Outstanding Graduate: Brenden Harold Lopez from Air Force ROTC

Aerospace Engineering major named outstanding student by Air Force Leadership Studies Program (Air Force ROTC)

by Aleesia Benkey

May 11, 2022

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.

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.

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