DANIEL RUIZ
My name is Daniel Ruiz and I have been served in Colorado House Districts 50 (Greeley) and 52 (FC) as well as Senate Districts 13 (Greeley) and 15 (FC). I am first generation Latino and my parents worked long hours as migrant workers when I was growing up. I am the first member in the program to obtain my Masters in Social Work and I am currently in the process of pursuing my PhD.
I have always believed in the power of education, and I was unsure whether or not I would be able to pursue the aforementioned to the same extent that I am now. When I initially started my higher educational endeavors, I was considered a non-traditional student. I had a late start in the world of academia when I first enrolled in intermediate courses at Aims Community College. There were a lot of uncertainties given that I was not entirely acclimated to the environment. This, in conjunction with my late start, tended to fill me with doubt. I was unsure if I would be able to undertake the work assigned to me and I feared that I would fail my courses.
The TRIO Educational Opportunity Center Program came to my aid and encouraged me to succeed. EOC provided me with counseling and information on the college admissions process. This was seemed like the most daunting task to me at the time because of my inexperience with the system itself. TRIO also afforded me further support through another facet of the program called Student Support Services. Through this part of the program, I was continuously aided by staff in regards to the basic college requirements. Being able to have this type of support, even when I did not believe in myself and started to struggle, helped me to get to where I am today. I was determined to achieve a degree where I could help people in some way.
Understanding the importance of higher education made me the person that I am now. I finally realized that I wanted to teach academia and do research. My desire to advance in my field, and the requirement of devotion of considerable time in teaching, research, and publications.
ADRIANA RAMÍREZ
Adriana is an alumna of the Weld County Site Office of the Colorado State University Educational Opportunity Center Project and from the Aims Community College Student Support Services Program. Adriana became an EOC adult participant while she was in jail serving a sentence related to her methamphetamine drug addiction and other convictions in 2005. Adriana had participated in a presentation conducted by our then Weld County EOC site coordinator about the importance of seeking education as a path to a different life. She immediately became excited about the possibility of going to college and with EOC staff assistance, encouragement and guidance, Adriana was accepted to Aims Community College for the following term. Unfortunately, Adriana still had to complete her jail sentence. At her next court hearing, Adriana bravely went before the Judge and informed him of her future educational plans and admission to Aims.
Impressed by what he learned of her plans and that she was ready to begin her enrollment the next term, the Judge deferred her jail sentence on the condition that she would enroll full-time at Aims while still completing other requirements related to her other convictions. This decision marked the beginning of her incredible educational and life changing journey. EOC referred her to the TRIO Student Support Services Program at Aims, and she became an active participant in a second TRIO program.
Adriana went on to complete her Associates Degree and then transferred to the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley where she earned not only her bachelor’s, but also obtained a master’s degree. Today, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Addiction Counselor where she supervises, supports and provides instruction to students who are going through their master’s degree program and those students who are looking to be certified as counselors or working towards their degree and licensure. In her own words, “Now, I can be the support, the mentor, and cheerleader to those I work with in the same way that TRIO was for me. I am active and committed to my community”.
TRIO is now multigenerational in her family. Her daughter and several of her family members have utilized TRIO programs and services, and they, too, have graduated from college. She is no longer the only one in her family to have attended college. Thank you, Adriana for giving back to your community and congratulations on the person you have become.
