榴莲黄视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 15, 2025

Long before she considered herself a computer game designer, Maria Elizabeth Cvetanoski understood the power of curiosity.

Whether experimenting with new recipes in a campus dining hall or navigating the challenges of returning to school, she has built a life defined by creativity, resilience, and the belief that learning should open doors for others and herself.

Inspired by her son鈥檚 love of gaming, Cvetanoski enrolled at 榴莲黄视频 to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Computer Game Design and Development. Today, she sees game development as more than entertainment. It is a bridge to education, and she has spent years connecting her coursework with her passion for helping underprivileged children in South America.

鈥淚 showed the kids a game I helped design in class, and they couldn鈥檛 take their fingers off the keyboard,鈥� said Cvetanoski, who balances her studies with a full-time role in University Dining. 鈥淭hey kept taking turns, laughing, and smiling. For me, seeing that reaction was the best moment.鈥�

Originally from New Jersey, Cvetanoski grew up visiting Colombia, where she saw firsthand the challenges children face in pursuit of an education. Many drop out of school, become vulnerable to gang recruitment, or struggle with poverty, she said.

鈥淭hat experience stayed with me,鈥� Cvetanoski said. 鈥淚t made me want to do something meaningful, to show these kids that they have options for a better future.鈥�

Her introduction to Hogar Esperanza, a foundation serving Colombian children for more than 30 years, gave her a platform to channel that motivation. By combining her studies in coding and game design with outreach through the organization, she has found ways to bring hope and hands-on learning to communities that need it most.

鈥淭his foundation has been changing lives for decades, and I feel grateful to play even a small role in that work,鈥� Cvetanoski said. 鈥淕ame design gives me a way to connect with kids, inspire them, and show them that their future can look different.鈥�

As a nontraditional student, Cvetanoski has faced her share of challenges. She credits KSU鈥檚 supportive environment, including tuition assistance for employees, tutoring programs, and flexible supervisors at University Dining, with making her journey possible.

鈥淎t every step, someone at KSU was there to help,鈥� she said.

This fall, Cvetanoski is helping organize a campus event to spotlight Hogar Esperanza. In collaboration with the KSU Gaming Club and faculty and staff, the event will feature opportunities for students to explore the foundation鈥檚 work, play games, and support children in Colombia. The Gaming Club also shared information about the foundation on their server during the Fall Game Jam 2025, ensuring that participants could learn more about the cause. Cvetanoski said she was very grateful for their support.

鈥淢aria鈥檚 story is a powerful example of how KSU students are not only learning skills in the classroom but also applying them to create positive change in the world,鈥� said Yiming Ji, interim dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering (CCSE). 鈥淗er work demonstrates the kind of impact our students can make when they combine academic knowledge with a heart for service.鈥�

Beyond her service in Colombia, Cvetanoski has become an example for other nontraditional students considering a return to school.

鈥淵ou always want to keep learning,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how you stay motivated, and when others see your motivation, they get inspired too. Don鈥檛 ever stop learning.鈥�

鈥� Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

 

 

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 榴莲黄视频 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. 榴莲黄视频is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 榴莲黄视频is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.