Union Scholar Named Class President
When Hilary Payano completed her first year at Union College this spring, it marked the culmination of a journey that began years earlier when she arrived in the United States from the Dominican Republic.
Moving to Boston in 2017 meant adapting to a new country, a new culture, and a new education system, all while entering middle school.
“I was very timid,” says Hilary. “In my own language, I was open and expressive, but even though I scored well on essays and homework, I wasn’t comfortable speaking up in English.”
That began to change in high school, when a humanities course introduced Hilary to new perspectives on history, religion and global issues.
“It was an awakening,” says Hilary. “I started seeing so much beauty in learning about other people and their experiences.”
Her growing curiosity led her to debate, where she discovered a passion for research, advocacy, and public policy. She also participated in an early college program that encouraged students to advocate for educational access and improvements in their schools.
I want to find ways to connect people instead of divide them.
By her senior year of high school, Hilary had found her voice. After being nominated for the Posse Scholarship, she participated in Posse’s three-part Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP) and was selected to join a Posse at Union College.
“But when I got to college, I started questioning everything,” says Hilary. “It felt like being new in the United States again, and I was asking myself all the time, ‘Did Posse make a mistake? Am I in the right place? Did I earn this opportunity?’”
Leaving her family, adjusting to a new academic environment and navigating a campus filled with students from different backgrounds tested her confidence. As she and her Posse began opening up to one another about their challenges, Hilary realized she wasn’t alone.
“I sort of saw myself as just one person in the middle of the sea,” says Hilary. “Then people showed up for me.”
In search of community and expanding her network, she plugged into student government, known as the Student Forum, and began attending meetings where upperclassman and Posse Scholar Ajay Goncalves served as a Trustee. Then, encouraged by her Posse community and Goncalves, Hilary decided to run for a leadership position. Originally interested in serving as treasurer, she instead ran for Class President—and won in a landslide.
Hilary hopes to build community and consensus as the class president, using her voice to build bridges and explore new ideas and challenges. Moving forward, whether she pursues a career in research, public policy, law or public service, she hopes to advocate for communities, expand opportunities for others, and bring people together across differences.
“I want to find ways to connect people instead of divide them,” says Hilary. “I want to keep learning, questioning, and helping create positive change.”
