While January will always be a time of remembrance and sadness for the Lopez family,  in recent years, it has also become a time of hope and encouragement.

On January 23, 2019, Nadia Elizabeth Lopez passed away after an accidental overdose due to fentanyl poisoning. Since then, her parents, Julie and Domingo Lopez, have strived to help others in recovery and dispel the stigma surrounding addiction.

In an effort to turn their grief into action, Julie and Domingo partnered with Teach One Feed One, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides support for those in recovery. Founded by Darnell Hinton, Teach One Feed One operates a scholarship program that allows families who have lost loved ones to addiction to award scholarships to individuals in recovery.

This year marks the sixth recipient of the Nadia Lopez Scholarship, and Julie and Domingo were thrilled to present it to Briana Defide, who is a student at Montco. Defide has made incredible strides in her own journey. On January 15, she celebrated two years of sobriety, a milestone she never thought possible.

"Brie has done so well and is taking classes at Montgomery County Community College. She even made the Dean’s Commendation List for Fall 2024," said Hinton during an informal gathering at Montco’s Pottstown Campus, where they presented the scholarship. "She is one of the best house managers we have—honest, accountable, and always striving to do better. She’s a wonderful example for the women in her house, and we’re so excited to see where her future takes her."

For Defide, receiving this scholarship is deeply meaningful.

"It’s an honor to receive this scholarship in Nadia’s name, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity to continue my education. I never imagined my life would be where it is today,” Defide said.

Julie Lopez, who retired in December after working at Montco for 19 years, decided to bring the scholarship to the college and award it to a current student.

"I love the mission of community colleges. My daughter took a few classes at Montco, and community college changed my own family’s life. My parents were community college students. My dad went on to Rochester Institute of Technology for mechanical engineering, and my mom attended Elmira College for HR. Because of community college, they were able to build a stable life and provide an amazing childhood for us. My siblings and I also started our educations at a community college. That’s why I wanted to bring this scholarship to Montco.”

Since the scholarship started, Julie and Domingo have presented six $500 awards in Nadia’s memory to support individuals in recovery as they take their next steps to pursue their goals. Through this initiative, they continue to spread hope, ensuring that Nadia’s name, which literally means “hope,” lives on in a way that uplifts others and helps break the cycle of addiction.

"Congratulations, Brie," Julie said. "We are so proud of you and of all the scholarship recipients who we have been able to help.”

For more information about Teach One Feed One and the scholarships and services it provides, visit https://teachonefeedone.org.