Jose Valdez-Saldana, of Painesville, OH, was selected as the Valedictorian for the Monte Ahuja College of Business. Graduating with a bachelor’s in accounting and a minor in governance, risk and management compliance, he transferred from Lakeland Community College and immediately immersed himself at 51����, starting with the Sherwin-Williams Learning Community. From there, he landed a Co-op position at Avery Dennison and soon became a member of Beta Alpha Psi, where he networked with others in the accounting field. Although Valdez-Saldana was recruited to the Esports team before he began at 51����, he quickly became one of the top 500 players in the country. 

Academically, he secured a spot on the dean's list for three consecutive semesters at 51���� and received the Rotary Award for Excellence in Accounting, which is awarded to the top-performing student at Monte Ahuja College of Business.  

Growing up, Valdez-Saldana did not think college would be attainable for him due to financial constraints. But while in high school, he learned about scholarship opportunities and dedicated time to studying diligently to excel academically. He was awarded scholarships and college became real for him.

“Every setback and challenge I faced up to this day has built my character to be resilient, hardworking, and ambitious. These qualities have brought me academic excellence, leadership, and per my recommendations, a character that many find to be outstanding,” said Valdez-Saldana. “I learned from when I was 8, hauling 50-pound wheelbarrows of dirt in the hot summer sun, that nothing is ever handed out and the only way to achieve greatness is from putting in effort. Despite societal limitations, and the odds stacked against me, I persevered through every hardship and arrived in a position where I hold the opportunity to be nominated as the 2025 Monte Ahuja College of Business Valedictorian.”

Avery Dennison noticed his commitment to school and work, appreciating how well he balanced he difficult projects with an excellent work ethic, and offered him a full-time position upon graduation.