Mia Marquez is enjoying being La Reina de Las Vegas and enjoying being a student in Luna’s nursing program.
Marquez has been La Reina de Las Vegas since July 2023 and will hold that title until next year’s City of Las Vegas Fiestas.
“I do a lot of community outreach,” says Marquez. “A lot of engaging with the community.”
As part of her La Reina de Las Vegas platform, “bridging the generation gap,” Marquez said she interviewed her great grandma Marica Ortiz, 99.
“My great grandma spoke about her memories of the fiestas and what she loved about it,” says Marquez. “She told me that the fiestas were family-oriented and that she enjoyed the music and food.”
Marquez has some favored parts of the fiestas as well.
“My favorite part is engaging with both the younger and older generation,” says Marquez. “I learn a lot from both.”
Being La Reina de Las Vegas may be a part-time job, but being a Luna nursing student takes most of her time.
“There is a lot of reading,” says Marquez. “Every day I get to learn something new. You have to put 110 percent into this program.”
Marquez says there is a lot of support in Luna’s nursing program.
“I love it here,” says Marquez. “If you need something, someone is always there for you. We’ve only been in school for about a month now, but we’re close with our classmates.”
Marquez, a 2021 West Las Vegas High graduate, said that choosing nursing, as a profession is a way to give back to her community.
“My nephew was in a neonatal intensive care unit for about a month, and that pushed me toward wanting to be a nurse,” says Marquez. “My nephew is doing fine.”
Marquez has both a short-term and long-term goals in mind.
“My short-term goal is to graduate from the nursing program and my long-term goal is to further my education, possibly to be a nurse practitioner,” says Marquez.
Marquez says that her choice of Luna was an easy one.
“I didn’t want to go too far, I love Las Vegas, so I decided to stay here,” says Marquez.
Marquez has some direct advice for those who want to follow in her footsteps.
“Be yourself,” says Marquez. “Give it your all and the same goes for the nursing program. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
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La Reina de Las Vegas Mia Marquez waves to the crowd during the West Las Vegas Homecoming Parade.
