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The College of Engineering and Applied Science has received $5 million from the Campos Foundation, founded by alumnus and longtime donor Marco Campos, to support the BOLD Center and amplify its impact on student success. In recognition of this generous investment, the college is renaming the center as the Campos Student Center.�� ��

����An engineer can define life on their own terms, and that’s powerful. I want that for everybody.”��–Marco Campos, alumnus and donor

The center will continue its existing mission—to support engineering students’ success by expanding access to opportunities, community and leadership. To amplify this work, the Campos Foundation's gift will create a permanent endowment to secure the center’s long-term future and bolster its programming, including academic support, leadership development, professional programs and networking.��

“The Campos Foundation’s generous gift is a powerful example of how philanthropy can create meaningful impact,” said CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “By investing in our students’ futures, this gift will help ensure the Campos Student Center remains a beacon of opportunity for generations to come, empowering CU Boulder’s engineering students to become the leaders and innovators our world needs.”��

When fully funded over the next five years, the endowment will provide $200,000 annually to strengthen the center's programs, which serve students from all backgrounds.��

“Engineering is hands-down the best undergraduate degree you can get,” said Campos, who graduated in 1998 with a degree in civil engineering. “You learn how to think critically, to take calculated risks—you learn common sense, how to build, how to sequence things. An engineer can define life on their own terms, and that’s powerful. I want that for everybody.” ��

Continuing the BOLD legacy��

The BOLD Center was founded in 2008 when the college combined two existing programs: the Multicultural Engineering Program and the Women in Engineering Program. Since then, the center has made significant progress in supporting and retaining engineering students from a variety of backgrounds, earning recognition as a and Indigenous students.��

The Campos Student Center focuses on undergraduate engineering students who have a scholarship from the center or a partner-affiliated scholarship, as well as those who are members of various student societies.��

Through scholarships, academic support and professional programs, the center equips students with the skills, mentorship and networks necessary to succeed in engineering and address complex societal challenges. ��

“The Campos Foundation's gift will ensure the Campos Student Center’s long-term sustainability and excellence,” said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. “With this support, we can continue to provide the engineers of tomorrow with the tools, communities and resources to help them succeed—both while they’re here at CU and after they graduate, ready to make a positive impact in their communities.”��

The partnership between the Campos Student Center and the Campos Foundation represents a shared vision and commitment to student success—all of which would not be possible without the unwavering dedication of the center’s staff. Their commitment to fostering a positive environment has been crucial in creating a space where students can thrive—and where the foundation’s significant gift can continue that impact.��

“The center’s incredible staff and faculty have cultivated an environment where students feel seen, supported and empowered to achieve their academic and career goals,” said Amy Moreno-Sherwood, senior director of the Campos Student Center. “This gift allows us to build on that momentum and carry it well into the future.”��

From scholar to supporter��

Marco Campos and the have been critical partners in supporting engineering student success at CU Boulder and in schools, colleges and universities around Colorado.�� ��

The Campos Foundation is financially supported in whole by Campos Companies, a portfolio of energy infrastructure companies focused on engineering, construction and fabrication throughout North America. Campos Companies donates 1% of its revenues to supporting underrepresented communities in STEM through the Campos Foundation.��

A CU graduate and first-generation college student himself, Campos is committed to giving back to other aspiring engineers.����

“My first day of college was the first time I’d ever been on a college campus,” he said. “The BOLD Center—then the Multicultural Engineering Program—was a fabulous asset for me throughout my college career.��

“As a foundation, we've made it one of our purposes to support student success centers [like CU Engineering’s Campos Student Center] because we know they’re so meaningful. They’re a powerful mechanism to elevate students and improve retention.”��

Campos’ support for CU Boulder has included funding for the EngiNearMe program, $1 million for the renovation of the BOLD Center in 2020 and scholarships for the first cohort of the Lattice Scholars Program in 2023.��

Earlier this year, he even surprised a graduating senior by agreeing to pay off his remaining student debt at the civil, environmental and architectural engineering recognition ceremony.

By investing in the next generation of engineers, CU Boulder and the Campos Foundation are helping to ensure all students have access to the mentorship, resources and community they need to thrive and lead.

Said Campos: “I want people to understand that a first-gen student like me, who didn’t have much, can do it. If you bring passion, grit and skillset to the table, these students can do whatever they want. ��

“I hope students are inspired by my story and know I’m just a regular guy who cares about them—and that they learn to pay it forward.”��

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