The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Caitlin Kinnett Wilfredo Galarza, a sophomore double major in political science and international studies, tutors Nur Sena Bukun, a student from Lincoln Jr. High School on Tuesday.

He is often found pacing the north end of Braiden Hall, chucking footballs on the campus intramural fields or sitting down to help a Latino high school student with homework through a CSU-based tutoring and mentoring program.

A convergence of eclectic passions, which boil down to helping and connecting with others, sophomore Wilfredo "Wil" Galarza makes his interests apparent.

Galarza leaves his dorm room door open to let his music tastes grace the hall.

"He takes requests," said Tess Jackson, a freshman journalism and technical communication major who listens to the music he plays out his open door. "I'm lucky to have him as my RA."

Jackson, a Chicago native, said she and freshman math major Ryan Othman, another hall resident and Chicago sports fan, both enjoy Galarza's open-door broadcasts of Chicago Bears games.

But Galarza doesn't always broadcast his status as a first-generation college student or a self-proclaimed "Mexorican," the convergence of his Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage.

Galarza said he relied on a positive attitude to overcome obstacles in his upbringing so he could enter college and act on his drive to reach out to others.

With a history of advocating Latino empowerment, Galarza said he looks to continue his role as an ambassador of the Latino community while inspiring people from all walks of life.



The growing years

A surge of impressions throughout Galarza's high school years led to his personal growth and preeminent motivation to attend college.

It began in Galarza's freshman year of high school, 2004, when Galarza participated in his first of five years in national leadership programs sponsored by the National Hispanic Institute. The NHI is "designed to advance the educational aspirations of thousands of high school age Latino youth," according to the organization's Web site.

"I was a freshman, I was Hispanic, and I was being coached and mentored," Galarza said during an interview in Braiden Hall. Sporting the number 54 in deference to Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, Galarza had arrived at the interview after playing a football game with friends at the campus intramural fields.

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