Hero Scholar: Cindy Rios Recio
What began as a community service requirement transformed into a lifelong mission to champion the "underdogs." Cindy Rios Recio's dedication to serving underserved communities has earned her recognition as a 2025 Hero Scholar.
Cindy’s awakening came during her first summer tutoring underprivileged students in math and science at Sacred Heart Community Center. Witnessing firsthand how students fell behind due to lack of resources, language barriers, and limited advocacy, she realized that every child deserves quality education and the opportunity to succeed. What started as fulfilling a requirement became a personal mission that continued throughout college, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, because she understood the importance of being a consistent, supportive presence in these students’ lives.
Her commitment extends beyond tutoring to comprehensive community support—donating to back-to-school drives, packing backpacks with supplies, and volunteering at clothing and food drives to alleviate the burdens these families face. Through her Google Code Next Connect internship and ongoing work with Elevate Tutoring, Cindy continues mentoring students of color in low-income schools.
As a Service Manager at Chipotle Mexican Grill, Cindy discovered that true leadership isn’t about authority but about collaboration, communication, and empowering others to succeed. She learned to provide constructive feedback, solve workflow issues, and create environments where everyone feels valued, skills she now applies as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Crestwood Behavioral Health.
Currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Roseman University’s Henderson campus, Cindy brings her passion for advocacy and proven leadership skills to healthcare. The Hero Scholarship, funded by the Las Vegas Aviators, will support her mission to elevate those around her while providing compassionate care to patients who need champions in their corner.