Student of the Month: Antonio Novelo
I was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and emigrated to a small agricultural community near Sacramento, California, when I was six. With limited English, adapting to life in the United States was challenging, but thanks to my family’s high expectations and the support of dedicated teachers, I was able to integrate into the United States academic system fairly quickly. I was identified as Gifted and Talented (G.A.T.E.) in the fourth grade and was offered many extracurricular opportunities throughout my educational career. Shortly after graduating high school, I became a parent and put my university dreams on hold. Many years later, I found my place at Portland State University, whose downtown location and strong academic programs made returning to school possible. While pursuing my degree, I began working part-time as a Spanish medical interpreter, allowing me to apply my bilingual background in a professional setting while supporting patients and healthcare providers. Through its Computer Engineering curriculum and Viking Motorsports program, Portland State has allowed me to integrate my personal passions directly into my coursework.
Serving as President of Viking Motorsports has helped me develop a hands-on approach to engineering and connect with a highly supportive community of staff and classmates. Within the team, we regularly check in on one another’s academic progress and come together to discuss challenges and goals. The motorsports program has expanded my leadership skills and enabled me to mentor other students, participate in student social events, engage with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), visit industry partners, and connect with the university's leadership. I am also involved with LSAMP, IEEE, SHPE, and the Center for Entrepreneurship. Academically, I have particularly enjoyed the challenge of the University Studies series and have chosen to focus on Design Thinking. Courses such as Pre-Hispanic and Early Colonial Literature and Latinos in Education, taken as part of my Race and Ethnic Studies requirements, have further expanded my perspective. These experiences have strengthened my desire to pursue a future career in automotive engineering and community mentorship.
TRIO Student Support Services has played an essential role in my success by helping me navigate the university’s complex academic environment. Meeting with my advisor, Gabe, has encouraged me to continue my education during moments when I questioned whether I belonged here. TRIO’s priority registration has enabled me to enroll in the courses I need to stay on track. At the same time, financial aid counseling has helped me better understand how to qualify for grants and scholarships. Additionally, receiving a TRIO scholarship has eased financial pressure and allowed me to focus more fully on my academics. After graduation, I plan to continue developing Portland State’s Viking Motorsports program into a sustainable pipeline that connects students from K–12 schools in the Portland metro area to the university's undergraduate programs and into rewarding careers with local industry partners. My long-term goal is to make Viking Motorsports a self-sustaining program within the university while creating meaningful work-study opportunities for non-traditional students. By providing hands-on experience from the start of their academic journey, I aim to help students focus on their studies while developing practical skills that will serve them throughout their careers.
TRIO - Student Support Services (SSS) programs, "Classic' & "STEM" at Portland State University are 100% US Department of Education funded. "Classic" receives $426,814 and "STEM" receives $261,888 for a total of $688,702 annually. Our goals are to increase the retention, graduation, and good academic standing of eligible students.