![\"Mundo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/roberto-service-grid-320-2.png\")
<\/p>\nRoberto Mundo, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and first-generation college graduate,
\n will earn his bachelor\u2019s degree in finance from the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
\n this spring \u2014 a milestone rooted in perseverance, family sacrifice and a spark ignited
\n years earlier during a middle school campus visit. \u00a0<\/p>\n
As a middle school student, Roberto Mundo visited the University of South Florida
\n Sarasota-Manatee campus with the Boys and Girls Club. \u201cThat tour stuck with me,\u201d said
\n Mundo. \u201cAt that age, I did not know exactly what my future would look like, but I
\n knew USF was the right fit for me.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
Luckily, that spark stayed with Mundo, even through difficult times and self-doubt.
\n \u201cBy my sophomore year of high school, I was close to dropping out,\u201d said Mundo. \u201cMy
\n grades were bad, I had no real sense of direction, and I felt like school was not
\n for me.\u201d He turned to his parents for guidance. \u201cI remember sitting with my dad and
\n asking him questions about his childhood,\u201d said Mundo. \u201cHearing what he went through
\n made me understand the sacrifices my parents made and why education meant so much
\n to them.\u201d Motivated by his parents\u2019 deep value of education and belief in him, Mundo
\n not only graduated high school, but also he then enlisted in the United States Marine
\n Corps (USMC).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mundo served four years as a USMC water support technician in Kaneohe Bay, Hawai\u2018i.
\n He shared that he was not a morning person and would often question his decision during
\n early morning runs. Once again, Mundo\u2019s determination kept him going and this experience
\n strengthened his perseverance and gave him a deep appreciation for community. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Camaraderie is one of the most important lessons that Mundo feels he learned from
\n the Marine Corps. He recalls a moment in 29 Palms, California that exemplified this
\n sentiment. \u201cSome Marines slept in their foxholes under the stars, while I had to stand
\n watch with one of my buddies, running on barely any sleep,\u201d said Mundo. \u201cDuring the
\n day it was hot, but at night it would get freezing. Our warming layers did absolutely
\n nothing. So, there we were, me and my buddy, trying to survive the desert night by
\n huddling together like penguins. I do not regret it one bit.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
Upon completion of his service, he returned to a goal he nearly abandoned. Mundo decided
\n that it was time to revisit the idea of enrolling at USF Sarasota-Manatee that was
\n sparked in him when he was young. That feeling of belonging he remembered amplified
\n as he became actively involved on campus. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Mundo held the positions of president of the Student Veterans Association and vice
\n president of the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society. He found that these roles
\n gave him the opportunity to continue to serve others while also allowing him to grow
\n as a leader. He also participated in the Capstone Strategic Management Simulation,
\n a hands-on group project in which the students managed a company and was proud that
\n his team finished first in the class. “Roberto is a dedicated and intentional student
\n who consistently seeks opportunities to grow and excel both academically and professionally,”
\n said Mundo’s academic advisor Victor Velasco. “His ‘I can do it’ mindset, paired with
\n his positive and resilient attitude, is a powerful strength that will carry him far
\n in life.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Operating at a high level of academic and community engagement was not always easy
\n for Mundo and he admitted that he occasionally wondered if he would be able complete
\n his degree. However, lessons that he learned during his service continued to motivate
\n him. \u201cWhat helped me push through was reminding myself why I started and taking it
\n one step at a time,\u201d said Mundo. \u201cEven when it was difficult, I kept showing up, kept
\n studying and kept moving forward.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
One of Mundo\u2019s most cherished USF experiences was his time working in the Office of
\n Veteran Success. In this role, Mundo helped support more than 150 veterans, eligible
\n dependents, active-duty service members and members of the Selected Reserve on the
\n Sarasota-Manatee campus. Not only did this position provide him with the opportunity
\n to connect with students, staff, faculty and the community, but he also found mentors
\n and created lasting memories. Mundo shared that he genuinely looked forward to going
\n to work thanks to his supervisor Carlos Moreira and former colleague Ashlie Cruz.
\n He said that they both kept him motivated by their ability to see potential in others
\n \u2013 often before they could see it themselves. \u201cThey showed me what real leadership
\n looks like,\u201d said Mundo, \u201cnot just the title, but the presence, the patience and the
\n way you treat people.\u201d He also fondly recalls the department\u2019s end of semester celebration
\n which included an inflatable obstacle course. \u201cI remember running through the course
\n laughing and enjoying the moment without worrying about anything else,\u201d said Mundo.
\n \u201cIt was one of those fun, simple memories that made me feel connected to the campus
\n and the people around me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a joy to watch Roberto\u2019s growth during his time at USF,” said Carlos
\n Moreira director of campus engagement for veteran success and alumni affairs. “He
\n stepped into leadership roles and overcame many obstacles to excel personally, academically
\n and professionally, while still remaining humble and dedicated.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In May 2026, Roberto Mundo graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance.
\n He plans to take some time to reflect during a hiking trip in the mountains before
\n starting an apprenticeship with Solmart Media, a full-service media company focused
\n on the local Spanish speaking audience. During this unique career experience at Solmart
\n Media, Mundo will learn about running a business and continue building his entrepreneurial
\n skills. \u00a0<\/p>\n
“At USF, the goals you carried quietly for years finally become something you can
\n stand proudly in.” Roberto Mundo<\/p>\n
Through dedication and perseverance, Roberto Mundo has served his country, supported
\n his fellow veterans and become the first in his family to earn a college degree. \u201cIn
\n many ways, I feel like I am carrying my parents\u2019 dreams with me,\u2019 said Mundo. \u201cThey
\n gave everything they had so I could have opportunities they never had, and their sacrifices,
\n persistence and belief in me helped guide me back when I was close to giving up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mundo’s mother said, “Me siento orgulloso, feliz de que la meta, que se propuso, gracias
\n a su dedicaci\u00f3n y con la ayuda de los profesores. S\u00e9 que hubo estr\u00e9s, desvelos, momentos
\n dif\u00edciles, pero todas las barreras que se atravesaron hoy son victorias.” (I feel
\n proud, happy that the goal he set for himself was accomplished, thanks to his dedication
\n and with the help of his professors. I know there was stress, sleepless nights, difficult
\n moments, but every barrier that was crossed today is a victory.)<\/p>\n
Mundo\u2019s journey reflects USF Sarasota-Manatee\u2019s commitment to supporting student veterans
\n and first-generation college students, helping them transition from service to academic
\n and professional success.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hubieron d\u00edas de suelos,\u00a0estr\u00e9s\u00a0pero no se dio por vencido, hasta llegar a la meta,
\n y sin miedo \u00e9xito.<\/p>\n
(There were days of sleepless nights and stress, but he never gave up, until he reached
\n his goal, fearless in the face of success.)<\/p>\n
Roberto Mundo Chavez, Mundo’s Father<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mundo served four years with the USMC<\/p>\n
![\"Mundo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/roberto-table-grid-320.png\")
<\/p>\n
Mundo representing the Office of Veteran Success<\/p>\n
![\"Mundo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/roberto-rocky-grid-320.png\")
<\/p>\n
Mundo with Rocky<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Roberto Mundo, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and first-generation college graduate, will earn his bachelor\u2019s degree in finance…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262297,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[135,137,136],"class_list":["post-262296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=262296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262296\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/262297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=262296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=262296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=262296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}