Gregory Aragon, a captain with Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR), is set to graduate this December from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts. Aragon's journey to graduation has been marked by dedication and perseverance as he balanced his responsibilities as a firefighter, husband, and student.
Aragon started his academic journey in 1988 at Western New Mexico University before joining the Air Force, where he attended coursework at the Community College of the Air Force. After serving overseas and becoming a Gulf War veteran, he returned to Albuquerque in 1994 to pursue civil engineering at UNM. However, balancing military commitments led to academic struggles. "To quote part of my job, I was definitely on life support," Aragon said about his initial GPA.
Despite being asked to take a break from UNM, Aragon found success outside academia when he met his wife on campus. She later encouraged him to join AFR after he had obtained an EMT license and worked for Kirtland Fire. In 2001, Aragon was among 23 applicants selected out of 2,500 for AFR.
After years in service and being promoted to Captain in 2014, Aragon resumed his studies at UNM. His commitment paid off as he improved his GPA significantly over time. "I’m in, I’m hooked. I got A’s," he said.
In April 2013, while off duty at church, Aragon intervened during an assault incident and was injured but survived. Reflecting on this event pushed him further toward completing his degree. The state's opportunity scholarship also played a crucial role in supporting his educational pursuits.
Aragon credits Brian Vineyard and Corine Gonzales from UNM for their assistance in helping him return to school: “I get choked up when I think about them because they’re my heroes.”
Now nearing graduation with a GPA of 4.13, Aragon acknowledges the support of family and colleagues throughout his long educational journey while continuing his service both locally and nationally.
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