The youngest of three sisters born and raised in Ecuador, Rubi Pastrano told her mother she wanted to go to college in another country. Inspired by her sister, who moved to London to pursue her master’s degree, Pastrano began applying to universities in the United States.
“I kept trying and trying and applying and then someone, an angel, came and told me about Fresno State,” Pastrano said. “I looked into it and found out there are scholarships. Two days after my birthday I got an email saying ‘congratulations, you’re a Fresno State student.’ It was the best day of my life.”
Pastrano, who was awarded the Hans L Beck and Anna Beck Scholarship, “fell in love with construction management” at Fresno State. Through university partnerships, she gained real-world experience, including internships with Kiewit Corporation and Hensel Phelps. During her internship this past summer, she was responsible for working with contractors and coordinating with trade partners.
Pastrano credits the Construction Management Department for investing in her success. Now, she believes in herself more than ever and is excited to see what the future holds.
Written by Eddie Hughes (‘05); Photos by Cary Edmondson (’03); Video by Jeff Phillips (‘11)
