Carlos Ruiz, a mechanical designer for Henderson Engineers in Los Angeles, delivered the keynote address for the Reading, Advising, & Mentoring Program (RAMP) at Cal Poly Pomona on April 25. As a former graduate of the program, Ruiz understands the important role RAMP played in shaping the person he is today. With a mission to increase retention and graduation rates of low-income, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities at Cal Poly Pomona, RAMP fosters academic excellence, leadership development, and cultural awareness.

During the keynote, Ruiz shared his collegiate and professional experiences with the new graduates and encouraged them to reach their full potential in a well-rounded manner.

“My main message was to never stop developing in any aspect in life, whether it’s knowledge, physical, or emotional wellness, career development, or personal growth,” Ruiz said. “It’s important to never settle, and I was honored to share what the RAMP program has done for me personally and professionally, and that it can do the same for all of them.”

For Ruiz, becoming involved in RAMP during college made all the difference in his personal evolution. After joining as a freshman, advisers helped him through the process to apply for the mechanical engineering program, even connecting him with the dean of the College of Engineering. That was just the beginning for Ruiz.

“I was the first college student from my family so everything was new to me,” Ruiz explained. “The RAMP staff exposed me to opportunities on-campus and encouraged me to take initiative to join clubs and organizations. I took advantage of everything they offered — mentoring, tutoring, advising, and everywhere in between.”

And the experience with RAMP also taught Ruiz another major skill that he implemented during the graduation ceremony.

“I lost that nervousness or fear of getting in front of a group and speaking,” he said. “RAMP was really the start to getting where I am now. It’s really the best way to learn how to become involved on campus and to get that extracurricular experience that really helps out in your career.”

For Ruiz, giving back to his alma mater is something he’ll always do.

“Most of my volunteer time is geared towards Cal Poly Pomona students,” he noted. “I’ll always go out of my way to help them. The university has treated me well and I want to continue to give back. I even had the chance to help design their new student services building. In the future, I hope to be able to teach an engineering class there because Cal Poly is a place that I’ll always call home.”