Noel Rodriguez ‘16 had a college experience that was more than what he could have imagined. He was awarded the Bruce and Anne Shepard Reach Your Peak scholarship three years in a row, and started his first “big kid” job shortly thereafter. Both experiences shaped him into the driven professional he is today.
When deciding on a college, Rodriguez hadn’t considered the University of Colorado. After attending a college night at his high school, that decision changed.
“My decision to attend UCCS happened when I did a friend of mine a favor by accompanying them to a UCCS recruitment event that was held at our high school,” said Rodriguez. “After that single session, my decision changed. That evening I began the application process to UCCS, was accepted shortly after, and weeks later instead of moving up north I was moving south to Colorado Springs.”
Rodriguez said making the change to attend UCCS was one of the best decisions he’s made. He grew as a student but also gained professional experience while working as a student employee in University Center & Event Services.
“I was lucky enough to find a great mentor in Andreanna Romero, who was my manager at the time,” said Rodriguez. “During my time as a student employee, I had the opportunity to attend professional conferences, work alongside professionals, and work events that provided many connections and opportunities.”
Rodriguez was able to balance being a student and a student employee because of his scholarship.
“The scholarship not only alleviated my financial struggles, but it also provided a new energy and motivation to continue my education at UCCS.”
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a marketing emphasis, Rodriguez stayed within the CU System. The Alumni Relations team with the CU Anschutz Medical Campus Office of Advancement brought him on to work as an administrative assistant.
Rodriguez currently studies on the CU Denver campus and aims to earn his MBA from the Professional MBA Program. His ultimate goal is to obtain an administrative leadership position in the sports industry, specifically within a nonprofit sports organization.