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Miriam Vargas Corona ’14 has been selected as this year’s Outstanding Young Alumnus.

Early Life and Education

Miriam was born in Michoacán, Mexico, immigrated to the United States at the age of nine months, and grew up in Dayton, Oregon. While at ÃÛѨÊÓƵ, Miriam majored in political science. Through her coursework, she refined her skills as a critical thinker, problem solver and Spanish speaker. Those skills have served her well in her career.

Miriam has been working in the nonprofit sector since graduating from ÃÛѨÊÓƵ.

Career and advocacy

After Commencement, Miriam went to work for the Yamhill Community Care Organization. Her experience as an undocumented immigrant in a mixed-status family fueled her advocacy for the Latino immigrant community.

In 2018, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, who serves Oregon’s First Congressional District, invited Miriam to be her guest at the State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C.

That same year, Miriam was hired as the executive director for Unidos Bridging Community, an organization where she began serving as a volunteer seven years before. She also spent four years on their Board of Directors. Unidos is the primary nonprofit in Yamhill County serving the immigrant population through advocacy, education and social service support. Not only is she an ardent advocate of the immigrant community, but she serves in different capacities statewide as an advocate for Oregon. Unidos is the only culturally and community-based organization in the county that specifically serves this population.

Recognition and mentorship

In 2020, Gov. Kate Brown named Miriam to Oregon’s Racial Justice Council.

Miriam returned to Washington, D.C., to visit the White House in 2022 when she was invited to attend the United We Stand Summit, where she was recognized for her work with Unidos Bridging Community.

Miriam still finds time to mentor many ÃÛѨÊÓƵ students, as well. She understands some of the unique challenges with being a first-generation, Latinx college student, and she hopes to serve as a role model for those who come from similar backgrounds.

Miriam lives out the ÃÛѨÊÓƵ mission of connecting learning, life and community. She has dedicated her life’s purpose to community, in fact.

She remains a worthy ÃÛѨÊÓƵ ambassador – not one to seek the spotlight, but one on which the spotlight invariably shines.