Outstanding Graduate: Brenden Harold Lopez from Air Force ROTC

Brenden Harold Lopez is graduating from the Air Force Leadership Studies Minor Program with a major in Aerospace Engineering. After graduation, Lopez will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He will also train to serve as a pilot through NATO’s Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training.

Asked to share a point of pride, Lopez said, “If a reporter were interviewing someone close to me, I believe a point of pride they would share was my pursuit of compassion, empathy, and genuine connection towards others. I am a huge believer in the Maya Angela quote, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ I believe that leaders serve at their absolute best when they can cultivate a feeling of support, trust, and compassion for those they serve. My hope is that my loved ones can take pride in how I make them and others feel.” 

Lopez worked as a Resident Advisor for all four years at SDSU and developed his leadership and interpersonal skills by mentoring and advising first-year students.

 He shares his hopes for the graduating class:
“To the class of 2022, my hope is that we embrace our roles as leaders of the next generation. I hope that we may use all the education and lessons learned through our time at SDSU not to just perform a job or task, but to serve and uplift others so that they too can achieve the goals and aspirations that they have,” shares Lopez.