UCCS alumni utilize education for success - Mark Bacheldor

When a young adult enters college, he or she is expected to get good grades, make some quality friends and find out what they want to do with their lives. Mark Bacheldor identified himself as one of those young adults when he started at UCCS in 2004.

"I knew that I wanted to be in the PGM program when I was still in high school, so I looked at schools that were close to Colorado," Bacheldor said. "ASU was the closest at the time, but I heard about UCCS' program that had just started through my high school guidance counselor, so I wanted to look there as well."

Bacheldor was immediately sold by what UCCS had to offer and entered the PGM program in 2004. Over the next four-and-a-half years, he went on to learn more than just basic classroom teaching.

"UCCS taught me real-life skills that have really been invaluable for my career," he said. "The classes and the professors taught me not only to be how to become an adult, but also a contributor to society."

After Bacheldor graduated from UCCS, he went on to become the Head Golf Professional at the Eisenhower Golf Club at the United States Air Force Academy. At Eisenhower, Bacheldor oversees the two 18-hole golf courses, the golf shop and also helps with instruction. Bacheldor believed that UCCS played a major role in helping get where he is today.

"UCCS played a major part in my overall success in this business, especially in regards to the relationships that I established [when I was there] and that now continue to grow in my career life," he said. "I was taught a set of life skills at UCCS that have propelled me past benchmarks and grades to where I am today. I think having those skills has really become a major reason for my success, too."

One of the most important things that Bacheldor recalls learning at UCCS was that life isn't all about your GPA.

"My professors taught me that life is not all about a grade or passing a benchmark, but instead being a proactive student in your pursuit of knowledge and skills," he said. "For me, that is where success in life as a whole is really found."

Bacheldor said he always remembers the experiences outside of the classroom and he loved being at UCCS for the small class sizes and the support from both his professors and the PGM program staff.

"My favorite part of UCCS was the individual involvement and interaction with learning," he said. "It was great to feel like I was a part of a community of those seeking knowledge and learning together."

The community at UCCS that Bacheldor talked about still plays a big part in his life today, three years after he graduated. "The relationships that I built at UCCS have been a vital part of my success and I will never forget them."