Born in Wheatridge, Tammy Ortiz, ’19., M.A. ’21, grew up in Weld county and attended high school in Greeley. Having moved away for a time, she decided to move back to Greeley after her children grew up.
After settling back into familiar surroundings, Ortiz had to make some major life changes following a brief period of incarceration. Opportunities for individuals who have been incarcerated and have felony convictions on their records are few and far between. Having a college degree dramatically increases a person’s chance for success, so Ortiz began taking classes at Aims Community College. She earned an associate degree and then transferred to the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). Located in the center of town, UNC was an obvious choice for Ortiz when it came to pursuing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
“I was an older, non-traditional student so I had to be really intentional,” said Ortiz, “I loved being involved in different things. It was a great experience. [Attending UNC] really has changed my life.”
While attending UNC, Ortiz seemed to have an insatiable appetite for getting involved with her community. She volunteered at the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, served as the election commissioner for three years with student government and attended Catalyst, a three-day, two-night retreat for UNC and Aims students, faculty and staff that examines social justice issues. Throughout her time as a student, Ortiz developed a community with students all over campus.
The community Ortiz cultivated on campus is part of why she chooses to come back and volunteer at UNC commencement ceremonies year-after-year.
“I love people, so I get to hang out and talk and chat and yell a little bit. It's honestly a great experience,” said Ortiz.
Having graduated from UNC, Ortiz knows how important graduation is for students. This fall, 204 undergraduate students (43%) are going to be the first in their families to earn a college degree. With such a high number of first-generation students, this is likely to be many families' first experience at a commencement ceremony, for some, it will be their first time on campus. As a greeter, Ortiz helps to calm the nerves of friends and family as they walk into the ceremony. For those who may not know what to expect, Ortiz serves as a friendly face waiting to help navigate through guest’s uncertainty. The experience typically culminates in a few wholesome memories for Ortiz.
“I had one lady that told me her granddaughter was graduating. She said, ‘I graduated here 35 years ago!’“ said Ortiz. “You get to just see people at their most excited, best point in their lives.”
UNC’s commencement volunteers play a vital role in welcoming graduates, families and friends to campus for UNC's commencement ceremonies. Acting as campus ambassadors, volunteers help provide directions, assist staff and congratulate UNC’s newest alumni on this joyous occasion.
As fall commencement passes and the newest group of Bears cross the graduation stage, Ortiz's commitment to UNC keeps them connected to campus. Her volunteerism highlights what it means to be a Bear during the holiday season, and that the variety of ways in which to give back are endless.
“You can just see it on the graduate's face as they're trying to find where they’re supposed to go. You're leading them over to the gym because they tried to go into the wrong building. You can just tell that this is a big day for them. I think not anything in particular [is my favorite part], but just the whole feeling, it's a really exciting day,” said Ortiz.
In just a few hours, volunteers like Ortiz can make a profound impact on UNC students and their families. No matter how alumni and friends choose to connect to UNC and the Bear Network, they make a difference in the lives of students.
Get Involved
UNC invites alumni to volunteer at activities like commencement throughout the year. If you’reinterested in taking part in a volunteer opportunity, submit a form to get involved.
