With his Reed education, Derrick Santillan Valdez ’27, an environmental studies major, feels confident he can make his hopes for the future a reality.
By Cara Nixon
October 2, 2026
Growing up in The Dalles, it was hard for Derrick Santillan Valdez ’27 not to be in constant awe of the beauty surrounding him. In the Columbia River Gorge, he explored and hiked and began to realize that the times he was happiest were the ones he spent outdoors.
When he came to Reed, his adventurous spirit was only further cultivated. He decided to pursue a degree in environmental studies with a concentration in economics, with hopes to one day become an environmental consultant and help protect the natural spaces he grew up loving.
As a freshman mentee in the Peer Mentor Program (PMP), Derrick was encouraged to get his Reed van certification, which means, over the years, he’s often driven other students on off-campus excursions he otherwise wouldn’t get to experience.
PMP has given him the tools to feel prepared and comfortable in a college environment. Most importantly, he’s made long-lasting connections with others in the program. “I’ve pretty commonly heard that people who go through that program end up making their best friends during it, and that’s been the case for me as well,” he says.
Inside the classroom, Derrick has experienced intimate discussions with peers, genuine relationships with faculty, and a shared love for learning. It’s sort of an academic utopia, he says—a place where classroom conversations go deep, and intensity is accepted rather than discouraged.
“This place breeds a fearlessness to create,” Derrick says, whether it's new ideas or life-changing connections. The latter has been especially key for Derrick on his college journey. “It’s kept me afloat—realizing that no matter how messed up things are or how bad I’m feeling, I can reach out, and I can receive support,” he says.
Derrick says he feels like he’s in the prologue of his life. But it’s Reed—its academic foundation, extracurricular opportunities, and community—that has made the beginning of his story a strong start. And it’s what makes him confident about what comes next. “After I graduate from Reed, I’ll have the resources necessary to carve out a pathway for myself,” he says.
Derrick grew up in awe of the Columbia River Gorge and came to Reed to learn how to protect it. He leaves with an academic foundation, a community that has kept him afloat, and the confidence to carve out a pathway for himself. Your gift helps create the moments that make transformations like Derrick's possible.
