Embracing opportunities
06/14/2023
As a sophomore, Angel Velasco Urbina took steps to become more involved in campus life.
Ready to become a leader on campus
Angel Velasco Urbina 鈥25, an exercise science major from Lexington, Ky., had given up his goal of playing college soccer and was planning to attend a university near home when he got a last-minute recruiting call from 小优传媒鈥檚 men鈥檚 soccer coach.
鈥淚 visited in the middle of July and decided let鈥檚 give this a try,鈥 said Velasco Urbina. 鈥淚 went to the last orientation in August, and I was like, 鈥榶ep, I鈥檓 coming here,鈥 and I鈥檝e loved it ever since.鈥
The decision turned out well for the goalkeeper. He was named Second Team All Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference as a first-year student and earned First Team honors as a sophomore. The Beavers also advanced to the HCAC tournament the last two years.
As for a major, Velasco Urbina chose exercise science with the goal of becoming an athletic trainer.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen what athletic trainers can do for athletes, and I want to help other athletes,鈥 said Velasco Urbina. 鈥淓xercise science is a steppingstone to athletic training with some extra classes.鈥
He appreciates the hands-on learning experiences provided in classes offered by Sarah Lehman, assistant professor of biology, and Amanda Beard, assistant professor of health, fitness and sport science. In the fall, he鈥檒l serve as Lehman鈥檚 mentor for her Becoming a Scholar class for first-year students. He will also serve as a President鈥檚 Ambassador, resident advisor and delegate for Multicultural Student Organization.
鈥淒uring my sophomore year, I focused on intertwining myself more on campus, and I applied for more positions,鈥 said Velasco Urbina. 鈥淚鈥檓 a very social person and I like to meet new people and build connections鈥攖o be able to reach out to people and also have them be comfortable reaching out to me.鈥
Graduating from a large high school, he appreciates Bluffton鈥檚 close-knit community and meeting people on campus who had different experiences growing up.
鈥淲hen I first came to Bluffton, and I heard people say they graduated with like 50 people, I was like 鈥榟ow small is your hometown?鈥 It was just mind boggling. It was a little culture shock for me,鈥 said Velasco Urbina. 鈥淏ut as a President鈥檚 Ambassador, I get to meet more people and learn about why they鈥檙e coming to Bluffton.鈥
In the fall, he鈥檚 excited to attend 60 in 6 events (60 events in the first six weeks of college). Following graduation, Velasco Urbina plans to attend graduate school for athletic training with the goal of working for a professional team. He鈥檇 also like to impart some of his athletic knowledge as a coach.