Talitha Agudelo says working with Student Engagement at the Plano Campus helped bring her out of her comfort zone. Her work in the position brought her recognition as a student leader at Collin College and beyond.
Agudelo was recently honored as the 2023 Region IV Outstanding Student Leader from a Two-Year Institution by NODA, the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education. The award gives special recognition to students for their creativity, energy, enthusiasm, and outstanding abilities in student engagement. NODA Region IV includes Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. The win makes her eligible for a national award as well.
An international student originally from Colombia, Agudelo said she enjoys her roles as a student assistant and student ambassador because she has the opportunity to meet interesting people and help new students.
“Student Engagement allows me to engage with a lot of people,” Agudelo said. “I feel like it was the perfect job for me because it took me out of my comfort zone.”
Stephen Rogers, assistant director for Student Engagement at Plano Campus, said Agudelo is “a welcoming friendly face who immediately helps make new students feel less afraid and willing to make new connections..”
“She is always ready to lend a hand around the office, being a student leader at New Student Orientation sessions, serving as a C.A.T. Camp leader (extended orientation), leading campus-wide tours, and committing herself to the positive promotion of Collin College on and off campus,” Rogers said.
Agudelo said the position with Student Engagement also dovetails nicely into her planned career in business and marketing. A lot of behind-the-scenes work goes into setting up and running student events.
“There is planning, organizing, and executing – everything that aligns with marketing,” Agudelo said.
She wants to focus on social media marketing and also plans to enroll in a ministry college. She would like to combine those two worlds.
“Maybe I can do marketing within the ministry,” she mused.
Agudelo will graduate with an Associate of Arts in the Business Field of Study this spring. She plans to transfer to the University of North Texas in Fall 2023. The move will be her first college experience outside of Collin College.
After being hired as an au pair for a family in Fairview, she began taking English as a Second Language through Collin College Continuing Education. After finishing those courses, she decided to pursue her college education at Collin. She said the affordability of the college and the opportunity to work here while attending school made the choice a good one.
“I thought, ‘I can start here, build a good foundation, and transfer,’” she said.
Agudelo said she has built a strong friend group with her fellow student engagement workers and international students.
“I feel very connected,” she said. “It doesn’t matter who we are or where we are from. We are all here with for the same purpose.
“They understand how you feel, and they make you feel great.”