FOREST CITY, IOWA, September 13, 2017 –  Lilyan Prado Carrillo will be speaking at Waldorf University on September 27 at 7 p.m. in the Atrium as part of its fall speaker series.
 
“Waldorf University is pleased to welcome Lilyan Prado Carrillo to campus,” said Waldorf University President Dr. Robert Alsop.  “She will not only touch on the importance of education, but also on perseverance and how hard work truly pays off.” 
 
Lilyan Prado Carrillo migrated to the United States from Guatemala when she was four years old. Raised solely by her father, J. Luis Prado, Prado Carrillo has always understood the importance of education. Her father taught her ethics and the power of persistence.   
 
Prado Carrillo attended a junior college where she funded her own education costs by working up to 50 hours per week and going to school part time because of her immigration status. She later transferred to and graduated from Texas Woman’s University, where she received a full scholarship and quickly became an outstanding student leader and a campus motivator. In 2002, she was one of 30 students nationwide, awarded a congressional internship with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C. In 2011, she earned her master’s in public administration from the University of North Texas.
 
Since college, Prado Carrillo has served as an educator, a university administrator and facilitator for national organizations such as Monster Worldwide and the National Council of La Raza. In 2006, she was selected as The Sallie Mae Fund’s national spokesperson and presented to 40,000+ people about her personal journey and access to higher education. In 2007, Prado Carrillo decided to relocate back to Denton, Texas, to marry Albert Carrillo, raise a family and give back to her home community. Today, Lilyan works full-time at Lee Elementary, a Title I school, serving as a bilingual specialist. 
 
She recently received the Estrella de Tejas award from the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas in San Antonio, for her leadership and contributions to the community. In addition, she is also a consultant for Educational Achievement Services, Coolspeak Youth Engagement Co., and Lifelong Legacies, Inc., empowering students and families as a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator.
 
The public is encouraged to attend. The event is free.     
 
About Waldorf University
Based in Forest City, Iowa, Waldorf University is a liberal arts institution that delivers engaging learning experiences through innovative residential and online instruction while providing students associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees and certificates in organizational leadership, criminal justice, fire science, theater, education, biology and more. Visit Waldorf.edu to learn more.