President's Award: Alejandro Villaseñor Lara ('24)

For Alejandro de Jesus Villaseñor Lara, graduating from Northern Kentucky University (NKU) means realizing a dream that his parents and grandparents instilled in him from a young age. Villaseñor-Lara grew up in Colima, Mexico until he turned 13, when he moved to the United States to continue his education. In 2019, he chose to attend college at NKU for the opportunity to stay close to home and the financial possibilities the university provided.

“What made me stay at NKU was the caring faculty who work daily to make sure their students succeed, the opportunities for growth with organizations and the places where you can find people with the same interests as you,” Villaseñor Lara says. “The professors actually care about their students. There have been multiple times when I have seen them going far and beyond to make sure their students have the necessary understanding of the topics discussed in class.”

Currently a senior, Villaseñor Lara is graduating with a degree in electrical and electronics engineering technology. His dream job is to work for a renewable energy company and help a greater portion of the population meet their basic needs.

“My greatest passion is to help innovate and develop solutions in the energy sector,” he says. “Electricity is a big factor that can help develop areas and give people in remote locations a chance for a higher quality of life.”

His advice to new students is to join a diverse array of organizations and clubs early on, which will help build a sense of belonging and create leadership opportunities. While at NKU, Villaseñor Lara was a member of the Latinos Avanzando Mentorship Program (LAMP), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Leadership Mentors.

“One of my favorite memories was being an Orientation Leader in 2022,” he says. “It was a great summer experience where I was able to form great friendships with other student leaders around campus and get to know many more who otherwise I would have never known.”

He also suggests attending events hosted by the Activities Planning Board, visiting FUEL NKU to grab essential items for free and hanging out at the rec center.

Reflecting on his time at NKU, he thanks his family for their support.

“I think about their hopes that I would become someone and have a career,” Villaseñor Lara says. “To them, education is the key that opens the doors to opportunity. I follow that same belief because I have experienced first-hand how difficult it can be for some people to get those opportunities without the proper requirements.”