Student persists in earning degree despite losing both parents

Andy Lopez is not only a persistent young man, he’s also full of gratefulness and positivity.

In late 2020, Lopez, a student-athlete from Chicago, Illinois, lost his father and mother to COVID-19. On May 6, Lopez will earn a degree in exercise science. Even after the loss of both parents, he is not letting any obstacle stand in the way of his achievements and will look for them in spirit at the commencement ceremony as he accepts his diploma.

“They [my parents] wanted me to finish college,” he said. “If I didn’t finish, that would leave an even deeper burden on me and it would not benefit me. I saw the sacrifices they made. During this process of grief, there have been times I wanted to quit and give up; just throw it in and go back home to find a regular job but my brother and sister remind me of my parents’ work to get me here.”

With the odds stacked against him, Lopez’s teammates and the athletic staff rallied their support so he chose a path to honor his parents. In 2021, those teammates and the community supported him through a GoFundMe account to assure he had the funds to finish college. Despite the hardship and heartache, Lopez’s attitude is one of gratitude.

“Everyone has a burden on them,” he said. “The loss of my parents is something I have to deal with daily. I have reasons why I keep going and why I will graduate. I had a great support system at Lenoir-Rhyne.”

Life after Lenoir-Rhyne

With that positivity, Lopez intends to celebrate his graduation and the next stage of his life. He plans to return to his hometown and is considering a role as a police officer or firefighter. That thought started to surface over Christmas break.

“I’ve aspired to do many things,” Lopez stated. “My dad was a dispatcher for 33 years for the Chicago Police Department. He worked third shift and it was a lot for him. I want to be that person to help somebody.”

Admittedly, Lopez says there are dangers to that work.

“The stresses for a police officer right now, especially in Chicago, are high,” Lopez said. “It’s not a thankful job.”

While Lopez is considering his options, he’s thankful to LR and the Hickory community as graduation draws near. He said his parents would be proud of his achievements and accomplishments.

“My parents encouraged me since I wanted to go South anyway,” Lopez said. “I was thinking more like Texas or Florida but North Carolina never crossed my mind. I came into this blind, not knowing what kind of town it would be when I got here.”

After two years in Hickory, Lopez appreciates the southern hospitality.

“This is a journey for me and it’s my story,” Lopez said. “Hickory is a huge part of LR and they had a huge impact on my story when they supported the GoFundMe account last year. Without that support, I might be home trying to find something else to do. My siblings and I are grateful. I can’t thank everyone enough because I wanted to finish my degree. It’s a big step for me to graduate. I look back on all the memories I’ve made with my teammates and friends from other sports and I’m thankful to be a Bear.”