Growing up in Aurora, Colorado, Lauren Solano was involved in sports including gymnastics and diving, as well as other hobbies like theater and choir. She toured many colleges in Oregon during her junior year of high school, but the atmosphere of Portland State University drew her in.
“I really enjoyed the Pacific Northwest in general and felt as though this would be a great place for me to pursue my education,” explains Lauren. “I am currently a music education major.”
Entering into her junior year, Lauren has worked at Campus Rec for two years as a lifeguard, and was recently offered the positions of Safety & Risk Management Student Coordinator and Student Building Supervisor.
"I really enjoy the professionalism brought to the workplace and how my co-workers and I have similar goals for the facility that we can pursue through hard work and dedication,” Lauren says. “I have also made many friends during my time working at Campus Rec. Some of my closest friends were my co-workers at one point or another."
Campus Rec strives to be a safe place where all members of our community feel comfortable and welcome. Lauren assists us in this goal by making the building as safe as possible. She enjoys finding new and more efficient ways to facilitate safety courses, and has had the opportunity to work closely with other Campus Rec employees to ensure that our members have the best experience.
Lauren plans to graduate from Portland State in two years and head off to graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in music education. Her advice to current and future college students: "Take time to enjoy the small moments in life and maintain what keeps you driven in life.”
A stand-out employee with a bright future, Lauren has certainly earned the title of emerging leader and Campus Rec is thankful to have her on our team. Thank you, Lauren, and congratulations!
Each year, Campus Rec gives out awards to outstanding student employees who have gone above and beyond. The Emerging Leader Award recognizes employees who have already made significant contributions to Campus Rec, and have demonstrated potential for student leadership. This year, Lauren Solano won an Emerging Leader Award for her exceptional work on the Aquatics, Student Building Supervisor (SBS), and Safety & Risk Management teams at Campus Rec.