Antonia Pantoja was a trailblazing Puerto Rican educator and activist who dedicated her life to improving educational opportunities for Latino communities in the United States. After moving to New York City in the 1940s, she saw the systemic inequalities affecting Puerto Rican students and founded ASPIRA in 1961 to promote leadership and education among Latino youth. Her efforts led to the expansion of bilingual education programs and increased Latino political participation. In 1996, she became the first Puerto Rican woman to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her lifelong advocacy. Pantoja’s legacy continues through ASPIRA, shaping the future of countless Puerto Rican and Latino students.