Scholarship Profile: Cordero King, '09
Cordero King aims to be a Renaissance man, and so far he’s on track. This electrical engineering technology major pursued two goals while at Buffalo State: to be successful and to help others succeed.
King graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School. He chose Buffalo State because it offered him an affordable opportunity to pursue his interest in all things electrical. His high school record made him eligible for the Ross B. Kenzie Family Scholarship. Kenzie, former executive vice president of Merrill Lynch, is vice chair of the Buffalo State College Foundation’s board of directors. Kenzie also exemplifies King’s goals.
"Mr. Kenzie really reaches out to the students who receive the Kenzie scholarship,” said King. "He kept tabs on us every semester. He has made a big investment in us.”
King is investing in others, too. He was secretary of the Pan African Students Organization, which seeks to educate people about African culture, traditions, and politics and their connection to daily life. He was also a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, an organization that encourages minority students who are majoring in engineering and technology.
Living up to his belief in giving back, he volunteered at the Asarese-Matters Community Center as both a tutor and a basketball player. He is still passionate about encouraging African American youth to consider careers in engineering and technical fields, and he is conscious of his role as an example.
However, his interests go well beyond the world of science and math. “I like to be informed about everything,” he said, “and I’m open-minded about any situation that may come up. I think critically about what it means to live and why things happen...to myself, in the nation, and in the world.”
When asked if there was anything else he wanted to add, King said, “I want to thank Mr. Kenzie for giving me the opportunity to come to this school. This scholarship helps me pay my tuition so I can come to college and be the best I can be.”