Voices of the People We Serve

“ His commitment to supporting students is truly exceptional.”  

Working with Mr. Craig Peña has been one of the most impactful experiences of my academic and professional journey. His commitment to supporting students is truly exceptional. As a first-generation college student, I entered the process feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin. From our very first conversation, Mr. Peña provided clear guidance, patient explanations,and consistent encouragement that made every step feel manageable.

He assisted me with college applications, financial aid, and important academic decisions, always ensuring I understood my options and felt supported. His involvement didn’t end once I started college, he continued to check in, help with annual financial aid renewals, and make sure I was doing well both academically and personally. His support carried me through some of the most challenging parts of my college experience.

While I was in school, Mr. Peña invited me to help bring his vision to life: the creation of One Dream, a nonprofit organization designed to support all students, regardless of background or career path. The organization offers guidance not only for college-bound students but also for those pursuing trade schools, certification programs, apprenticeships, and other professional opportunities. It reflects his belief that every student deserves accessible, high-quality mentorship.

I graduated about six months ago, and I still stay connected with Mr. Peña. His dedication to uplifting students has never wavered. He genuinely cares about each individual’s success and continues to inspire confidence, hope, and direction in those he mentors. His impact is long-lasting, and I am deeply grateful for the role he has played in my life.

“You didn’t just help Alejandra attend college — you helped her become who she was meant to be.”

There are moments in life when gratitude feels too deep for words. This is one of them. Our names are José and Noemi, and we are the proud parents of Alejandra S., a young woman whose dream of becoming a nurse is now within reach — all because of One Dream.

From a young age, Alejandra’s heart was set on helping others. She has always been the kind of person who listens, cares, and lifts people up. 

When she decided to pursue a career in nursing, we knew it was her true calling. But as parents, we also knew how challenging it would be to afford the education she needed to follow that path.

When One Dream came into our lives, everything changed. Through your help obtaining financial support, Alejandra was able to attend Regis University — the top nursing program — a place where her compassion and dedication could truly shine. Your help didn’t just make college possible; it made it peaceful.

Instead of worrying about how to pay for classes, books, or living expenses, Alejandra was able to focus completely on her studies and her passion for helping others.

But One Dream gave us more than financial help. You gave us guidance, encouragement, and belief when we needed it most. You walked beside Alejandra through the process, helping her understand financial aid, scholarships, and how to prepare for her future. You treated her not as another student, but as a young woman with purpose and potential.

Because of your support, our entire family could finally exhale. We watched Alejandra step into her dream with confidence and pride, knowing she was supported by people who truly cared.

With heartfelt thanks and endless appreciation,
José & Noemi S.

“I wouldn’t be pursuing a PhD today without the confidence and support he gave me.”

I am currently working on my PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Houston — a dream I never thought would come true. Back in high school, even obtaining my bachelor's degree felt unattainable. Then I saw how my older brother went to college despite financial hardships — all thanks to Peña’s help with financial aid and encouragement.

During my senior year, Peña helped me reach the finalist stage for the Daniels Scholarship. When it came time for the interview, I felt excited but out of place. Peña offered his Saturday to help me prepare and reminded me to be myself — that I had earned my place there. Even though I wasn’t selected, his confidence in me mattered more than the outcome.

I went on to earn my bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where his FAFSA support and reassurance made college achievable.

Now, as I pursue my PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Houston, I still reach out to Peña. Whenever impostor syndrome creeps in, he reminds me, “You earned your place there.” His belief in me continues to shape my journey.

I am forever grateful for everything Peña has done for me and my family, and honored to be his mentee.

“We are grateful there are people like you who help students even outside of Colorado.”

En Español: 

Muchas gracias por su ayuda. Estamos muy orgullosos de que haya personas como usted que ayudan a tantos jóvenes fuera de Colorado, su estado natal. Aquí en un colegio comunitario de Arkansas, mis hijas dicen que no hay buenas personas que les ayuden a escoger las clases que realmente necesitan para estudiar la carrera a la que ellas van. Solo reciben recomendaciones generales de sus consejeros. Le agradezco de corazón y espero que siga ayudando a mucha gente. 

Translation:

Thank you so much for your help. We are very proud that there are people like you who help so many young people outside of Colorado. Here at a community college in Arkansas, my daughters say there is no one who truly helps them choose the classes they actually need for their careers — only general recommendations from advisors. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and hope you continue helping many people. 

“You restored my faith in myself — and in an educational system I thought had given up on me.” 

Dear Craig Peña,

I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude for all of your help and motivation in getting  back to college. My decision to go back to school was not one that I took lightly, and I was met with fear, self-doubt, and a heavy burden of returning after nearly 12 years. Despite my own notions of inadequacies, you saw no obstacle in managing all of those things and walking me through the process of getting started again. 

Not only that, but your continued encouragement, support, and guidance has undoubtedly reshaped my collegiate experience. It was clear to me from our first meeting that you are professional, knowledgeable and passionate in the work that you do. You know all the tools necessary to be efficient and effective getting tasks done in a timely manner while still being thorough and compassionate.

I also appreciated your patience in answering all of my questions about certain processes and even how to fill certain things out like FAFSA and COF. Your endless list of resources and contacts continues to be of great help to me. I still use the “rate my professor” website you recommended to me when registering for new classes. I have no doubt that I wouldn’t be where I’m at in my collegiate career without your help.

Your attention to detail and focus shines in your work, down to finding the right school that has been an absolute perfect fit for me and my schedule given that I also have a full time job. I am thankful for your cunning ability to know exactly what I needed as an individual instead of just pushing me somewhere to meet some ends. I can tell that you really care about helping people like me getting started again in the pursuit of higher education, “the great equalizer”, as I have learned from you. 

I’m at a place now, thanks to all of your help, where graduating college is not only probable, it is likely. I feel as though I am armed with the tools necessary to be successful not only in school but in life as well. What I have learned above all else from you is that faith in myself, trusting the process, and leaning on those around me for help when needed is a sure way to be prosperous in any endeavor. You have restored my faith in myself and in the educational system, one that I thought had given up on me a long time ago. 

From my heart to yours,

Thank you! 

Derrik B.

“I call him my school dad.”

When I first met Peña, I knew I wanted to go back to school but had no idea how to start or what to do. He helped me apply to schools, complete financial-aid forms, and gave me so much information based on what I was thinking of doing.

He’s been such a big help and support throughout my journey back to school—from recommending classes to telling me when I need to get it together. I call him my “school dad” because that’s honestly how I see him.

He’s always there to answer my messages or phone calls without hesitation whenever I have a question about anything. I don’t know how or if I would be pursuing my education if I hadn’t met him.

I appreciate Peña more than he probably knows.

Thanks, Peña!

"He reminded me that I was bigger than the obstacles in front of me.”

There are people who step into your life quietly, and somehow they change everything. For me, that person was Craig.
 

When I met Craig, I was carrying more weight than most people knew: the pressure of my past, the fight to stay focused, the fear that college might not be in the cards for someone like me. I was trying to hold myself together while navigating things I never asked to experience so young.
 

But Craig saw me. Not the mistakes. Not the struggle. He saw the potential, the version of me I hadn’t even met yet.
 

Craig didn’t just guide me through applications or paperwork. He walked with me through moments when I felt tired, discouraged, or ready to give up. He reminded me that I was bigger than the obstacles in front of me. He pushed me to dream past survival and step into my future with confidence. He spoke life into me when doubt was the loudest voice in the room.

Because of him, I didn’t just get into college; I stepped into a reality I once thought was impossible. He helped me understand that being a young Black woman with a hard story doesn’t make me less capable; it makes me stronger. And it makes my success even more meaningful.

Craig didn’t have to care the way he did. But he did. And that changed everything.
 

He gave me guidance when I felt lost, stability when life was unpredictable, and belief when I couldn’t find it in myself. Craig reminded me that my future is worth fighting for, and that I am worth fighting for.
 

People like Craig don’t come around often. And when they do, they don’t just leave a mark, they leave a legacy in the people they lift up.
 

Craig, thank you for helping me become the version of myself you always saw in me. Thank you for changing my life in a way I will carry forever.

 “His support made it possible for me to focus on school without worrying about whether our financial aid was correct.” 

I’ve been working with Mr. Peña since 2017, and he helped both me and my brother with our FAFSA every year. We come from a first-generation, low-income family, and we didn’t know much about financial aid—the process was very confusing for us.

Mr. Peña always took the time to explain everything clearly and was very patient, especially when the application got complicated. He never hesitated to make calls or follow up when something didn’t go through. His support made it possible for me to focus on school without worrying about whether our financial aid was correct.

Now that I’m working in my career, I often think back to how important his guidance was during those years. I’m truly grateful for the help he gave me and my family.