Reporter Maria Guerrero comes to News 3 from Baton Rouge, La., where she was the weekend reporter at WAFB-TV.

The "Proud Texan" was born in Juarez, Mexico, and raised in Lufkin, Texas.

Maria earned her bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in international studies with a concentration in Latin America from the Manship School of Communication at Louisiana State University. "Geaux Tigers!"

While in school, she co-founded the Association of Hispanic Journalists at LSU.

Maria's love for news began while on a sixth-grade field trip where her class watched a live broadcast of the 5 p.m. newscast in her hometown.

Eager to learn every aspect of news, Maria worked as a production assistant at various news stations in high school and throughout college.

She worked her way up to WAFB-TV reporter while in college.

"My dream came true!" she said.

"I truly feel grateful for the opportunity to come into someone's life and tell their story,” she said. "I hope I do my job with the respect the people of this great state deserve."

For now, this Southerner looks forward to experiencing her first Midwest winter: "I’ve never even seen snow, y’all!"

E-mail Maria a story idea at mguerrero@wisctv.com.