When Roberto Lopez, a maintenance worker at the Hormel Foods Fontanini facility in McCook, Illinois, spotted a flyer about the company’s Inspired Pathways program, it seemed too good to be true. The flyer announced that Hormel Foods would provide full tuition to any community college for the children of all team members along with free financial and college advising services. Skeptical, Roberto asked a colleague, who revealed that that the program had really helped his son. Encouraged, Roberto snapped a photo of the flyer and texted it to his daughter Nadia.
Roberto and teammates at Fontanini Foods
That simple message set in motion a series of events that not only revived Nadia’s college aspirations but would ultimately transform her future.
In my mind I thought, I’m just gonna continue working and save up to be able to pay for it, instead of going back right away.
Nadia Lopez, Inspired Pathways recipient
“I ended up having to take a pause because everything was just online, and it was a big transition from going to classes in person,” Nadia explains. The pause stretched longer than anticipated, however, as Nadia discovered a significant obstacle: an outstanding tuition balance from her earlier enrollment.
For many families, the amount owed might not be a barrier. But for Nadia’s family, the bill was simply out of reach.
“At the time, I didn’t have a stable job, and I wasn’t able to pay for it,” Nadia reflects. “In my mind I thought, ‘I’m just gonna continue working and save up to be able to pay for it, instead of going back right away.’”
The Turning Point
Nadia was skeptical when she first saw her dad’s text. “I remember thinking it was just for high schoolers.” She started the application but never completed it.
That’s when Nate Lockett, program director of Inspired Pathways noticed her incomplete submission, and reached out to her. When she explained that she’d started college but was blocked from continuing due to an unpaid bill, he stepped in to advocate for her unique case, determined to find a way forward.
“A couple days later, he emailed me and said it was possible for me to get the assistance, and from that point on they’ve been able to help cover the remainder of the years I had left,” Nadia says.
Her reaction to the news was one of disbelief and gratitude. “I don’t know what to say,” she wrote back to Nate. “I appreciate all of this. Thank you so much.”
There’s a real culture of camaraderie here. We all help each other out. Everyone is supportive and respectful — it feels like a family.
Roberto Lopez, maintenance worker
He brought with him a wealth of experience, having worked in maintenance roles since he emigrated from Mexico in 1977. His path began with an entry-level job in sanitation, cleaning machines at a processing plant. But he had grown up helping his father repair equipment in the family’s shop back home, and those early skills never left him. One of Roberto’s first managers noticed his ability to fix machinery and offered him a position in maintenance. That moment launched a decades-long career in the field, which he later formalized by earning a diploma in automotive mechanics.
Now, decades later, that same hands-on spirit — and the job he holds today — has opened a new door: the chance to see his daughter pursue the education he never had.
Looking Ahead
Nadia is now in her final semester at Triton College, earning an associate’s degree in biology. With support and encouragement from Inspired Pathways, she has successfully applied to the University of Illinois Chicago and is preparing to pursue a bachelor’s degree in education. Her dream is to become a science teacher.
“It was through Nate that I learned about tuition assistance programs at the University of Illinois Chicago,” she says. “He encouraged me to apply, and I qualified for a full ride.”
As the first in her family to attend college, Nadia carries both pride and responsibility. “I do feel a bit responsible because I want to set a good example for my younger brothers. I hope that if they do want to go to college, it’s because I showed them that it was possible.”
Her father agrees. “She’s a role model for her siblings. They see her studying and working hard, and it motivates them to do more.”
Her story also illustrates the importance of having advocates who understand the system and can help navigate its complexities. Nadia’s journey underscores the potential of employer-supported educational programs to transform lives. Inspired Pathways is a model for how corporate America can help address educational inequities while strengthening workforce development.
For Nadia Lopez, that text message from her father about a program offered by his employer has altered the trajectory of her life. As she prepares to become an educator herself, the impact of that single communication will continue to ripple outward, touching the lives of countless future students who will benefit from her passion for teaching and learning. “This program has changed my life,” Nadia says. “And I’m going to use this opportunity to change the lives of others.”
