Arkansas Tech University student Oscar Perez views leadership as the act of putting others first.
“For me, it’s being a role model…being someone that people look up to, respect and trust,” said Perez. “You may be the president or vice president or whatever it may be within your organization, but it doesn’t mean that whatever you say goes. You should hear what your members have to say. Being a leader means constantly thinking about the people around me and trying to do what’s best to make sure they have as good of an experience as I’ve had.”
Perez, an ATU junior from Warren, was selected by the ATU Center for Student Engagement and First-Gen Success as the September 2025 ATU student leader of the month.
A first-generation college student, Perez is president of the ATU Latinx Student Organization and the ATU student chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens. He is also an officer for Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the ATU Interfraternity Council. Perez holds membership in Rotaract and ATU Geology Club, and he serves as a student worker in the ATU Department of Campus Life. He is also a peer mentor for the ATU minority mentorship program and a freshman orientation leader, and during the summer months he serves as a counselor in the ATU Upward Bound program.
Perez is majoring in computer engineering and electrical engineering.
“As a leader, you have a standard that you need to meet, but once you meet that standard, then what…are you just going to stop there, or do you want to raise that standard even more?” said Perez. “That’s something I’m constantly telling myself. The biggest obstacle is myself. Back in high school, I didn’t hold any leadership roles and I didn’t know anything about leadership. I never strived to be anything like that until I got (to ATU).”
