Among hundreds of students; Computer science major Raúl Lopez III stood at the Florida Polytechnic University commencement podium. In an unusual honor, Lopez had earned the rare distinction of giving not one but two commencement speeches: inspiring his high school classmates and now encouraging his college peers.
Although the occurrence is highly uncommon, it would make sense to happen twice. His speeches are an ode to his pure academic dedication.
At Charter, he hustled to complete a challenging curriculum. Lopez loaded his schedule with honors and college-level classes, from Advanced Placement math and science to dual-enrollment courses at Broward College. This preparation, he says, gave him confidence entering Florida Poly’s demanding programs.
He graduated at the top of his high school class, equipped with a foundation for engineering work. Even then, he welcomed the role with leadership and poise, which earned him the chance to talk to the students.
If high school was not enough labor, in college, Lopez continued stepping up. He co-founded and led several student organizations, building community while pursuing tough coursework.
Among his achievements, he launched Florida Poly’s K-POP Krew dance club and helped start a campus pickleball club. As varsity captain and title manager of the Overwatch Esports team, he guided teammates through regional competitions.
Most notably, Lopez co-founded the Florida Poly chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). He quickly became the chapter’s president and watched it grow into a family oriented group supporting Hispanic STEM students.
“One of the biggest things that make me proud,” he explains, “[SHPE’s] whole purpose is to bring together that sense of family and community, and then not just be there for each other, but to push us forward together as a whole”. Through SHPE, Lopez embraced cultural heritage and created a campus “family” for students who shared his background and ambitions.
Lopez’s pride in representing the Latino community in STEM is matched by his focus on grit and authenticity. Of course, the alum found many sleepless nights, studying and reading. He however, never lost his sense of community or fun. From K-pop dancing to video games, Lopez kept a healthy balance between passions and prowess. This kept him grounded.
He often looks back on the rigor of his major, stating “It hasn’t been easy”. Lopez compared his journey to “an uphill climb”, to reach the summit of graduation. Those late-night coding sessions and competitive study groups made his success more meaningful.
As Lopez transitioned to his new career, he made sure to keep the same determination and sense of purpose. As of this summer, Lopez is now employed at Bank of America in New York City. He accepted a position as a full-stack software engineering officer in Global Markets Technology, building on a successful internship with the company.
There, in the heart of Manhattan’s financial district, he will translate the skills he acquired at Pembroke Pines Charter and mastered at Florida Poly; Allowing him to leave his mark on another city.
