—Alejandro Gonzalez, HSF Scholarship Recipient.
Inspirador/
The Motivator
For personifying the hard work and sacrifice made by Latino families in pursuit of a college education
Roger Cepeda, the son of Hispanic immigrant parents with humble beginnings, always went the extra mile to try to achieve the best education. His perseverance has paid off, as he now serves as Associate General Counsel for GE Healthcare. In this role, he provides strategic legal advice to a $1B global medical device business selling computed tomography scanners. These complex machines are used to create diagnostic images of internal anatomy that help determine the course of treatment for patients all over the world.
Roger's parents emphasized the need for higher education, which is why he's always strived for the best in his scholarly pusuits. He graduated from high school with honors, which led to a full tuition scholarship to attend the University of Chicago. Unfortunately, family medical emergencies arose during his first semester, when his father underwent a quintuple bypass heart surgery and his mother was diagnosed with operable cancer. Yet, despite these challenges, Roger’s parents urged him to stay focused on his studies.
In 1992, Roger received his B.A. in philosophy, cum laude. Intent on studying corporate law and business, he was accepted by Georgetown University, where he earned a dual J.D./M.B.A. by the age of 26.
As a professional, Roger is a great model to many students. He speaks with young people about setting priorities, reinforcing his parents’ message that education is of the utmost importance. He encourages students to aim high, hoping to help others with humble beginnings see what they can achieve through their own hard work and commitment.
Click image above to see his story.