Ryan Slocum (CompSci’24) has been awarded the 2024 graduating student academic engagement award by the College of Engineering and Applied Science. His accomplishments include participation in the President’s Leadership Class, serving as a T.A., completing 3 internships, and promoting thoughtful discourse in his classes. Slocum also spearheaded a successful initiative to map the leadership landscape at CU Boulder for the Center for Leadership. His nominators praised his fearless desire to learn, intellectual humility, and ability to excel while maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
Winning the academic engagement award is a great honor for Slocum, as it signifies the culmination of his time at CU Boulder and his involvement in various programs and opportunities. He feels proud to be part of the group of college award winners. The most important lesson he has learned at CU is the importance of trying new things, especially those that are intimidating, as they lead to personal growth and development.
Looking ahead, Slocum has personal goals of competing in a 100-mile ultramarathon and obtaining a graduate degree in robotics to work on impactful projects in the field. He advises his younger self and others to embrace new experiences and face their fears, as this is the key to personal growth. He credits his parents for their unwavering support, as well as his professors and peers in the Presidents Leadership Class for their guidance and inspiration.