With the Deck Stacked Against Her, an ACES Scholarship Gave Her the Upper Hand
When Magaly Lizama Hernandez enrolled at Montgomery College, she was resolute about her future, but uncertain about how she would pay for it. Though she received a generous Kevin Bushell scholarship from Gaithersburg High School, she said, “There was an issue with my FAFSA.”
When a call came shortly before the Fall 2022 semester, it was emotional. “I started crying because I realized, I’m going to college.” She received the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES) scholarship, along with federal aid in the form of work-study. Subsequently, she received the John and Louise Crissman Scholarship. She credits scholarships and strong campus support for making her journey possible.
With financial pressure eased, Magaly focused on her education. She took a full course load, worked as a student employee, and immersed herself in campus life. She joined the Psychology Club and the Fashion Club, volunteered at Mobile Market food distributions, and served as an ACES ambassador.
Magaly first discovered Montgomery College through the ACES program while she was in high school. The program helped her explore college options, financial aid, and career pathways.
Like many students, Magaly’s academic path evolved. She began as a nursing major but soon discovered she wanted what she considered a more people-centered career. With guidance from ACES Student Success Coordinator Melissa Gudiel, she discovered psychology and found her direction.
Today, the 2024 graduate is thriving at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), pursuing a psychology degree and preparing for graduate school. Magaly says Montgomery College prepared her well for transfer-level work. By completing general education and psychology courses at MC, she built a strong academic foundation at a fraction of the cost. Even after transferring to UMBC, she continues to reflect on the breadth of support she experienced at Montgomery College. “Even now, I still read the books I used at MC. I still go to the slides because they have really good information. They are the background—the basis—for other psychology courses,” she said.
Now a psychology major with a minor in social work, Magaly serves as president of the Psychology Student Association at USG. She recently earned the 2026 Distinguished Achievement Award in Psychology from UMBC. She also works as a peer advisor helping new UMBC students navigate resources and financial aid. She also gives back to the ACES program as an enrollment specialist at Montgomery College’s Germantown Campus—supporting the next generation of students.
“I really want to give back to everyone that helped me,” she said. After completing her bachelor’s degree this spring, she plans to pursue a master’s in industrial-organizational psychology and hopes to become an ACES coordinator. Magaly is not only reaching her goals, but she is ready to help others reach theirs, too.