In 2013, Stevie Lucero decided to embark on her academic journey at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs with a major in biology. During her time at UCCS, she loved her professors, friends, and resources the campus provided. Fast forward to 2021, she completed her studies at UCCS and continuously pursued her passion for biology since then.
Although a few years have passed since her time at UCCS, and she is now a dental assistant in Oklahoma City, the "Mountain Lion at heart" sentiment remains strong within her mind and heart. Stevie's life came full circle when she discovered the UCCS Alumni & Friends Volunteer Program. She was delighted to find out that there was a variety of virtual opportunities available, which allowed her to still give back to the institution despite the distance between Oklahoma and Colorado. She chose to volunteer for the scholarship review opportunity, and this process had significant impacts on her transition to a new chapter - a career in dentistry.
To Stevie, developing a sense of empathy and understanding for diverse perspectives is one of the profound parts in the field of dentistry. Therefore, the scholarship review opportunity with UCCS not only gave her more insights into the upcoming classes, but also exposed her to different students' backgrounds. From there, she drew upon the student narratives to emphasize her personal experiences, motivations and aspirations during the process of applying to dental school in the most authentic way, much like the students applying for scholarships.
Among all the applicants, she was most inspired by the First-Generation students who always wanted to reach for the greatest, and their determination to make positive changes to the world with education. She believed that their academic performance was important, but it could not overshadow their perseverance and individuality. One of the things that she could resonate with was the students who had to balance full-time jobs and schoolwork, which at times could have resulted in the lack of extracurricular activities or having a middling academic standing. With that being said, Stevie strongly aspired to meet with these students in-person rather than solely through the virtual format, so she could connect with them on a personal level. As she would like to say, "People's personalities shine through when you are able to communicate with them."
In the near future, Stevie hopes to continue her involvement with the UCCS scholarship review opportunity. She was deeply moved by the unwavering determination and genuine passion exhibited by the applicants. More importantly, Stevie believes that maintaining an active role within the university community is a rewarding endeavor for alumni. She enthusiastically encourages her fellow graduates to seize the opportunity to contribute their time and talents. The blissful journey that arises from supporting current students and forging meaningful connections is invaluable.
