As students embark on their college journey, finding a community that nurtures personal and leadership skills can be a transformative experience. This was the case for Noah Romero, a University of Arizona student who discovered a supportive environment dedicated to personal growth after transferring from the Marine Corps.
Now in his senior year, Romero has taken on the role of a peer mentor within the Blue Chip Leadership Experience, an initiative hosted by the Dean of Students Office. This program offers a structured path for hundreds of undergraduates to develop their leadership abilities through a series of classes, workshops, and projects. Romero expressed, “As a Marine, we are leaders wherever we go. That is our culture… Blue Chip helped me refine those leadership skills in different areas.”
The program’s impact has not gone unnoticed, earning national recognition as Excelencia in Education recently named it a finalist for the 2026 Examples of Excelencia award. This accolade celebrates programs that deliver positive outcomes for Latino students and others in higher education.
The Blue Chip Leadership Experience, founded in 1999, has grown to be a significant part of the university’s offerings, even being recognized in the career and workforce division by Excelencia in Education. Aaron Davis Martinez, the associate director, emphasized, “Leadership shouldn’t be reserved for certain students depending on their major, but for all students.”
Building Leadership from the Ground Up
Blue Chip fosters leadership from the first year, where students are grouped into teams of 15 to 20. These groups meet weekly, engaging in lectures and activities designed to enhance communication, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills. Activities like escape rooms and scavenger hunts allow students to apply these skills practically.
Aaron Davis Martinez, front left, poses alongside Blue Chip students during a visit to Biosphere 2.
Blue Chip Leadership Experience
While many students complete just one year of the program, Blue Chip offers four years of progressive courses and training. Completing the entire program can lead to a minor in leadership studies and practice, awarded by the College of Education.
Expanding Horizons for Tomorrow’s Leaders
The Blue Chip program’s nomination for the Examples of Excelencia award came from Karla Silva, director of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives. The university has held the Hispanic-Serving Institution designation since 2018, joining over 600 such institutions in the U.S.
Silva highlighted the program’s inclusive nature, stating, “Each student needs a place to belong, and it’s not one size fits all… Blue Chip and programs like it offer a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose.”
Looking ahead, both Davis Martinez and Silva hope to integrate Blue Chip into the general education curriculum, allowing a wider range of students to benefit from leadership training. Reflecting on his own experience, Romero noted, “When I transferred out of the Marine Corps, I thought I would never be able to capture some of those feelings, relationships and intensity I felt. But, almost instantly, Blue Chip provided me with an environment that not only let me feel like a leader, but I was able to develop and put those intangible skills to use in a productive and profound way.”
Read More Here
