away from home for six years in total, and returned because one of the most important lessons I learned while gone was the importance of bringing others with you. While the RGV molded me, it was leaving home that taught me my purpose. I am determined to help others experience the wonders of a high quality education so that they too may find their path and run with it.

Rio Progress was founded with the core vision in mind, that waiting until we have reached the peak is too late to help bring others up with us. Waiting until I became Principal of a school, superintendent of a district, or Secretary of Education for the whole nation to help address the unfairness already present in the system, was going to leave me in D.C., pushing for change -- alone. And so with my experience and expertise in education, I'm choosing to focus on helping young people, who grew up like me, pursue their own dreams through higher education and beyond. And to do so with the support of their families, in a financially smart way, with the guidance of previous trailblazers.

We know this is a confusing, complex process; Rio Progress is here to help.

Kind Regards,

Maria Fernanda Martinez