HARRISBURG, PA — Nazareth “Naz” Nene Cifuentes’ journey to becoming Harrisburg University of Science and Technology’s (HU) 2026 Commencement Student Speaker was not a straight path. Between changing majors, stepping away from school, navigating personal uncertainty, and rebuilding his health, his college experience became less defined by following a strict plan and more by learning how to adapt when life changes direction.
Where It Started
Growing up in the Bronx played a major role in shaping Naz’s mindset towards his future. At a young age, he lost three of his friends to gang violence. “That was a real wake-up call,” he said. “They were 14 years old. After that, I was determined to not become a statistic.”
Originally, college was never part of his plan. With family members who served in the military, Naz expected to enlist in the Army after high school. But when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted military recruitment, he began reconsidering his future and decided to explore college instead.
That decision eventually led him to Harrisburg University. After speaking with his high school guidance counselor, he met HU representatives who were visiting his school that day. He applied almost immediately and received his acceptance within an hour.
What began as a quick decision during an uncertain time would ultimately shape the next several years of his life.
When the Plan No Longer Fit
When Naz first arrived at HU, he was a Forensic Science major with aspirations of joining the FBI. The path felt clear – until a guest lecture changed how he thought about his future.
During the talk, Naz asked about work-life balance. “He looked at me with the most serious face and said, ‘If you want to have a family, do yourself a favor and don’t do what I do,’” Naz recalled.
The moment stuck with him, especially because of where he was in his personal life. “I had just proposed to Lillianna,” he explained. “And I went home thinking, ‘I have to decide. Do I want this career, or do I want a family?’ I just couldn’t see how it all worked together, so I needed time.”
Rebuilding Through Discipline
Naz took the following semester away from HU. During that time, he worked at UPMC doing ambulance billing. While he enjoyed the job, he knew it wasn’t his long-term path.
Around the same time, he found a passion for something that would play a major role in his life: jiu-jitsu.
Naz said his introduction to jiu-jitsu came after one of the most difficult periods in his life. At the time, he was overweight and was dealing with severe health issues. Then he contracted COVID-19. Because of his health at the time, the illness became severe enough that he was placed on a breathing machine.
“I remember thinking, ‘If I survive this, I’m going to do whatever I needed to do to change.’”
While recovering at home, Naz repeatedly saw online advertisements for a local jiu-jitsu gym. After seeing the ad enough times, he eventually decided to give it a chance. What he found was something far different from the conventional gym environments that had failed to keep him engaged. The challenge, complexity, and structure of jiu-jitsu kept him coming back.
“Jiu-jitsu is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” he said. “But it changed the way I think about difficulty. If I can do that every day, everything else feels more manageable.”
As Naz continued training, he eventually began coaching children’s jiu-jitsu classes: an opportunity that began during an internship at the gym. There, he learned how the business operated and how youth programs play a major role in sustaining martial arts schools.
“There are days when it feels like herding cats, but it’s also incredibly rewarding,” he said. “When you hear kids say they had the confidence to stand up for themselves or aren’t getting bullied anymore, that’s the best part.”
Finding His Way Back
While working and training, Naz began thinking more seriously about entrepreneurship, which eventually led him back to school.
“If I want to run a business, I should probably learn business,” he said. “That’s when I came back to HU and switched to Business Administration.”
Some of the most important lessons he learned studying business at HU centered around communication and collaboration. “It showed me how to work with people who don’t think like you and still find a way to succeed together,” he said.
Redefining Success
Naz said his definition of success changed significantly over time. Early in college, he believed success meant simply outworking everyone else.
“I think success is how people talk about you when you’re not in the room,” he said. “If people say that you are a genuine human being, that’s real success to me.”
He also emphasized the importance of personal brand and relationships. “How you carry yourself matters. That’s what creates opportunities.”
The People Behind the Journey
Naz credits much of his experience at HU to the people who supported him through difficult moments.
“My fiancée, Lillianna, has been my biggest cheerleader,” he said. “There were times I was struggling with classes, and she was there telling me that I could do it and that it was going to be okay. My friends that I made at HU – Alli, Aiden, and Michelle – have also always been there for me and supported me.”
As for faculty and staff at HU, Naz pointed to several mentors who influenced his academic journey. He credited Dr. Joseph Zagerman, Program Lead for Business Administration, with helping him better understand the business world beyond the classroom, noting that he provided practical insight that went beyond textbook learning.
He also mentioned that Professor Brian Grey left a lasting impression, particularly around the importance of resilience and accountability in college and in life.
Another key influence in his decision to return to HU came from Jordan Lentz, Director of Academic Success, who encouraged him during a pivotal moment when he was considering switching his major. He described her support as a defining factor in his decision to continue his studies and ultimately complete his degree.
What He Hopes Students Remember
As he prepares for the stage, Naz has spent time reflecting on what he wants his message to be.
“I watched a ton of commencement speech videos from different colleges, and it was all the same thing,” he said. “It was all about the technical things that you’ve learned, and like, that’s going to help us be successful.”
“What about the people and the things you learn from those people? ‘That guy helped me learn how to cook,’ or ‘I remember turning 21 in college and having my first beer with that person.’ Those are memories you’re never going to forget. I want people to remember that no matter where they go in life, and how it started here at HU.”
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ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University of Science & Technology (HU) is an independent, nonprofit university offering degrees in advanced manufacturing, engineering, robotics, nursing, cybersecurity, and other critical fields. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, HU serves a diverse student body through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs that link learning and research with practical applications. For information about HU’s affordable STEM degrees and professional development programs, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay in the know by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT
Do you have questions about this story? Interested in lining up an interview? Please contact Dan Wilhelm, Communications Manager for Harrisburg University of Science & Technology, at DWilhelm@HarrisburgU.edu or 717.901.5100×1724.
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