The “25 under 25" special project highlights 25 young Hispanic students at UF who are leaving their mark before turning 25.
They are researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, activists and student leaders who embody the spirit of a community that grows, innovates and transforms. All students. All Hispanic. All, in one way or another, redefining what it means to be Hispanic on a campus as diverse as this one.
This edition doesn’t aim to celebrate the obvious, but the extraordinary. More than a list of achievements, 25 Under 25 is a collective portrait of perseverance and cultural pride — a reminder that Hispanic excellence is not just about surviving in spaces where we are sometimes a minority, but about reshaping them with presence, energy and talent.
At UF, about 22% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino. One-fifth of this large institution shares roots, accents and last names that often end in “z.” Many carry stories of migration, sacrifice and reinvention. Others were born here but live with an awareness of a legacy that extends far beyond borders.
Each of them, in their own way, contributes to a larger narrative — one of a community that not only belongs, but leads.
Beyond the dates and the names, what are we really celebrating? Not migration itself, nor simply having a last name with history. We celebrate contributions, resilience and impact. We celebrate those who defy statistics and create spaces where there once were none.
So let’s celebrate those who keep this culture alive and vibrant. Because being Hispanic isn’t just a box you check on standardized tests or immigration forms — it’s a way of affecting the world around you.
Read The Alligator's 25 Under 25 special edition here.
Vera Lucia Pappaterra is The Alligator's Fall 2025 Caiman editor and a junior journalism and history student. She previously served as the enterprise race and equity reporter and the university general assignment reporter. In her free time, she enjoys being a menace on wheels (bike wheels).
