TRIO SSS student majoring in Business with plans to transfer to a four-year school
Pedro Delgado Hernández, 20, is originally from a town of about 400 people in the province of Mayabeque in western Cuba. Pedro moved with his family from Cuba to the U.S. when he was 13 years old, staying for a time in Miami, Florida, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, before settling in Minnesota.
“I only knew three phrases in English,” Pedro recalled with a smile, “‘Excuse me,’ ‘thank you,’ and ‘where is the bathroom?'”
Pedro recently received a Travelers EDGE Scholarship. The scholarship provides roughly $3,000 a semester while he’s attending Inver Hills and roughly $12,000 a year when he enrolls at a four-year college or university. EDGE stands for Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment.
A 2017 graduate of Henry Sibley High School, Pedro is following the Business Transfer Pathway at Inver Hills Community College. He is on track to earn his Associate of Science (A.S.) degree and transfer to Augsburg University or Metropolitan State University after graduating from Inver Hills in spring 2020.
“My plan is to earn a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus on marketing, finance or economics,” said Pedro, who is looking forward to an internship opportunity through Inver Hills in spring 2020 and also completing an internship with Travelers during summer 2020. “I hope to already have a job in my field before I earn my bachelor’s degree.” “I hope to already have a job in my field before I earn my bachelor’s degree.”
Why did you choose your career path?
Because I wanted to help people in a career I could see myself doing forever. I believe that business is fun and always changing, which makes me like it even more.Pedro Delgado Hernández
Business Major
Travelers EDGE Scholar
Inver Hills Community College
Pedro works while going to college at the check-in desk in the Counseling & Advising area. He also belongs to TRIO Student Support Services at Inver Hills. He likes the fellowship and support TRIO students and staff offer through activities and advising.
Catima Wilson is a TRIO SSS and Travelers EDGE academic advisor at the college. Catima has worked directly with Pedro to help him plan his academic career and future career as a business professional.
“The words ‘proactive’ and ‘ambitious’ comes to mind when describing Pedro Delgado Hernández,” Catima said. “He is currently a Travelers EDGE Scholar as well as an active TRIO student. He applied, interviewed and was offered an opportunity to become an Empowering Dreams for Graduation (EDGE) Scholar. Pedro’s interest in finance and marketing, his exceptional interview skills and knowledge about the Traveler’s company was extremely impressive to the interviewers.”
Catima added that Pedro is a firm believer that hard work and effort will help you achieve your goals. “If we are ever searching for a student we can depend on, Pedro is definitely that student,” she said. “He has been a great role model for our new and current TRIO students. Pedro has a bright future, and I am positive that he will successfully accomplish his academic and career goals.”
More about Travelers EDGE…
Established in 2007, Travelers EDGE (Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment) provides a unique, holistic approach to education for underrepresented students. Through partnerships with colleges, universities and community-based organizations, Travelers EDGE increases access to higher education and provides students with opportunities to excel. The program helps students progress from middle to high school curriculum in preparation for post-secondary education, building a strong pipeline of future leaders to college and beyond.
Once enrolled in college, Travelers EDGE students benefit from a broad range of support services, including financial support, career and business advice from our employees, internships and job shadowing, and professional development workshops.
Program Goals:
- Increase the number of underrepresented students attending college;
- Help underrepresented students graduate from college through scholarship support and academic advising;
- Build awareness of careers in insurance and financial services by providing a combination of professional development, internship and mentorship opportunities.
Travelers EDGE Framework
The Travelers EDGE Framework illustrates specific student-oriented goals for each stage of the pipeline, from pre-college to college and career, as well as desired outcomes for the broader community and company.
Learn more or apply to be a Travelers EDGE Scholar at Inver Hills by visiting:
Travelers EDGE Scholarship
More about Pedro…
When he’s not studying or working, Pedro helps out family members by doing maintenance work on their cars. He enjoys diagnosing problems and troubling-shooting. He really likes figuring out how things function and that curiosity extends to his phone and computers. He has an iPhone XR with nearly 300 apps; he also has a 21-inch iMac and a MacBook Air, the latter his go-to computer on campus.
“One of my favorite things to do is optimizing my devices and learning everything I can about how they work,” he said.
Pedro is enhancing his photography and videography skills by covering weddings and birthdays. He shoots with a Nikon D3400 and is also an avid landscape photographer.
“I like shooting cityscapes,” he said. “I like shots that are busy and alive. Night photos are some of the best shots to take.”
Pedro resides in West St. Paul with his mom, Tamara, who is a GED teacher and an optician in the Optical department at Sam’s Club, and his two younger brothers, Abimael, 18, a student majoring in Law Enforcement at Inver Hills and a coworker at the Counseling & Advising check-in desk, and Natanael, 12, who’s in the sixth grade. Pedro’s Aunt Aliusha lives with the family, too, and she is loved by everyone.
Someday, Pedro would like to get a dog. His family had dogs in Cuba, including a Chow-Chow, which is Pedro’s breed of choice.
Pedro Delgado Hernández • Q & A
What do you like best about Inver Hills?
How small and diverse the college is.
Why did you choose your career path?
Because I wanted to help people in a career I could see myself doing forever. I believe that business is fun and always changing, which makes me like it even more.
What has been your toughest challenge in life?
I think my toughest challenge has been finding what I like in life and planning out my career. I like to do many things and pursue different degrees, but I need to focus on one thing at a time.
What do you most want to accomplish in life?
Be able to help others (make their lives better) and leave a positive footprint and better future for the next generation.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
I see myself going out and helping people and companies. Providing the best service possible and assisting people who need help.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
COMPASSIONATE. DEPENDABLE. HARD-WORKING.
How did TRIO SSS enhance your college experience?
They were able to provide a more specialized service and a community I can belong to within the college itself.
What TRIO SSS activity or event did you enjoy the most?
Going out on college visits and the many events that we do together with my TRIO friends. They helped me build relationships lifelong connections.
What would you tell a student who’s thinking about participating in TRIO SSS?
Yes, you will regret it if you don’t. TRIO SSS provides friendliness and boundless support.
More about the Business Transfer Pathway A.S.
The Business Transfer Pathway A.S. offers you a powerful option: the opportunity to complete an Associate of Science degree whose course credits will directly transfer to designated business bachelor’s degree programs at Minnesota State universities.
The entire curriculum has been carefully designed to guarantee junior-year status when you are admitted to one of the seven Minnesota State universities, where you can complete your bachelor’s degree by earning 60 additional credits.
LEARN MORE…
Pedro Delgado Hernández • 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Volleyball; I would like play intramural volleyball when I transfer to a four-year school.
Place you would most like to visit: Cuba- Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Moving to the United States
- Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Donate half to the schools I’ve attended, including my school in Tulsa, Henry Sibley and Inver Hills 2) Invest a quarter of the money 3) Share the rest with my family and have fun
- Favorite TV show you’re watching now: The Flash or Arrow
- Best movie you’ve seen lately: Avengers: Endgame
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Give back to family and friends, changing their lives for the better
Your national bird if you were your own country: American crow
- Dream occupation: Work for a nonprofit helping people and making them happy
- Person you would most like to meet: My paternal grandfather; he died when my dad was a boy.
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Play piano
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Lack of trust
Learn more about TRIO Student Support Services at Inver Hills by contacting:
Matt Kruger
TRIO Student Support Services Director
Travelers EDGE Director
651-450-3701
Alicia Atwater
TRIO Student Support Services Advisor
651-450-3558
Catima Wilson
TRIO SSS & Travelers EDGE Academic Advisor
651-450-3742
Learn more about the Business Transfer Pathway A.S. by contacting:
Hamid Kazeroony
Business Faculty
651-450-3474
