Growing up in Ethiopia, aspirations for a better life for his family, and fulfilling his parent's dream of earning a college degree inspired Adugna to pursue his degree in business. He wanted to become a part of the FaM program to learn how to become a more rounded leader and support his peers in doing the same. Adugna felt that FaM provided a space to be among a group of individuals that understood his experiences as a first-generation, immigrant student.
Now, in his role as Account Administrator in Financial Services at Lockton Companies, Adugna gives back his expertise as an alumnus by serving as a FaM Career Mentor for current FaM program students.
"I never thought about what I was missing, and the FaM program showed me that first-gen and multicultural students can get so much out of the college experience when it’s tailored to them."
Aron Castrejon is a trailblazing first-generation Latino senior, pursuing his BSBA in Finance. He hopes that his college journey will pave a path for his family and others to follow in his footsteps. He aspires to be a catalyst for positive change.
“There is a lot of weight to it but it’s more about being a stepping stone. I want to get things on a different track. If I can't move mountains now, then I'm not obligated to, but I can start."
Castrejon sees the desire to surpass his parents' achievements and values hard work and money. He believes that securing his financial stability can lead to a better future for his family. His interest in mathematics led him to choose a Finance major, recognizing it as a path to create significant change, especially in helping his community build wealth and break generational cycles.
“I want to go into wealth management following graduation. Latino poverty rates are at a historic low right now. Without the knowledge to manage their wealth, they sit on cash and lose value over time, so nobody is gaining for their future. If I can bring the knowledge on certain investment vehicles, then there's an opportunity for generational wealth and security to end the cycle.”
Outside of the business school, Castrejon attributes much of his professional progress to the First-generation and Multicultural (FaM) program. It provided him with valuable resources and helped him grow professionally. Participating in the Inclusive Leadership Certificate case competition improved his public speaking skills and allowed him to engage with individuals dedicated to assisting historically marginalized college students. Additionally, Aron used FaM events to network with industry professionals, leading to his upcoming internship at Schwab in fall 2023.
“The FaM ended up being a catalyst for everything else I've been doing. From the clubs that I've joined, and the people I've met, the doors that have opened have been directly because of the FaM program. Recently, I joined the finance and marketing clubs, serving as treasurer in the latter. Seeing CU Denver's excellent campus engagement, I wanted to extend that experience to fellow students. As a co-lead for live music events in the campus activities team, I'm doing just that. These experiences have also helped me secure internships.”
By connecting with fellow first-gen students, Castrejon and other FaM members (Damali De Loera, Rey Gallegos, and Rahwa Desta) seized the chance to share their experiences and launched the First Gen Unfiltered Podcast, now available on YouTube and Spotify.
Shyanne Cook is a recent graduate of CU Denver. She completed her bachelor's degree in finance in the spring of 2023. Resilience has been key to her experience.
“My mother was a single mom with many mouths to feed which has been the main contributor to my drive, perseverance, and consistency. My college experience has been one of rarity. I have been studying for this degree for nearly six years now, rotating between part-time and full-time. I currently work for Embassy Suites where I have been for five years while studying for my degree. I have worked full-time my entire college years, initially working overnight and attending school after my shift. It has been a battle up a steep hill, but I feel atop the mountain now. I am a mother, I work a full-time job to support my family, and attend school full-time.”
These commitments could prove challenging when scheduling conflicts prevented Shyanne from attending events at the business school. “The true cost I paid was missing out on networking, self-building activities, and making connections outside of class.”
After joining the FaM Program, she has had new opportunities to network and become involved. “The FaM business program has increased my exposure and trajectory for my career. I have attended many events such as site visits and workshops that helped develop inclusive leadership skills and network with more professionals than I ever have in my life.”
Shyanne is grateful for the support that she received while in the FaM Program and looks forward to supporting FaM students in the future. “I am forever grateful, and I look forward to offering mentorship and support for the success of future FaM students.
Damali De Loera, a senior at CU Denver studying marketing, has always been driven to attend college due to her passion for learning and to set an example for her younger brother. Despite her parents having degrees, they were unable to use them after moving to the US, making De Loera's pursuit of a degree a way to capitalize on the opportunities her parents sacrificed.
“My parents have degrees from Mexico, so they’re not able to use them here. To me, being a first-generation student means that I still go through navigating things by myself because it’s a whole different system."
De Loera understood that attending school would allow her to connect with others and acquire knowledge. Recognizing the power of knowledge, she viewed education as a means to empower herself, particularly in a society where her parents might not be perceived as influential.
"Pursuing education is reclaiming that power, allowing me to build a future where my family can benefit from their knowledge. I believe that knowledge can empower not just me and my family, but my entire community."
She started college just before COVID-19 hit, leading to disconnection among students. Being highly involved in high school, she sought a similar experience in college. Feeling like a small fish in a big pond, De Loera was fortunate to have discovered the FaM Program at CU Denver.
“I felt disconnected and like I didn't belong anywhere. Returning to campus was tough, but I knew I had to make an effort to feel like myself again. The FaM Program has impacted my college journey in a very positive way. It made me feel like I finally had someone in college that I could go to. Not just somebody but a whole community of people. As a first-gen student, you typically feel like you have to figure out everything by yourself, and most of the time you do. Since I found FaM, well, since FaM found me, I just feel relaxed whenever I have a problem. I know that I have my peers and program admin to lean on."
One of the most rewarding experiences for her has been meeting her mentor, Sean. He's been incredibly supportive and has played a key role in her mental, emotional, and academic growth, as well as in shaping her career aspirations. Following graduation, De Loera intends to pursue a career in marketing and incorporate her passion for interior design.
“I love interior design. I used to say I wanted to be an interior designer, but then reality hit, and I thought that it wasn’t the most financially stable career. I expressed that to Sean, and he was like well heck that doesn’t mean you can’t look into it and one day pursue it. That’s been super cool to see that play out."
As a non-traditional student, pursuing higher education came with challenges for Joseph De Oliveira.
Oliveira is a 31-year-old disabled army veteran. He has been pursuing a bachelor's degree, on and off, since 2015. He is the first in his family to set a path in the world of academia with his little ones in mind.
“Everyone in my family works paycheck to paycheck. They have never thought of education as a path that’s either suitable or attainable. I want my children to know that that's not the case. You don't have to stay where you are just because it's where you come from and just because you rise above where you came from, doesn't mean you're better than others. It just means that you chose a different path.”
Due to the lack of support, Oliveira was experiencing feelings of discouragement and felt overlooked. Oliveira gives kudos to the FaM Program for providing opportunities and creating a community that makes him feel seen.
“After going to the site visits and meeting some of the higher-ups from the top financial and accounting firms, I realized getting help is not a detriment to your success, but a benefit. Without the FaM program, I wouldn’t have gotten multiple internship offers. Instead of begging for a place at the table, I had companies fighting over me and it definitely felt good. There's a family feel to FaM and it has allowed me to not feel alone anymore going through my educational journey.”
As senior, Joseph De Oliveira, comes to an end in his undergraduate education, he has advice for anyone who is experiencing a similar situation.
“We are not alone and there are many more people out there wanting to help you than there are wanting to see you fail. Asking for help doesn't mean that you're weak and learning from others doesn't mean you're not smart. Standing on the shoulders of giants means that you can see further than they could, and you set the path for the next generation to follow your footsteps to stand on your shoulders and push past limits that we put on ourselves.”
For senior Rogelio Delgado, higher education has been quite the journey. Delgado started his higher education pathway at the Community College of Aurora (CCA), transferred to the Community College of Denver (CCD), and then decided to take a break from school. After his break, he transferred to the University of Colorado Denver (UCD) as a part-time student and in October of 2022, he left the Military to finish his degree as a full-time student.
Due to most classes being offered during the day and not being a fan of online learning at the time, Delgado could not commit to a full-time schedule while serving in the Military. Although he was receiving encouragement from his supervisors in the Military to finish school it was not always easy to find balance as a part-time student.
“Being in the military, you have a mission to fulfill first before all else. There were times when I procrastinated on an assignment, and I was unable to complete it because I had to prioritize my work for the Military. It took experiencing a lot of failure and self-control to become as organized as I am now.”
Since the launch of the FaM program, Delgado has benefited from workshops, site visits, events, and the FaM community. He first learned about FaM when he was invited to a potluck. Although he entered the event with food on his mind, he left the event with a new sense of community. He was able to meet like-minded individuals who shared common goals.
“I had mentors I relied on to guide me, but I craved having peers that aligned with where I wanted to go. The person you will be in 5 years is based on the books you read and the people you surround yourself with today. Although I’m building my network from the bottom, being in FaM has enabled me to build a network of peers that understand my experiences as a first-generation student of color.”
Delgado credits the FaM Program for exposing him to opportunities that he never thought he could experience.
“I assumed that site visits and attending TEDx MileHigh, and getting invited to networking events were for students that didn’t share my experiences and had the right connections. I’m grateful to be a part of rewriting this narrative and contributing to the program's growth.”
Migrating to the U.S. from his hometown of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, at 8 years old, Oscar Fraire's educational journey was not one of simplicity. Yet, his perseverance, determination, and involvement were strong factors that played a role in shaping his success. Now, in his role as a Financial Analyst for Comcast, Fraire continues to pass it forward by serving as a FaM Career Mentor for current FaM program students.
"In addition to providing me with key resources and experiences for my success as a first-generation student, FaM provided me with an amazing community of other first-generation students facing similar challenges from diverse perspectives. It is an honor to be part of a program that shows its values through its actions."
CU Denver Spring Commencement Spring 2022 Graudate Spotlight Article on Oscar Fraire
Greg Martin is a recent graduate of the UC Denver Business School. When he started his college journey, he did not find himself in the right environment to complete his degree. He decided to step away from pursuing his degree for a time. He acted as a rock for his family and grew as an individual before deciding to go back to school.
“I felt that I should focus on online school and trying to figure out scheduling. CU Denver had really great programs that were flexible.”
After being admitted to CU Denver, Greg was able to find support and community in the FaM program. “When I got into CU Denver, I found Nimol and Fam. Inadvertently, that weird long path of not knowing what to do and not ever having the energy to focus on school actually put me in school at the perfect time and in the perfect place surrounded by the perfect people.”
The most notable support that Greg received came in the form of networking. “I made some really good connections with some really good people. I’ve gotten some incredible advice from them about searching for jobs. I’m trying to find a middle-level job which is harder to do when transitioning industries. I think that I’m going to end up doing it through the connections that I made through the FaM.”
This encouragement and opportunities aided him in finishing his degree with a double major in Business Administration and HR Management. This accomplishment is amplified by his first-generation status. His biggest supporter always knew that he was capable of this achievement.
“When my mother was sick before she passed away, she went to the Hallmark store to get cards for different events. One of those events was my graduation. My sister held onto the card for years. My mom believed in me and always knew that I would do it. To me, it’s almost vindication for what my mom always knew was in me.”
Born and raised in Denver to parents who immigrated from Vietnam, FaM student Abigail Nguyen did not have an easy transition to college.
“My parents immigrated to the States at a very young age after the war but did not attend college. They made it clear that my sister and I would get a college education and did everything they could to support that.”
Nguyen started her college journey at Colorado State University (CSU) but due to the Covid, she lacked social and community engagement. With the high cost of attendance and lack of community, Nguyen took the initiative to leave CSU and transfer to the University of Colorado Denver (UCD).
“When I first transferred, I was going through a lot and I had a hard time with my studies, but I met Nimol (FaM Program Director) and that was one of the best things that could have happened. She helped me get more involved with FaM and I was even one of the students that helped shape the program!”
Since beginning the FaM program, Nguyen has had the ability to participate in a handful of site visits, workshops, and lunch and learns.
“My favorite part of FaM has been the site visits. It’s super cool to meet new people and learn what they do for a living. As a student, you work a handful of temporary jobs, and it can be difficult to imagine yourself doing something other than your job now. I find myself attending site visits and thinking this could be me.”
Senior Hanah Patiño found direction, community, and support through the FaM program. Initially uncertain about her career goals while pursuing her BSBA Management degree in Colorado, she encountered Nimol, FaM Program Director, during her second semester at CU. Reflecting on her early academic journey, Hanah admitted, "I was unsure what my career goals were and how they would be affected by my major. I had gotten through the first two semesters largely with no end goal in mind other than finishing my BSBA Management degree. Nimol came to speak to my BUSN 2100 course, shared about the FaM Program, and I was very interested."
Encouraged by Nimol, Hanah applied for the program, recalling Nimol's words, "She remembered talking to me and felt that I would be a great addition to the program. It made me feel so truly special that she thought I had something to bring to the table at a point where I felt like I had no idea what I was doing."
Before discovering the FaM program, Hanah's mother had been her source of motivation to pursue a college degree. Reflecting on her mother's journey, Hanah shared, "My grandparents are very traditional. They encouraged my mother to marry rather than pursue higher education. After leaving my father, we had little. She returned to school, completing her bachelor's degree at Texas Tech in 2015 after 5 years of juggling full-time work, school, and caring for my brother and me. Her hard work and dedication showed me that it was possible to graduate no matter the circumstances."
Following in her mother's footsteps, Hanah values the importance of obtaining her degree, stating, "Attending college as a woman with Mexican heritage means that I am changing the expectation and representing a group that has not been in this setting in the past."
Since joining the FaM program, Hanah has embraced numerous opportunities, including networking in the sustainability field and gaining confidence. Reflecting on her experience, she shared, "The FaM has guided me to my desired career and helped me develop my core values. The community has been so supportive. My favorite opportunity was the Inclusive Leadership Case Competition. It was great to work with industry partners on real-world issues. Presenting in front of a large group pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to grow."
With parents who migrated to the United States in search of a better life for her and her brothers, Mayra Prieto wanted to fulfill her parent’s dream of pursuing a college degree and upward mobility. Her mother’s dreams of attending higher education and the lack of higher educational opportunities for her family in Mexico have been huge motivating factors for Prieto to finish her degree in Informational Systems. While she was a FaM student, Prieto was able to network with industries through site visits and leadership workshops. In these experiences, she learned from and shared experiences with others who were also first-generation. She enjoyed the community building that the FaM program provided and the support of Nimol Hen, FaM Director. Her advice for other first-generation and multicultural students is to take advantage of the resources available to you as a student and get involved whenever and however you can. Following her recent gradutation, Prieto is happy to announce she is taking on full-time position at her internship with Renewable Energy Systems (RES)!
“Something that I really appreciated was the FaM mentoring program. I was matched with someone who wanted to see me grow and support that growth. He helped me prepare for interviews and keeps in touch to see how I am doing.”
Liz Vance is in her senior year pursuing her undergrad degree in marketing with a specialization in information systems. As a first-generation student, she did not always know that she would want to pursue a college degree. She was unsure how she would be supported as a first-generation student and how to finance her degree. It appeared high risk with possibly little reward. “My mindset at the time was that college was too expensive. I thought I wouldn’t have any guidance or help financially".
She began working after high school and moved to Denver shortly after. In 2019, she decided that she wanted more. She was looking for personal growth and career stability. With the desire for growth paired with support from her partner, Liz decided to go to college. “My partner, Jon, always pushed me to be the best version of myself. He reminded me that it is okay to have goals and that I am capable enough to achieve those goals”.
She started at the Community College of Denver and completed a 2-year degree in Business Administration in the summer of 2022. She started at CU Denver the following fall of 2022. As a proud BIPOC and first-generation student, Liz encourages those who are unsure if they want to attend college to pursue their goals. Although she did not have familial college experience to lean on, her family has been very supportive emotionally. She knows now that help is available if you seek it out. She was introduced to the opportunities and support offered within the CU Denver Business School.
“I quickly met Nimol Hen, (FaM Program Director) and she let me know there was one slot left in the FaM program. I signed up immediately and it was the best choice I could have made. The FaM program helped connect me to scholarships and people who were able to provide me with guidance, advice, and support. I applied for as many scholarships and programs as I could through the business school. Being open, honest, and transparent feels like a challenge sometimes - but doing so has provided me with countless scholarships, grants, and opportunities to learn from others who have found success after being in shoes like mine".
Hadden Wells is an International Business major in his sophomore year. In high school, he was unsure how his path to college would look. His father owns a plumbing company, and it was his father’s hard work that drove him to pursue a college education. He wanted to build on the foundation that his parents provided and take the next step. He knew that it would take hard work and scholarships to get there. He decided to enlist in the US Marine Corps as the first step toward his goal. Enlisting in the Marine Corps also taught him traits that would be useful in pursuing his degree. “The Marine Corps built a lot of different character traits that I didn't have. I was anti-social, but after the Marine Corps I'm a completely different person".
When his time in the Marine Corps was ending, Hadden decided it was time to choose a major to pursue. After discussing the subject with his friends, he decided to pursue a business major and begin attending CU Denver's Business School. “No matter how smart people are or how much good they want to do, they can’t do much without the right resources. So that’s why I got out and decided to go to business school".
After starting at the business school, Hadden found the FaM Program. COVID made it difficult to meet new people during class and he was feeling disconnected. He didn’t know anyone in the area before moving to Colorado, so finding a community became a priority for him. The FaM Program has provided him the opportunity to meet other students and network professionally. “It’s a great networking opportunity and a great way to create a sense of community”.
His favorite opportunity through the program has been attending site visits with FaM Partners. “It's such a great opportunity to network and be able to see what the corporate workplace looks like”. Hadden has only missed one site visit since his start in the program and is dedicated to building connections.
In addition to pursuing his degree, Hadden has also started his own business curating health and fitness kits." The GI Bill provides me with an opportunity through time and finances to be able to try things like entrepreneurship. You can be a feather floating on the wind, or you can be the wind that guides your feather".
