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It’s a long trip from Managua, Nicaragua, to Chestnut Hill, but 1983 alumnus Felipe Mantica seems intent on making it for a while.
Each year since 2007, Mantica has made the trek to drop off his eldest child Felipe Jr. at Boston College. During the next four years, the Mantica traveling party grew, as the next eldest, Miguel (Class of 2012), and then Lucia (Class of 2013) also enrolled in BC. And while Felipe Jr. graduated this spring, Francisco has been accepted to BC and plans to be in this fall’s freshman class.
That’s four Mantica children so far — and seven more to go.
“My Dad loved BC. Because of the great education he got here, he was able to start his first business, which was distributing IBM computers in Nicaragua,” said Felipe Jr., who majored in finance and economics.
BC was the first choice for Felipe Jr. and his siblings, who all were accepted via early action and never applied to any other colleges.
Felipe Jr. says he has enjoyed having his siblings with him for the latter part of his BC career.
“I think it’s good for them having an older brother around because I have been able to give them advice on what courses to take and where to live. And I’ve introduced them to many of my friends.”
Although his other eight siblings stayed back in Managua, Felipe Jr. looked forward to having not only his parents and two BC siblings but also his grandparents and two uncles with him for Commencement.
“It’s just great having my family around,” said Felipe Jr., who plans to return to Nicaragua and work in his father’s business.