December 16, 2025 • 39 mins
"We're making history together right now."
Laura Gamboa Urrego believes everyone should feel welcome in their hometown.
Coming to Grand Island from the country of Colombia as a Kindergartner, she experienced first-hand the power of feeling welcome in a new space… Her local public schools.
As a student at Newell Elementary, Walnut Middle School, and Grand Island Senior High, she learned to speak English, she thrived in her educational journey thanks to incredible educators, and she found her passion for connecting with people in the community.
After graduation from GISH in 2016 she ventured to the University of Nebraska Lincoln where she earned degrees in Global Studies and Political Science and minored in Human Rights.
With her degrees in-hand, and a love for welcoming folks from around the world Laura headed back to her hometown of Grand Island to give back to the community that gave her so much.
And that’s where we find her today.
Laura currently serves as the Director of Community Engagement at Stuhr Museum — one of Grand Island’s flagship organizations.
She was kind enough to stop to share her story with us for our annual alumni series.
Because what makes the work of public education so meaningful is seeing how our students continue to make an impact after high school.
--
GUEST:
Laura Gamboa Urrego - Stuhr Museum Director of Community Engagement
HOST:
Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director
--
FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools
https://www.gips.org/
Laura Gamboa Urrego believes everyone should feel welcome in their hometown.
Coming to Grand Island from the country of Colombia as a Kindergartner, she experienced first-hand the power of feeling welcome in a new space… Her local public schools.
As a student at Newell Elementary, Walnut Middle School, and Grand Island Senior High, she learned to speak English, she thrived in her educational journey thanks to incredible educators, and she found her passion for connecting with people in the community.
After graduation from GISH in 2016 she ventured to the University of Nebraska Lincoln where she earned degrees in Global Studies and Political Science and minored in Human Rights.
With her degrees in-hand, and a love for welcoming folks from around the world Laura headed back to her hometown of Grand Island to give back to the community that gave her so much.
And that’s where we find her today.
Laura currently serves as the Director of Community Engagement at Stuhr Museum — one of Grand Island’s flagship organizations.
She was kind enough to stop to share her story with us for our annual alumni series.
Because what makes the work of public education so meaningful is seeing how our students continue to make an impact after high school.
--
GUEST:
Laura Gamboa Urrego - Stuhr Museum Director of Community Engagement
HOST:
Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director
--
FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools
https://www.gips.org/
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