“Being willing and ready to take advantage of every opportunity has led to huge blessings in my life.”
— Claudia Nunez Oviedo
Claudia Nunez Oviedo had an incredible experience at Trevecca leading up to her graduation last spring. The transition to life in the U.S. certainly wasn’t an easy one for the Honduras native, but given the outcome, it’s clear she made the best possible decision.
“I knew nothing about Nashville or Trevecca, so everything was completely new. And then I realized what an amazing place it is to live,” she said.
With a double major in business management and marketing and a minor in entrepreneurship, she was a part of the largest group of Hondurans to ever attend Trevecca. “I thought there would be no Hondurans at Trevecca,” she said. “And when I arrived, I was shocked at the number. I guess our group opened the door for all the Honduran students that we have now.”
Trevecca has built relationships with several high schools in Honduras throughout the last four years. As a result, the population of Honduran students grew from 25 in fall 2020 to 78 in fall 2023.
Coming from a family of engineers, Nunez Oviedo knew she wanted a double major because she desired to work as hard as they did. “I was that kid who said, ‘I want to be the CEO of my own company.’ Since I was young, I knew exactly what I wanted,” she said.
As a Trevecca student, she began working with the International Student Council, and eventually wondered if a broader role might be possible. That’s when she considered running for senior class president.
“I was thinking about how I could help represent our international population,” she said. “I started asking my mentors and professors, and they all said, ‘Go for it.’”
Her main focus as president was to offer all seniors resources to feel prepared for life after college. She arranged meetings for Trevecca students with local employers to make potential career connections so the students could be exposed to future job opportunities. She went to about three meetings per week, in addition to planning events like the Homecoming gala throughout the school year. She did all of this while playing soccer as well.
While pursuing two majors and a minor in the business department, Nunez Oviedo also took advantage of opportunities for her own career growth. She participated in an annual elevator pitch competition hosted by the marketing department, attended networking events and even worked as a receptionist in the Skinner School of Business.
She was also impacted by Trevecca’s faculty and staff, including administrative team members Pam Costa and Joan Bishop. “They were like my moms on campus,” she said. “They really helped me through everything.” She also had instructors whom she credits with making her educational experience a fulfilling one, including Greg Runyan, Roy Philip, Dawn Olson and, perhaps most of all, Jonathan Burch.
Burch, an associate professor of business management, was a speaker for graduation. Nunez Oviedo was chosen to be a student speaker, due to her many successes as a Trevecca student, including receiving the Stella Simpson Leadership Award. This made the special occasion even more meaningful, she said. The two had shared many deep conversations over the years, and he always served as a source of encouragement. “I felt like I could conquer the world after talking to him,” she said.
It was also from Trevecca’s faculty that Nunez Oviedo believes she learned the most important aspect of her daily routine. “Always having a heart for God is number one,” she shared.I loved that our professors held devotions before starting class. God was our priority. When I start my day, the first thing I do is get to work 10 minutes early so I have quiet time to spend with God.”
After graduation, Nunez Oviedo began working outside of Kansas City, Kansas, as a supply chain specialist at Kiewit, a construction and engineering organization. She often talks to vendors, and thrives on the part of the job that involves building and maintaining relationships. She says that her time at Trevecca prepared her for all of this.
“College is really what you make it,” she said. “If you set your goals, if you have your heart and mind set on something, you can really achieve anything. Being willing and ready to take advantage of every opportunity has led to huge blessings in my life.”
