Running the Path

How OKWU Equipped Natalia Quiroz to Flourish

Natalia Quiroz is a biology major set to graduate from OKWU in 2025. Her journey to OKWU started in her hometown of Euless, Texas. Quiroz had dreams of playing college basketball, and she began searching for the right college fit for her with that dream in mind. She’d never even heard of OKWU until one day when she was contacted by the OKWU coaches.

“When I came here for my visit, I just liked the environment and the people,” she said. “The mission of the school really brought me to OKWU.”

In addition to her passion for basketball, Quiroz brought with her a desire to one day give back to her community as a pharmacist. As Quiroz began thinking about what to study in college, she researched pharmacy school and became interested in the idea of one day serving in the healthcare field in that capacity.

“Not many people realize how big of a role pharmacists play. They catch a lot of mistakes that doctors make and have to make sure that their patients are taking the right medications,” Quiroz said. “I feel like their roles are misunderstood and way more important than people realize.”

One thing that Quiroz was not planning on when she first came to OKWU was finding a love for running. As a senior in high school, Quiroz ran track, but she was surrounded by high-level athletes at her large school in Texas. She enjoyed it, but basketball was what she liked most.

At a small school like OKWU, students have the opportunity to try out several things. After her freshman year of basketball, Quiroz approached her coaches about possibly running track in the spring. They accommodated her, and she continued with track in the spring and cross-country in the fall.

Quiroz quickly realized her hidden talent. She ran cross-country and qualified for NAIA Nationals in her first year on the team. She has already notched two NAIA invites as a cross-country star.

“If I was at another school, I wouldn’t be able to have the opportunity to do both,” she said. “All the coaches let me try both sports.”

Quiroz has since stopped playing basketball and is now fully focused on running.

With her senior year coming up, Quiroz is beginning to consider what comes next. She plans to start applying to pharmacy schools in the spring in order to start in the fall of 2025. Her hope is to attend the University of North Texas Health Science Center College of Pharmacy, located about 40 minutes from her parents’ home.

“My mom is always telling me to take advantage of my opportunity…. Having that support behind me helps me just to keep going and to achieve things I wouldn’t be able to.”

Quiroz has been well-prepared for her future thanks to OKWU’s faculty in the science programs. Dr. Brian Turner and Dr. Ackrion Mangimela have been especially impactful.

“Dr. T is my advisor,” she said, “and he always does devotions before class starts. I’ll meet with him to pick classes and he’ll just tell me, ‘God has a plan.’”

Quiroz has also benefited from OKWU’s PATH Coaching program. She took the strengths test and learned new insight into how she operated best. PATH has also provided her with guidance about navigating the college process as a whole. Quiroz is a first generation college student, and the transition was especially challenging as she entered into her sophomore year and started taking more classes in her major.

“My mom is always telling me to take advantage of my opportunity,” she said. “They never got this opportunity. I was the first generation to be born in the United States. Having that support behind me helps me just to keep going and to achieve things I wouldn’t be able to.”

Quiroz has definitely taken advantage of her opportunities, both in her athletic pursuits and in her goal of becoming a pharmacist. One day, she hopes to work in a hospital pharmacy.