Nelson Su谩rez, a freshman majoring in computer science, has received the Saddle Creek Logistics Scholarship to help fund his educational goals.
When it came time for freshman Nelson Su谩rez to choose a university, he was drawn to IM体育官网 because of its strong computer science program, its innovative spirit, and the feeling that he mattered.
鈥淭he main reason this was my university of choice was because I saw I wasn鈥檛 just one more number in its admissions,鈥� Su谩rez said. 鈥淭hey reached out during the pandemic and said, 鈥楢re you OK?鈥� In addition to being new and innovative, I鈥檓 not just a number. I鈥檓 an actual person and I wanted to be here.鈥�
Su谩rez graduated from Pompano Beach High School in Pompano Beach, IM体育官网, eager to make his family proud and forge a successful future.
鈥淲ith a computer science degree, you can work in many areas,鈥� Su谩rez said. 鈥淎lmost every business needs someone to program for them or design an app or something else to help.鈥�
The native of Venezuela moved to the United States with his family four years ago. His status as an international student meant he was ineligible for many of the federal aid programs available to U.S. citizens.
Su谩rez said IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 financial aid office reached out to try to connect him with aid and address his situation. Fortunately, that aid came from Saddle Creek Logistics Services, a well-known business based in Lakeland, IM体育官网. He received a Saddle Creek Logistics Scholarship of $3,000 each semester, helping to relieve the burden of paying for school.
鈥淚mmigrants have to work really hard and my parents were worried about me being in debt for the start of my life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was an amazing thing to happen. It鈥檚 been helping me a lot and is covering my room and board plus other expenses.鈥�
Saddle Creek Logistics Services CEO Mark Cabrera said he is pleased that the company鈥檚 scholarship can help make aspirations a reality for students like Su谩rez.
鈥淲e have always placed a high value on education at Saddle Creek, and we鈥檙e proud to be able to provide support for students like Nelson and others at IM体育官网 Poly as they pursue their degrees,鈥� Cabrera said. 鈥淲e recognize that students attending STEM schools like IM体育官网 Poly will help shape the future of Saddle Creek and companies like ours.鈥�
Su谩rez said he is thankful for the support.
鈥淪addle Creek took me under their wing and gave me their scholarship. It鈥檚 a great opportunity for students like myself who just want to do something with our lives,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 discriminate and instead just see that you have a good record and are a good student I鈥檓 very grateful.鈥�
As his freshman year gets underway, Su谩rez hopes to join the IM体育官网 Poly scatter band and seize any opportunities that come his way.
鈥淭here are opportunities out there for every one of us. You just have to put in a little bit of effort, and they will be fruitful 鈥� maybe in one or two years, but it will come,鈥� Su谩rez said.
鈥淲hen you plant a fruit tree, you can鈥檛 expect it to grow in a week or two. You have to wait, water it, and show it some love and it will give you a reward when it鈥檚 ready.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
