My experience at Lane has built my self-confidence and helped me to see myself as a capable and skilled person.
“After caregiving for my grandmother at the end of her life, I felt motivated to return to school to pursue my love of learning as a way of choosing life over the forces of despair and sadness,” said Lane Community College student Larea Guido. That choice has since led her from personal transformation to national recognition.
Larea has been named a 2026 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholar, one of the nation’s top honors for community college students demonstrating academic excellence, leadership, and service. Selected from a highly competitive national pool, she will receive a $1,300 scholarship sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and administered by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
When Larea transferred to Lane from Umpqua Community College, she found her confidence growing through her coursework—especially in art history. “Studying Art History with Daniel Bataller gave me a new way of understanding life and the world around me,” she said. “Taking these classes and receiving guidance from Professor Bataller has shown me how important the arts really are and what they can do to influence, improve and inspire.”
Her deep exploration of creativity and culture is balanced by an equally strong commitment to her local community. After the Archie Creek Fire in Douglas County in 2020, Larea acted quickly to support those affected. “I created a Facebook group and began to add anyone who was posting elsewhere in search of resources or wanting to volunteer, donate or help,” she said. The network grew to more than 1,400 members and became an essential hub for connecting people with aid and information. “Seeing my community overwhelmed by chaos and uncertainty was deeply touching to my heart,” she said. “I decided to do what I could with the skills that I had.”
Today, Larea continues to expand that mutual aid project while preparing for her next chapter. “I plan to attend UO and continue studying the Arts and Humanities, learning more about how art and community action can create real change,” she said. “The confidence I now have in myself, my ideas and my abilities will allow me to work on projects that I hope will inspire others to express themselves, share their stories and help others.”
Larea said she ultimately hopes to become “a multimedia artist and photographer focused on identity, storytelling, and self-expression.” The Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholarship, she added, will help her take the next step toward that goal at the University of Oregon, where she plans to pursue a BA in Humanities with a minor in Art.