For the first time ever, Spanish-speaking families attending orientation had headsets
that provided real-time Spanish translation, guaranteeing that they would feel more
informed and connected throughout their introductory time at TCU.
This summer, TCU’s Office of New Student & Family Programs (NSFP) introduced RANAS Leaders, a program crafted and implemented by Alex Martinez, a graduate assistant at TCU. Several years ago, Director of NSFP Emily Ivey, Ph.D., recognized a need to better accommodate Spanish-speaking families during orientation, and Martinez was able to make this vision come to life.
“88 individuals used our service at orientation. These individuals who now have a better understanding of what TCU has to offer, what their Horned Frog will experience, and the role they will play in that experience as a parent or guardian,” explains Martinez.
RANAS Leaders
Dulce Sancen ’26, a nursing student with a child development minor and Community Engagement intern at TCU was one of the four inaugural RANAS Leaders. She not only translated the orientation sessions live but shared her story as a first-generation nursing student at TCU, and shares what it was like to be a RANAS Leader.
Q. What motivated you to become a RANAS Leader this summer?
Growing up, I was always the one translating for my mom, especially during important moments like my sister’s TCU orientation. When it came time for my own orientation, I remember worrying about who would help my mom while I was in student sessions. That experience motivated me to become a RANAS Leader. I want to ease that same stress for other Spanish-speaking families by providing the support I wish my family had during my orientation.
Q. How did sharing your story as a first-generation student impact you personally?
As a Hispanic first-generation nursing student, I know the percentage of Hispanic students in nursing is small, so sharing my story was a way to show that it’s possible to break barriers and succeed. Many parents expressed fears about not knowing how to support their students, and I was able to share what my parents did for me and what I wished they had done differently. It was meaningful to inspire others and offer guidance from my own experience.
Q. What did you learn about yourself through this experience?
Working with the parents, I often saw reflections of my own parents in them. For example, their hopes, fears and love for their children. This experience felt like I was giving back to my family by supporting other families in the same way I wished mine had been supported. It taught me how deeply connected I am to my roots and how powerful it is to be a bridge for others.
Q. Why do you think it’s important to offer real-time Spanish translation during orientation?
Real-time Spanish translation during orientation ensures that every family feels included and fully informed. When my parents attended, my mom had to take pictures of slides and text them to me afterward, which made me wish she had someone right there to help her understand in the moment. Providing live translation means families can truly engage and support their students together, creating a stronger connection from the very start.
Thanks to amazing RANAS Leaders like Dulce, TCU was able to help 88 families feel accommodated and engaged in its orientation sessions.
Leaping Forward
“This is a wonderful example of how our offices can come together to create more welcoming and impactful experience for our incoming students and their families,” says Assistant Director of Admission for Community Engagement Jessica Mascote.
TCU’s New Student & Family Programs and the Office of Admission strive to continue to create an inclusive, welcoming and meaningful environment for all its students.
“We empower through accessibility and through demonstrating that they, just like everyone on this campus, belong here," says Martinez. “I am incredibly thankful to every single person that helped make this possible. ¡Vamos Ranas!”
Sophie Parker ’26 studies strategic communication at TCU with a minor in digital culture and data analytics. She is a member of TCU’s John V. Roach Honors College and is from The Woodlands, Texas. Sophie is a strategic communication writer as well as a student ambassador for the Office of Admission.