Photo by John Eisele/CSU Photography
Outstanding Grad: Jorge Garcia Jimenez
College of Business
story by Allison Sylte
published May 8, 2023
Jorge Garcia Jimenez might not care if his name is attached to a legacy, but he definitely wants to do his part to make an impact, wherever he is.
He certainly achieved that goal at Colorado State University, be it through founding the Investors Club or his work in student government advocating for affordable housing.
“A lot of the things Jorge has done here will live long beyond his time at CSU,” said Jason Radman, a career counseling manager for the College of Business.
Garcia Jimenez is the first to say that making change is hard work. It has involved many “sleepless nights” and the logistical help of three calendars, with his days often starting at 6 a.m. and ending well into the evening.
“I think I’ve really made the most out of my college experience, and I don’t regret anything I’ve done or the way I’ve done it,” he said. “I’m just looking to shoot for the stars.”
making financial literacy attainable for everyone
Garcia Jimenez grew up in Aurora, Colorado, and is the first person in his family to attend college. Some of his high school teachers were CSU alumni, and they inspired him to follow in their footsteps and pursue higher education in Fort Collins.
“The first time I saw campus was at orientation, right before I moved in, and I remember pulling up and just being so excited,” Garcia Jimenez said. “The trees were so green, and I remember thinking that it felt so far from home, but that it was the place I needed to be.”
Garcia Jimenez initially planned to major in health and exercise science, but decided to focus on finance instead after he became fascinated by watching the GameStop short squeeze play out in the news in early 2021.
He said he also realized the value of financial literacy early on as he helped his non-English-speaking parents navigate paying bills and managing their money.
Through conversations with his friends at CSU, Garcia Jimenez said he realized many people aren’t as savvy about their finances as they should be. That led him and his roommate Pablo Rosas to found the Investors Club, a student group open to all majors that offers educational opportunities surrounding how to build generational wealth.
“Within my friend group, I had a lot of people who didn’t know what a Roth IRA was, or how to set aside money for retirement,” Garcia Jimenez said. “These are skills a lot of people should know, right? And it’s important that we share that knowledge.”
Since the Investors Club was founded in 2021, Rosas said between 200 and 300 CSU students have attended at least one weekly meeting. In March, they even hosted a big event featuring multiple representatives from investment firms and banks who were available to answer questions about what they do and to provide education about managing money.
“When we looked at the student sign-up sheet, it was amazing how many majors across campus were represented at the event,” Rosas said. “Jorge is one of the humblest people I know, and I don’t think he gives himself enough credit for all the work that he’s done starting this club and teaching his community some very valuable skills.”
being an advocate in Fort Collins and beyond
Garcia Jimenez said that at the beginning of his junior year, he sat down and really thought about the legacy he would leave behind at CSU.
“One of the things I was thinking about was how to make this less about me, and more about other people,” he said. “There are programs like RamRide – no one really knows about how it got started or who was responsible, but they can see the tangible impact. I wanted to do my part to create a similar type of change.”
“Leaving a legacy isn’t about your name being remembered – it’s about the change you create within the community and helping others to make the world a better place.”
— Jorge Garcia Jimenez
That led Garcia Jimenez to get involved with the Associated Students of CSU, where he began as the deputy director of public policy but was later promoted to the director of housing security. In this role, he’s advocated for changes to Fort Collins’ U+2 occupancy ordinance and has organized events, bringing hundreds of students in front of city council to share their experiences.
“As someone who didn’t come from a wealthy background, I know the importance of affordable housing,” Garcia Jimenez said. “Having a place to live is a necessity, it’s a basic right.”
Grace Crangle, the marketing director at ASCSU, said she’s never seen anyone in student government make as much of an impact as Garcia Jimenez.
“When he graduates, there won’t just be a void at ASCSU but also a void on campus,” she said. “He’s one of those people who just lights up a room whenever he walks in.”
After graduation, Garcia Jimenez will bring his passion to an even bigger stage, but with the same goals in mind.
He accepted a job with Deutsche Bank and plans to move to New York City, where he said he hopes to continue his work advocating for affordable housing and financial literacy.
“I’m excited about where I go from here, whether that be helping other people or going onto City Council or being a diplomat,” he said. “Leaving a legacy isn’t about your name being remembered – it’s about the change you create within the community and helping others to make the world a better place. I hope this story inspires others to leave a legacy wherever they go.”
outstanding grads
The Class of 2023 represents the very best of Colorado State University, showing courage in the face of adversity in the pursuit of their degrees. Read more stories of some of the outstanding students who are graduating this fall. read more