At just 16 years old, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, River Engineer Gladys Figueroa Toro graduated from high school and entered the most challenging and formative period of her life—college. As the Kansas City District celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, we sat down with Figueroa Toro and heard her story, starting from when she attended the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez in her home country.