A sophomore at JBU, Lucía Arjona Gruber is majoring in elementary education with a minor in intercultural studies. She hopes to one day teach at an international school like the one she attended while growing up in Panama City, Panama.
Her journey to JBU is deeply connected to her mother, Maribel Gruber, a 1996 graduate and Walton International Scholarship Program student. Maribel became a Christian during her first two weeks at JBU, and the decision has shaped her family’s story.
“My mom became a Christian at JBU, and her life completely changed,” Gruber said. “Because of her testimony, my dad became a Christian and my sister and I were born into a Christian home — a completely different environment from how my mom and dad were raised.”
When it came time to choose a college, Gruber was drawn to JBU by her mother’s experience and the deep relationships formed decades earlier.
As a student, Maribel was welcomed into the home of Sherry Miller, a JBU university advancement employee, and her husband, Phil. What began as a short-term hosting arrangement quickly grew into something more — Sherry and Phil became “Mom” and “Dad.”
Though her mom was a Walton Scholar, Gruber applied as a non-Walton. JBU student scholarships and the Millers made it possible for her to attend JBU and receive a Christ-centered education.
The Millers embraced her with the same love and hospitality, calling her their Panamanian granddaughter. The Millers provided Gruber not just a place to live, but a true sense of belonging.
“Living with Sherry and Phil didn’t just ease the financial burden. It made it possible for me to be at JBU,” Gruber shared. “It also opened the door for me to work in university advancement, which hasn’t just helped with college expenses — it’s given me the chance to be part of JBU and stay connected on campus.”
Gruber has also been encouraged by the close-knit support of JBU faculty.
“Being a student in the education department has been so impactful,” she said. “Every professor I’ve met has not only been exceptional in their teaching but also deeply committed to my personal and academic growth. I didn’t expect to build such meaningful connections with them or to feel so supported on this journey through college.”
Gruber’s story is a continuation of a legacy nearly 30 years in the making — one shaped by education, transformed by faith and made possible by generosity that continues to impact students at JBU today.
