Relevant Coursework

  • Object Oriented Analysis, Design, & Implementation

  • Advanced Data Structures in C++

  • AI for Games

  • Team-Based Game Production

  • Team-Based Game Testing and Deployment

  • 3D Animation

  • Story and Narrative in Games

  • Concept Art

  • Level Design

  • Game Design for Diverse Populations

  • Game Audio

  • Electronic and Computer Music

The Student Achievement Award

In Spring of 2024, I was nominated for and chosen by the committee of the Dean of Students to receive the Student Achievement Award. This exclusive award is given to only two students every year to be recognized for their extremely positive impact on the many facets of UCCS and the Colorado Springs Community. As an award winner, I gave a speech at commencement to the entire graduating class and their families in the Broadmoor World Arena.

The Dean of Students told me that they chose me to receive the award because they felt that my story exemplified the values of UCCS. After dropping out years prior due to mental health and class performance issues, I returned and completed my degree. On top of that, I was heavily involved on campus in a myriad of ways:

  • I acted in a student-produced play called “The Drag”, which was a performance meant to shine a light on LGBT+ issues.

  • I joined a student improv comedy troupe that performed at a local community theatre.

  • I was vice president of the Game Design Club.

  • In my sophomore year, I started as the program coordinator and sole actor for the Clyde the Mascot Program. The program had become defunct because the former faculty member in charge of it left UCCS right before the pandemic hit. By the time I graduated, I led a team of fellow student employees in bringing Clyde to events across campus and Colorado Springs year-round. I also created a written guide on how to run the program and standards to maintain for future program coordinators.

The Bachelor of Innovation Degree program (BI)

The BI is a fully accredited degree program that replaces the typical general education courses of BA or BS programs with courses emphasizing working in cross-disciplinary multi-functional teams. It’s the only program like it in the Country. Some examples of BI courses I took are Business Law, Technical Writing, and Leadership.

A highlight of the BI is the Teams series of courses. Over three semesters, classes are split into teams of 5-8 students tasked with creating a deliverable for a client. Clients come from inside the University, the Colorado Springs Community, and even across the world.

A couple examples of deliverables that I’ve worked on:

  • A local owner’s small business was centered around storing and repairing classic and collector cars. The business was suffering after the pandemic, and he wasn’t sure whether to retire or continue work. Our team created an in-depth business plan of over 100 pages for him giving him multiple options including selling his business for its estimated worth, changing the structure of the business, and changing the structure of leadership. The client was so impressed, he wanted to hire my team leaders.

  • A brand ambassador for Lululemon wanted to sponsor an event on our campus that emphasized equity, diversity, and inclusion and proved that UCCS was a good fit for Lululemon’s college outreach program. I led the team that organized, advertised, and held the event. I also reached out to students with disabilities from the Office of Inclusive Services to try and structure the event around what they would find fun, and personally invited them to the event. It was a de-stress event before Finals that had Trivia, Lululemon prize drawings, sports, games, and coloring among other activities. Over 100 students attended, and a higher-up at Lululemon told us that was a record number compared to any official event that Lululemon had ever held at any major campus.