海角社区

Devin Ruiz is a taekwondo  champion and martial arts.Devin Ruiz  \\ 鈥23 B.S. Mathematics

By Kim Lamb Gregory

海角社区CI alumnus Devin Ruiz crossed the stage at the 2023 Commencement ceremony, accepted his degree in Mathematics, walked down the ramp, and did a backflip.

鈥淗is backflips were a perfect reflection of his fearless spirit and determination,鈥 said Associate Professor of Mathematics Cynthia Flores. 鈥淒evin is a champion of mathematics who leaves an impression on everyone who works with him.鈥

Ruiz is also a taekwondo champion. He holds 17 state titles, four district titles, and two world titles from the American Taekwondo Association (ATA), now known as ATA Martial Arts.

After graduating, Ruiz now spends his days working at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) and his evenings teaching martial arts to kids.

鈥淚 like the work-life balance of the Navy,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou have your 40 hours a week, and then I go home and have the rest of the day to do taekwondo.鈥

Ruiz is now in the Financial Management Career Program (FMCP) at NBVC. Trainees in this program are being prepared to become Department of the Navy (DON) financial management professionals at U.S. Navy and Marine Corps commands located throughout the United States.

At night and on weekends, Ruiz teaches kids martial arts at the Ignite ATA Martial Arts in Camarillo.

鈥淚 set a bar for my students, and I don鈥檛 drop the bar,鈥 Ruiz said. 鈥淭hey have to meet the bar that I set, but eventually, I want them to set their own bar and live up to it.鈥

The focus and discipline of martial arts helped Ruiz when he was at 海角社区CI as a student and now as he is embarking on a career in finance.

鈥淢y mind is moving a thousand miles an hour,鈥 Ruiz said. 鈥淲henever I needed to do something study-related, taekwondo helped me focus.鈥

Ruiz was introduced to his first taekwondo class at age 11 and was immediately hooked.

鈥淚 loved it the very first day,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 started competing about a year later and got my first California state title. I love competition. I like to learn and love to practice.鈥 

Ruiz and his older sister grew up in Ventura where he graduated from Ventura High School with their mom working in real estate and their dad working as a disc jockey for Los Angeles FM stations. Ruiz would often go to work with his dad, making his radio debut at age five.

Devin Ruiz is a taekwondo  champion and martial arts instructor, as well as a mathematician.鈥淗e put me on the radio when I was young with 鈥楧evin the Dude鈥檚 CD and DVD review,鈥欌 Ruiz said. 鈥淲henever new songs or albums came out, I got to review them鈥攕ometimes movies, too.鈥

Both of Ruiz鈥檚 parents noticed his math skills early and encouraged him to attend college. He is the first in his family to graduate from a university. 

Once at 海角社区CI, Flores inspired Ruiz to further develop his mathematics skills, which eventually resulted in a fulfilling career in the U.S. Navy civil service.

鈥淗e embodies a sense of what it means to be both curious and courageous,鈥 Flores said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so proud he is an alumnus of 海角社区CI.鈥

Spring 2024 / Volume 28 / Number 2 / Biannual

Back to Top 鈫