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Profile
Julio Luevano ’16
A
Immigrant is goal-oriented
typical day for Julio
Luevano ’16 leaves little time
for sleep. The 34-year-old
supports his wife and three
children with a full-time
factory job, attends Manchester full time
and plays soccer for the Spartans.
“I think everything is possible if you
really want to do it,” he says. “You have to
believe.”
Julio immigrated to the United States
from Aguascalientes, Mexico, in 2000 and
became a citizen in 2010. He enrolled
at Manchester in 2012 and, a year later,
joined the soccer team. “He’s truly an
inspiration,” said Dave Good, Manchester
soccer coach. Julio is “a natural leader,”
adds Good, and “a mentor to the younger
guys.”
On the recent January session travel
course, Julio also saw Jamaica from a
different perspective than most of his
younger, U.S.-born teammates. Poverty
isn’t new to him and he says “I know how
people struggle” with food, education and
government corruption.
Like most immigrants, Julio came to the
U.S. in search of a better life. He came to
North Manchester in particular for a job.
When he wasn’t working, he joined other
immigrants in pickup soccer games and
enjoyed watching the Spartans play on
campus. That’s how he met Coach Good.
“Save me
a spot on
the team,” he’d tell
Good. “I’ll be there.”
He found support. Julio’s pastor, Joe
Burgos, connected him to people at the
University who told him how to navigate
admissions and finances. MU Spanish
professor Arturo Yãnez helped Julio earn
his GED at the Learn More Center. After
studying at MU for a year, the exercise
science major made