Doctoral musical arts student Martin Godoy earned top honors at one of the highest-level international flute competitions -- and he did it as a first-generation college student.

Godoy won first prize in the Texas Flute Society's 32nd annual Myrna Brown Artist Competition in May. The Dallas native took up the flute in middle school, and he has supported himself to pay for three degrees. He is director of the Color Guard at Colleyville Heritage High School.

"For me, going to college meant making a name for my family and showing that anything is possible," Godoy says. "'I'm so proud of you, Mijo,' and 'That's my boy,' are expressions I often hear from my proud parents. I like to think that I take a bit of each of them with me as I achieve my dreams in music."