STC alumna rises from migrant roots to advocate for change in Washington
A journey that began in the fields of a farm, has taken STC alumna Sandy Lucero all the way to Washington, D.C., where she had the opportunity to use her voice to make a difference that could impact physical therapy across the nation.
A journey that began in the fields of a farm has taken South Texas College alumna Sandy Lucero all the way to Washington, D.C., where she had the opportunity to use her voice to make a difference that could impact physical therapy across the nation.
A devoted mother and wife, 30-year-old Lucero, a recent graduate of STC’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program was chosen as the sole representative from the Rio Grande Valley for this year’s American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Capitol Hill Day, an event organized by the APTA to advocate for the profession.
“Everything I’ve been through has led me to this moment,” Lucero said. “Being chosen to represent at the nation’s Capitol was about so much more than advocating for the profession. It was about making sure voices like mine and communities like ours in the Valley are part of the conversation. As a health care provider, I want to be someone who truly sees and supports every patient because I know what it’s like to be overlooked.”
Born in Rio Grande City, Lucero was raised in a hardworking migrant family, spending summers in the fields of West Texas and adjusting to new schools midyear.
“To me, education was always a priority,” she said. “Growing up, I knew I wanted to go to college, even if I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do yet. What I did know, was that I wanted something more. I wanted to build a different kind of future.”
Although higher education once felt out of reach financially, Lucero’s story took a meaningful turn when she was featured in the 2010 documentary “The Harvest,” which highlighted the experiences of migrant families, particularly their children.
Through that opportunity, Lucero learned about scholarships available to children of migrant workers, sparking a lifelong passion for helping others.
“I left for Austin to attend St. Edward’s University on a full-ride scholarship, still trying to figure out what to major in,” she said. “I looked into nursing at first, but ended up switching to kinesiology because I was set on becoming an occupational therapist. I’d had a negative experience with physical therapy growing up, so it was the last thing I ever saw myself doing.”
Destiny intervened during her final year at St. Edward’s, when Lucero needed to complete her required clinical hours to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology.
Being chosen to represent at the nation’s Capitol was about so much more than advocating for the profession. It was about making sure voices like mine and communities like ours in the Valley are part of the conversation. I want to be someone who truly sees and supports every patient because I know what it’s like to be overlooked.
Her only available option was a physical therapy clinic, an experience that completely changed her perspective on the field. By the time she graduated and returned home to the RGV, newly married and expecting her first child, her path was clear.
“I loved the clinic I was working at, it’s where I first learned what a PTA actually does. I had no idea this opportunity even existed,” she explained. “PTAs work hands-on with patients, helping them through their rehab and recovery. I love it. I love being a helping hand. I just wish I had known about STC’s program sooner. I could’ve started my career earlier and closer to home.”
Lucero recently graduated with a Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science and, just weeks ago, passed the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to become a licensed PTA, contributing to the 100% licensure pass rate that STC’s PTA program has maintained for 25 consecutive years.
“Commuting everyday from Rio Grande City to attend the program in McAllen was a bit tough, the program is challenging in itself,” she said. “But STC gave me the chance to finally do what I love and I’m really proud of how far I’ve come.”
Her journey reached a full-circle moment when she was selected to represent the RGV and the PTA profession at APTA’s Capitol Hill Day in Washington, D.C., with the unique opportunity to meet professionals from across the country and speak directly with lawmakers about key issues affecting the field.
She helped advocate for improvements in Medicare rates, fall prevention initiatives and expanded coverage for temporary provider substitutions, topics that could have a national impact on patient care and the future of the profession.
“It was empowering to be part of those conversations,” she said. “It reminded me why it’s important for voices from communities like ours to be heard, especially in rooms where decisions are being made.”
With her now five-year-old son and family at the heart of everything she does, she is now ready to begin her career, dedicated to advocating for the profession, promoting the value of physical therapy and delivering compassionate care.
“Everything I’ve experienced, from working in the fields as a child to being a first-generation college student and now a PTA graduate, has shaped who I am,” Lucero said. “I want every patient I work with to feel seen, supported and cared for, especially those who might not have anyone else. I’ve seen what it feels like to be alone. I’m not here just because I have to, but because I want to. That’s the kind of health care provider I strive to be.”
For more information on STC’s Physical Therapist Assistant program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/physical-therapist-assistant /or call 956-872-3216.