Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2024 graduates.
As a youngster, Javier Aguirre Martinez lived at the House of Refuge, next to the Arizona State University Polytechnic campus. As a young man, he was a standout student at the Poly campus.
This month, he graduated ASU summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in technological entrepreneurship and management from the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering, a minor in real estate from the W. P. Carey School of Business and honors from Barrett, The Honors College.
Aguirre Martinez, a first-generation university student, immigrated to the United States as a child and joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 19.
He made a positive mark on the Poly campus, serving as president of the Polytechnic Student Veterans Club and maintaining a 4.0 GPA while balancing service as an active-duty Marine, a work-study scholar and a member of the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program.
He received many scholarships including the Fred T Halle Jr. Scholarship, Garcia Family Foundation Scholarship, LPS- Los Diablos Alumni Association Award, Barrett Community Scholarship, Helen Dyar King Fund and Navy ROTC Scholarships.
Aguirre Martinez received the Outstanding Graduate Award for Technological Entrepreneurship and Management and made the Dean's List five semesters throughout his academic career.
He has been building his entrepreneurial chops by investing in real estate and is looking into expanding into the development of multifamily homes. His honors thesis was an entrepreneurial venture called RAJAJE Sauce, a veteran-owned and family-operated business that makes hot sauce.
“The concept is near and dear to my heart because my mother dreams of making this hot sauce a household name. Through W. P. Carey’s Founders Lab, I was able to bring this concept to market,” he said.
We asked Aguirre Martinez to reflect on his undergraduate experience. Here is what he had to say.
Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Answer: The day I met Señor Aram Chomina-Chavez, assistant teaching professor of technology, entrepreneurship and management, in Funding the Enterprise, I knew I was in the right place. Learning from a master financier and entrepreneur is both exhilarating and humbling. His lectures on leveraging debt and our assets for success provided the guidance I had been seeking.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?
A: Tony Stark once said, “No amount of money ever bought a second of time.” As someone who is perpetually busy, I must remember to take a second to breathe and enjoy the finer things in life. Work and school are important, but it's also important to enjoy the journey.
Q: Why did you choose ASU?
A: When I was in high school, I imagined myself attending college, and since I was living in Arizona at the time, ASU was the college I envisioned. When I was stationed in Virginia and it was time to decide on a college, I thought about my high school aspirations and decided to go to ASU because it reminded me of my hopes and dreams when I was younger.
Q: Why did you choose Barrett Honors College?
A: I enjoy being challenged, and I seek to be an uncommon person among uncommon people. Being part of a community where everyone strives for excellence motivates me and brings out the best in me.
Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: Señor Chavez created a process called the Aha to Exit Map (A2E). The Aha To Exit Map provides entrepreneurs and startups the resources and education to grow their ventures and maximize valuation. In essence, it is a road map for startups. Currently, I'm working on a gym apparel company called Sinister Labz, and this process has been instrumental in getting it off the ground.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: “When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you'll be successful.” - Eric Thomas
Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?
A: That's a tough question, and it varied depending on my needs that day. If I wanted to be alone to maximize my productivity, I enjoyed the mobile office located in Lantana Hall at the Barrett Polytechnic suite. If I wanted to be more social, I spent my time at the Pat Tillman Veterans Center. The Pat Tillman Veterans Center has offices in the administration building at Poly, the Memorial Union at Tempe and Sun Devil Stadium, which made it very convenient regardless of where I had classes that day.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: After graduation, I will relinquish my current rank of gunnery sergeant and commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Shortly after, I will be heading to Quantico, Virginia, to attend The Basic School before continuing to pursue my accelerated master’s degree program (4+1).
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: I lived at the House of Refuge right next to the Poly campus when I was young. I was a child in need. Fortunately, I had many wonderful people who believed in me. Because of their support and encouragement, I was able to excel. Now that I am an adult, I seek to help those in need through real estate. If someone invested $40 million in me, I would invest that money into purchasing malls that are no longer in business and turn them into housing for those in need. Texas has a program called Housing First, and they've made a noticeable difference in the lives of those in need and in the overall community. Through their proven solution, I could help make a difference in my community.
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