Spring break has passed, which means the end of the spring semester is within reach. 2024 graduates collected their regalia from the Campus Store April 4 and 5, counting down the days to graduation.
With the spring 2024 Commencement Ceremonies just a month away, here’s what graduates had to say about their plans after college and their mountain lion journey.
Justin Banta (he/him), senior business major, emphasis on information systems
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m going to take a gap year to move out east with my brother. Then, I’ll start my Master’s program.
How did your time at UCCS affect your life?
It introduced me to probably the best friend group I’ve ever known. I run track and cross country, so having a team has always been a great backbone to fall back on for advice or just friends. I’ve learned so many random life lessons that I never could’ve expected and met a lot of great people.
What was the most important thing you learned at UCCS?
I would probably say people skills. Information systems is a business degree, so I’ve taken a bunch of [communications] classes and presentation skills classes, so I’ve learned how to present better. In doing that, I’ve also learned how to talk to people better.
How are you celebrating graduation?
I’m going to invite some of my team over for a little grad party. I’m combining parties with my brother who’s graduating at the same time. He’s a year older than me and goes to CSU.
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?
Indulge in as many activities as you can. I was hesitant to do random activities because I thought they would be boring and I wouldn’t have time, but I’ve started indulging myself in my junior and senior year, and they’re actually kind of cool. You just learn random stuff, that’s cool.
Kamryn McCain (she/her), senior criminal justice and psychology dual major
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m hoping to become a probation officer. That’s the goal.
How did your time at UCCS affect your life?
I would say getting the college experience, the community’s really great here too. I would say in a positive way it affected [me], for sure.
What was the most important thing you learned at UCCS?
Learning about what I wanted to do. Before I came here, I did not know what I wanted to do, and thanks to the resources here I learned what I wanted to do, so that’s the most important thing.
How are you celebrating graduation?
I’m going to go to dinner with my family, maybe have a drink or two. I haven’t decided where. Somewhere with a reservation, though. I love a good Chili’s, but I think we need somewhere nicer.
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?
Live on campus, because I didn’t get to do that because of COVID, and I wish I did.
Samantha Steiner (she/her), senior inclusive elementary education major
What are your plans after graduation?
I have a kindergarten job up in north Denver, so I am very excited to get right into it and start teaching in my own classroom.
How did your time at UCCS affect your life?
UCCS affected me in a lot of ways. It was a great experience for me to live independently and learn how to be a true adult, and really it gave me a great pathway to get an awesome education, so I am very thankful for it.
What was the most important thing you learned at UCCS?
Perseverance. It was definitely hard. There were times I was like, “Do I need this? I can figure it out, right?” So, I think just working through those daily college challenges is really important.
How are you celebrating graduation?
I am throwing a humongous party. We are going to party it up, and then [go to an after party], and then I am going to sleep the rest of the day.
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?
I think be confident in yourself … I think be confident in what you’re doing. It’s not easy and there will be times that you’re questioned, but if you’re willing to fight through it and be persistent, it’s totally worth it in the end.
Titus Williams (he/him), senior business information systems major
What are your plans after graduation?
Get a job, probably do some traveling. I like to do world travel, so I’m going to do some of that. I’m going into cybersecurity analytics or something in that field.
How did your time at UCCS affect your life?
I’ve had a lot of really good professors that have informed me of a lot that I didn’t get at a prior university that I went to. They were just trying to get you in and out, and here, they gave me the information and resources to really reach out and go into what I want to do.
What was the most important thing you learned at UCCS?
Making sure your assignments are in on time. That’s the biggest thing to success. Yeah, homework might be annoying but getting that done helps you learn and retain information.
How are you celebrating graduation?
I don’t know yet. I know I plan on doing some traveling. I have some friends that want to fly me back to Nashville where I’m from and have a little party down there. They want to do the Nash-Vegas strip.
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?
I’d say get your assignments done on time. That’s the biggest thing, especially toward success, not just knowledge-wise but grade-wise. I know — especially coming out of college — to be competitive, you want to have a pretty good-looking GPA. Yeah, C’s do get degrees, but especially to get that initial job, just do your assignments. They’re so simple, just spend a couple hours a week, get it done.
Emma Gregory (she/her), senior nursing major
What are your plans after graduation?
Get to work. My husband and I will actually move right after, so it’s a new adventure. We don’t know where we’re going to be, but I’ll have my bachelor’s under my belt and I’ll be taking my NCLEX, so I’ll be a nurse working somewhere … I have no idea where I’ll be going, hopefully the states so I can work, but my husband is military. It’s a little stressful, but it’s fine. It’ll be what it’ll be.
How did your time at UCCS affect your life?
I’ve been able to extend my career. I’m also in a program through another college getting my associates, so I’m getting a four-year degree in two years. Without UCCS, I wouldn’t be able to do that. It’s a bridge program RN to BSN, so you just have to be enrolled in another program and they fast-track you through.
What was the most important thing you learned at UCCS?
Not everyone is strict by the syllabus and there are some teachers that really want you to succeed, so you just have to express your needs and go from there.
How are you celebrating graduation?
By packing up my house and moving somewhere. I think my parents are coming for the weekend, so we’ll probably go out to eat and everything. I’m excited. This is a five, six-year degree in the making, so I’m excited to actually get started with a career. So, I’ll probably celebrate by getting a job.
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?
It doesn’t matter how you got here. You got here, and as long as you stick to it and try your best, you will make your own timeline, and you will see it through.
From left: Justin Banta, Kamryn McCain, Samantha Steiner, Titus Williams and Emma Gregory. Photos by Meghan Germain.