Engineering Commencement Speaker Journeys from GED to Bachelor’s Degree 

May 28, 2026 - When Eduardo Beltran steps on stage to address his peers at the Samueli School of Engineering 2026 Commencement Ceremony, it will be with a strong sense of pride and wonder at how far his own curiosity has taken him. The 35-year-old first-generation college student did not finish high school; yet on June 15, he will receive a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at UC Irvine.

Beltran was raised by a single mother alongside his two brothers, and later welcomed a younger brother into the family. A smart but mischievous child in high school, Beltran described himself as a troublemaker who landed in continuation school after 10th grade. He eventually dropped out and later earned his GED diploma.

He briefly attended college but left to work full time and help with household expenses. Beltran spent time working in retail, the service industry and marketing before eventually becoming a logistics coordinator for experiential marketing agencies. In late 2019, Beltran and his now-wife, Ana, founded their own marketing agency. Just as their first event was about to take place, the Covid pandemic hit, bringing the live events industry to a halt. Beltran decided to enroll in the electrician program at Los Angeles Trade Technical College while continuing to work as the industry slowly recovered. He balanced work, long commutes and school.

Beltran was learning about three-phase motor wiring in his motor controls class when he started asking questions. His instructor explained how and what to do, but Beltran wanted to know why. That sparked his curiosity. Why are there three phases? How does it work? Why do we do it that way? “The instructor,” Beltran recalled, “basically told me, ‘Hey, those questions are above my pay grade. You need to go talk to an engineer.’ ”

The instructor sent him to the STEM department. “That’s where I met Professors Velveth Klee and Artemio Navarro, and they encouraged me to pursue a degree,” said Beltran. “I had not considered it as an option. They urged me to go for it, and my family, especially my wife, encouraged and supported me throughout the journey.”

Beltran is grateful for the opportunity to pursue an education and believes the degree itself carries importance beyond a career path. “I think the education itself taught me not only how to think differently, but how to express myself differently,” he said.

His two years at UCI have been challenging, but rewarding. Beltran lives nearly 50 miles away, in Duarte. As a commuter, he often spends long days on campus to avoid traffic. He built relationships with peers through study groups and by joining the Triangle Fraternity, a STEM fraternity. “I truly value the connections I built here and the importance of building a community and going through this together,” he said.

“A lot of us got here because someone believed in us, supported us, or pushed us to keep going when things got difficult,” he said. “Those are the people you hold on to, and I think it’s important to be that person for someone else too.”

As the commencement speaker, he plans to remind students that success is not about perfection, but about showing up consistently, even when things get difficult. “We all have moments where things feel uncertain. But the reason we are here today is because we chose to keep going,” he said.

He also said it is important to put yourself out there and get to know people. “Take advantage of opportunities, even if you don't think they’re for you, because you never know where they might lead,” he said.

Beltran has been interviewing for jobs and hopes to find a role that combines his outgoing personality, marketing experience and engineering background. His large Mexican-Colombian family and friends will be attending the commencement ceremony to cheer him on.

“It’s been a great journey, and I’m grateful to close this chapter in such a meaningful way,” said Beltran. “We’re stepping into the beginning of everything we’ve worked for. There will be challenges ahead and moments where things do not go as planned, but if this journey has taught us anything, it’s that we are capable of figuring it out.”

– Lori Brandt