Local Triumph: FRCC Graduate Overcomes Adversity to Join CU Boulder’s Engineering Program

Melissa Chavez's path to becoming an engineer highlights her resilience and determination. Speaking at the 2024 commencement ceremony, she outlined the difficulties she faced starting from a young age. Melissa endured a decade of abuse beginning at eight years old, yet she remained focused on her educational goals.

During her childhood, Melissa experienced instability, moving between her home and foster care. This led to a period of rebellion in middle school, marked by substance abuse and legal troubles. However, her academic potential led an intervention team to advance her a grade, sparking her interest in mathematics and providing a sense of accomplishment.

As a teenager, Melissa became a mother while still in high school. Despite this, she graduated in 2017 with scholarships and started her higher education at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Financial challenges interrupted her studies after a year, but she found employment at Justice High School, which supports at-risk students. This job stabilized her income and reignited her educational ambitions.

Melissa later enrolled at Front Range Community College (FRCC), taking online classes during the COVID pandemic. Her time at FRCC was pivotal, offering a supportive community and a nurturing educational environment.

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