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Reyna Hernandez first discovered her passion for criminal justice when she attended a Wonder Woman Camp hosted by the Brooklyn Park Police Department back in 2023. It was a two-to three-day camp that introduced her to the Police Explorer program, which she participated in for two years. During Reyna's second year, she had the opportunity to serve as a lieutenant, which taught her a lot about leadership and public service. At first, Reyna thought she wanted to become a police officer since she's always wanted to help people and serve her community. As someone who struggled with language barriers after coming to this country, she understood what it felt like to need help and guidance, and she wanted to be that support for others. Through those experiences, she realized her passion was shifting. While she still cares deeply about public safety, she realized crime analysis aligned more with her strengths and interests. Reyna wants to support officers behind the scenes by using data, research, and problem-solving to help prevent crime and make communities safer. Reyna is about to graduate from �������˰� with a degree in criminal justice, and on top of that, she was chosen to represent her class as the 2026 commencement speaker for the 7 p.m. commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 14! 

“Being chosen as one of the 2026 commencement speakers honestly meant a lot to me. As a first-generation college student, I came to �������˰� without really knowing what to expect or having a roadmap for how college worked. Like many students there, I’ve balanced school, work, and personal responsibilities while trying to build a better future for myself and my family. I never imagined I would be standing on stage speaking at graduation, so being chosen feels incredibly rewarding and full circle. It’s an honor to represent students who kept pushing forward even when things got difficult.”

Discover Reyna's story!

1. Do you have plans to continue your education after �������˰�? 
   Yes! After graduating from �������˰�, I plan to transfer to Metropolitan State University to continue my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. My long-term goal is to become a crime analyst, so I’m excited to keep building toward that career.
    
2. What’s your favorite �������˰� Hennepin memory?
   One of my favorite memories has been being selected as the student commencement speaker. It’s been such a meaningful experience because it allowed me to reflect on my journey and represent a graduating class filled with hardworking and resilient students. Another special memory was reconnecting with old friends from high school that I never thought I would see again; it was such an exciting and unexpected part of my experience at �������˰�. I also made new friendships along the way, which made my time here even more meaningful. Along with that, I’ve really appreciated the support I received from professors throughout my journey.
    
3. If you could talk to a prospective �������˰� student, what would you tell them? 
   I would tell them not to be afraid if they don’t know what’s next or what they want to study right away. It’s okay not to have everything figured out; that’s part of life, and you’ll eventually find your path. �������˰� is a great place to grow, explore your interests, and figure out what works best for you. There are always professors, advisors, and staff members who are willing to help and support you along the way, and it’s a welcoming place to start your college journey.
    
4. What does it mean to you to be chosen as one of the 2026 Student Commencement Speakers?
   It honestly means a lot to me. As a first-generation college student, I came to �������˰� without really knowing what to expect or having a roadmap for how college worked. Like many students there, I’ve balanced school, work, and personal responsibilities while trying to build a better future for myself and my family. I never imagined I would be standing on stage speaking at graduation, so being chosen feels incredibly rewarding and full circle. It’s an honor to represent students who kept pushing forward even when things got difficult.
    
5. What inspired you to study criminal justice, and how has your passion changed?
   It all started when I attended the Wonder Woman Camp hosted by the Brooklyn Park Police Department back in 2023. It was a two- to three-day camp, and that experience introduced me to their Police Explorer program, which I participated in for two years. During my second year, I had the opportunity to serve as a lieutenant, which taught me a lot about leadership and public service.
   At first, I thought I wanted to become a police officer because I’ve always wanted to help people and serve my community. As someone who struggled with language barriers after coming to this country, I understood what it feels like to need help and guidance, and I wanted to be that support for others.
   Through those experiences, I realized my passion was shifting. While I still care deeply about public safety, I discovered that crime analysis aligns more with my strengths and interests. I want to support officers behind the scenes by using data, research, and problem-solving to help prevent crime and make communities safer.
    
6. Without giving away too much, what’s the core message or theme of your speech?
   The main theme of my speech is perseverance over perfection. It’s about recognizing the challenges many students faced while earning their degrees and reminding them that success doesn’t always look perfect. Sometimes it looks like showing up tired, working long hours, asking for help, and still refusing to give up.
    
7. Who, or what influenced the message you’ll be sharing with your fellow graduates?
   A lot of the message comes from my own journey, but also from the people who stood by me along the way. My family’s sacrifices have always motivated me, but I’ve also learned that support can come from people outside of family too. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed and wanted to give up, especially while balancing school, work, and life responsibilities. During those times, my boyfriend and my best friend constantly reminded me to keep going and never let me lose sight of my goals.
   My professors, friendships I built at �������˰�, and conversations with other students also reminded me that no one gets through college completely alone. Those experiences really shaped the message I want to share—that asking for help and leaning on your support system is not weakness, it’s part of what helps you succeed.
    
8. How do you hope your speech will resonate with your class and their own paths ahead? 
   I hope my classmates feel seen. Everyone has their own story and struggles that people may not know about. I want them to leave feeling proud of how far they’ve come and confident that they’re capable of handling whatever comes next.
    
9. What do you like to do for fun?
   Outside of school and work, I enjoy spending time with my family, boyfriend, and friends. My boyfriend has introduced me to a lot of places around Minnesota, and whenever we get the chance, we love exploring new spots together and trying new restaurants. I also enjoy attending Minnesota United FC games, which is extra special since I work there as well. When life slows down, I also enjoy listening to music and finding small moments to relax.

We wish you the best of luck as you continue your criminal justice education at Metro State University this fall, Reyna! Congratulations again on your achievements! We look forward to hearing you speak next week and seeing what you’ll do next!