Read more about Evansville’s international community in the January/February 2025 feature story.
Imagine arriving in the U.S. as a child, speaking little to no English, and trying to fit in at your school and in your community.
Lena Billimon has lived that experience. With his father Jasper, mother Justina, and six siblings, Lena left his native Marshall Islands, first for Hawaii, when he was only 5 โ a time he recalls only vaguely. His family then moved to Spokane, Washington, before arriving in Evansville 12 years ago.
The F.J. Reitz High School alumnus, who is set to graduate in May 2026 from Ivy Tech Community College Evansville, is passionate about wanting to help youngsters in similar circumstances. Heโll do so as a new navigator for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation.
Lena will work mostly with EVSC children and families from Haiti and the Marshall Islands, a Pacific Ocean nation that gained independence from the U.S. in 1986.
Marshallese do not require a visa to study, live, and work in the U.S., but those relocating here have a variety of needs.
โWeโll be helping families with overcoming barriers, including finances and health care, whatever they need in those areas,โ he says. โAnd helping students in the schools also โฆ I was once in their shoes.โ
Lenaโs own path was not easy โ he says he was bullied at school and was made to feel โnot good enoughโ because he came from a different land.
He credits his teachers for helping him overcome language and social barriers, plus his family, who is grounded in faith.
Rachel Acton met Lena in 2015 at EVSCโs International Newcomer Academy for English Language Learners and says he stood out at a young age.
She says Lenaโs background and skills will serve him well in his new role.
โHis resiliency has empowered him to reach out and educate others in the Marshallese community, and then educate the non-Marshallese population about Marshallese culture and life,โ says Acton, a health advocate with Ascension St. Vincent Evansville.
Lena is uncertain what his long-term future will entail โ two of his brothers have returned to the Marshall Islands. For now, he says, โMy plan is to stay here and help with the community in any way I can.โ
