Spring 2025 Commencement: Valentina Sánchez Rodriguez Learns To Lead at Tri-C

Valentina Sánchez Rodriguez has always loved filmmaking. One of her life's passions is creating and telling the stories of people who deserve to be seen.

When she came from La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, to the U.S., her dream was to attend a four-year film school, but the pandemic ruined those plans. In 2021, she came to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) to pursue an education in the Film and Media Arts program.

"Filmmaking just feels like the natural way for me to achieve those passions," she said. "I never cared how, but I was always writing and directing little shorts with my friends."

Since her arrival, Sánchez Rodriguez has been active in leadership roles across the College. She was the vice president of the Multicultural Club, a member of the Film Club, a student assistant at the Student Production Office and a senator in the Student Government at the Metropolitan Campus.

Sánchez Rodriguez has also grown as a person through the Honors Program, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She's maintained a spot on the dean's list every semester.

Her time at Tri-C not only equipped her with a strong foundation in her field but has also inspired her to continue learning and growing in new directions.

Sánchez Rodriguez is the student speaker for Tri-C's Spring Commencement on May 16 at the Wolstein Center, where she will graduate with an Associate of Applied Business and a Certificate of Proficiency from the School of Creative Arts. Sánchez Rodriguez will continue her academic journey at Cleveland State University, where she plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in general business.

Describe your Tri-C experience. Has a specific person, class or event played a role in your success?

I think Tri-C has been a major source of opportunities for me. I got to work at what I want to do for three and a half years in the Student Production Office, and the workshops the Film Academy offers are an incredible opportunity. I cannot give credit to a single person, but overall, Tri-C has been incredibly important for me.

How has Tri-C changed your life?

It made me a much more well-rounded, mature and knowledgeable person. It also taught me a lot more about cultures different from my own than I thought it would. It helped me to become the leader I aspire to be.

Do you have any pearls of wisdom to share with students?

I would emphasize the importance of continuing the journey because it never stops. You have to keep going and pushing yourself if you wish to be great.

Tri-C will celebrate the academic achievements of its newest graduates during Commencement on May 16 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland. Check our News and Events page leading up to the event for more highlights from the Class of 2025.

May 16, 2025

By Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu