Built by Camden, Strengthened by Service: Luis Colon Graduates from Rutgers–Camden After 14-Year Journey
Fourteen years after first arriving at Rutgers University–Camden as a first-generation college student, Camden native and Army veteran Luis Colon is preparing to cross the commencement stage this May with a degree in management and a story defined by resilience, service, and determination.
“My journey at Rutgers–Camden started in the summer of 2012 when I participated in the Educational Opportunity Fund program on campus prior to entering my first year,” Colon said. “Unfortunately, my family experienced a significant family loss during that same summer, which led to me losing my focus and motivation academically. I struggled throughout my freshman year, but by the spring of 2013, I was dismissed from Rutgers–Camden after finishing with a 1.37 GPA.”
Determined not to let his early academic setbacks define him, Colon continued taking classes at Camden County College while working to rebuild his confidence as a student. Though he said he felt embarrassed by his dismissal from Rutgers–Camden, the experience inspired him to prove — both to himself and to the university — that he was capable of succeeding academically.
After re-enrolling at Rutgers–Camden in the spring of 2014, Colon retook courses and enrolled in summer classes to improve his standing. That fall, he joined Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Incorporated, an experience he said gave him a strong support system and connected him with other Latino students who shared similar backgrounds and ambitions.
Despite finding renewed motivation and community on campus, however, Colon’s path to graduation would continue to be shaped by financial hardship and difficult life circumstances.
“My only option was for my parents to do a federal Parent PLUS loan, but even with their support I didn’t have enough funding to continue past the fall 2014, semester,” said Colon. “I spent several years working before I finally joined the army in 2017.”
His experience in the Army proved transformative. Colon served with the 990th Engineer Company at Fort Dix, where he spent more than eight years developing technical skills and the discipline that would later shape his return to college. As both a heavy equipment operator and plumber, Colon helped construct and maintain military infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and other essential facilities.
“That experience strengthened my leadership skills, work ethic, and sense of responsibility,” Colon said. “I returned to Rutgers–Camden with a renewed sense of focus and maturity.”
When he re-enrolled in the fall of 2024, Colon balanced completing his management degree with an internship at Enterprise Mobility, where he further developed his leadership and problem-solving abilities. He now works as a full-time trainee in Enterprise’s management program in addition to completing his final semester at Rutgers–Camden.
Reflecting on his academic journey, Colon noted that his resilience can be seen in how he went from a 1.37 GPA as a freshman in 2012 to a 3.17 GPA ahead of graduation. And, while he acknowledges that the road to graduation was longer than he once expected, the challenges he faced ultimately shaped the person he is today.
“I am a proud veteran and product of Camden, looking forward to my next chapter,” Colon said. “I’m ready to give back to my community, whether through business or creating opportunities that can inspire entrepreneurship among Camden’s youth.”
