Cougar Scholars is a monthly series highlighting Chicago State student-athletes through the lens of their studies and professional pursuits. This month features men's tennis sophomore Pedro Alvarez.
Read more from our previous scholar-athletes here:
- March 2022: Koranis Boonmadee, Women's Golf
- February 2022:Â Favour Chukwukelu, Men's Basketball
- January 2022:Â Aaliyah Collins, Women's Basketball
- December 2021:Â Justin Johnson, Men's Track & Field, Cross Country
- November 2021:Â Barbara Castellanos, Women's Soccer
- October 2021:Â Andrea Calderon, Volleyball
- September 2021:Â Shaquan Reid, Men's Soccer
- August 2021:Â Susie Andres, Women's Tennis
- July 2021:Â Kevin Bullington, Men's Golf
- June 2021:Â Dominick George, Men's Soccer
- May 2021:Â Carmen Acedo, Women's Soccer
- April 2021:Â Josh Stig, Men's Golf
- March 2021:Â Leilani Moncrease, Women's Basketball
As a young kid, Pedro Alvarez used to sift through pictures of Chicago on Google Images.
Flash forward to 2022, and the Venezuela native is shining in the Windy City, not only as a sophomore star on Chicago State's men's tennis team but as the university's Cougar Scholar for April.
"Chicago State has meant a lot to me," Alvarez said. "I was a little nervous coming in, but Chicago State has been awesome to me. I have great relationships with my teammates, my coaches and my professors."
Growing up in Cagua, Venezuela, Alvarez had never been to Chicago before his first day as a student. He'd only been to America a few times to visit family in Miami.
But since arriving on campus, he's taken the community by storm.
As a freshman, Alvarez garnered First-Team All-WAC distinction as a singles player and Second-Team honors for doubles. He then was selected as the CSU Athletics Male Rookie of the Year award to cap off the stellar campaign. Then during his sophomore season, Alvarez continued to guide the Cougars, earning three conference Player of the Week recognitions this spring.
Meanwhile, the star student-athlete has managed his time, as he always has, enough to maintain a top-tier GPA.
"Even before I entered the university, I always focused on managing time," Alvarez said. "For example, in high school, I had tournaments literally every weekend and then had to manage. When I got here, I made sure to always schedule to organize myself."
That diligence has paid off for Alvarez, who has thrived in the classroom as a business management major who will soon switch gears to finance.
"I've always been curious and read a lot about investments," Alvarez said. "I read about developments with big companies like Amazon and Tesla and advice on how to operate. My goal is to have my own business one day."
In the meantime, Alvarez has not just his studies, but a family business to prepare himself for the grueling business world. His father, Pedro, and grandfather, Felipe, operate a family-owned business called "Industrias Fanagram," which assists farmers with their mechanical and nutrition needs.
"I've always been around the business," Alvarez said. "I've helped my dad with the company since I was a little kid, learning how they manage it. I used to use the machines they use for carrying components of the food."
At Chicago State, Alvarez particularly relished in his Economics 1010 course, during which he soaked up knowledge on market supply and demand, plus international trade.
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The business-focused Alvarez is all-business with either a pen or with a racket in his hand. He has etched his place as an elite Chicago State student-athlete, in both meanings of the phrase, all while moving to a new country and an entirely different culture.
"I have developed a lot in college, both in my education and as an athlete," Alvarez said. "Chicago State has helped me a lot."
