Forever Buffs Volunteer Spotlight: Noah Cruz (PolSci’19)
On a typical autumnal Saturday, Noah Cruz (PolSci’19) can be found decked in black and gold at a crowded bar in downtown D.C. He chants a familiar “Fight! Fight! Fight! Go CU!” with local Forever Buffs. Although he’s thousands of miles from the Flatirons, he is back under Folsom Field’s glowing stadium lights for a moment, standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow Buffs.
As the vice chair and long-time board member of the Forever Buffs Washington, D.C. Chapter, Noah helps bring magic moments like this one to life. He organizes CU football game watches, which he says help alumni connect and feel at home in a new city.
“It's nice to be around people rooting for the same team who know the fight song, which isn't a given now that I live in DC,” he said.
But Noah’s impact doesn’t stop with alumni. In addition to cheering on the Buffs, he hosts events for current students visiting DC to offer advice on their budding CU and career journeys. He also volunteers with local labor and community groups to improve working conditions for the district’s residents and immigrants.
Here, Noah shares what drives him to volunteer and how his time at 鶹ý shaped him.
What is your favorite CU memory?
The amazing days when I could hike Chautauqua in the afternoon and watch a football game at Folsom Field that same evening. It was especially great in 2016 when the Buffs made a run at the PAC-12 title.
Who or what inspires you?
My grandparents. As Mexican immigrants, their hard work and determination built a life for our family in the United States. I wouldn't be here without them. They inspire me to be the best I can be — just as they did during my time at CU.
Why do you volunteer?
CU is an integral part of who I am today; I got a lot out of my time on campus, and I look back on my college experience fondly. Volunteering with the Alumni Association is my way of “paying it forward” to past and future Buffs, whom I hope value their time at CU as much as I do.
What have you learned through volunteering with CU?
I've learned how foundational a shared alma mater can be for connecting with people and building community across geographies and graduation years.
Where is your favorite spot in Boulder — either on or off campus?
Noah Cruz (right)
