UCCS Freshman Hudson Lewis lives in two worlds—one on the ice, the other in the classroom.
“I started figure skating about 2.5 years ago,” Hudson said, calling himself an outlier in a sport where most start “long before they know how to read.”
Hudson began skating when he was a sophomore in high school, teaching himself by watching YouTube videos and practicing off-ice jumps in his backyard. Once he began competing, he said he was the only male high school figure skater in all of San Antonio, Texas.
“I was ‘discovered’ through a random social media post,” Hudson said.
That led him to attend a tryout at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
“A week later, my family sold our home, and the four of us and our dog moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Colorado Springs so I could pursue my dreams,” Hudson said.
He now spends more than 30 hours a week training with Team USA while tackling his electrical engineering studies at UCCS.
“I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and do not stop until at least 9 p.m.,” he said. “Even with structure, I am not unfamiliar with the late-night study sessions on problem sets and/or projects.”
When it came to continuing his education, Hudson said choosing UCCS was strategic.
“I had to find a school that would enable me to achieve two major objectives: be a member of Team USA and earn a degree in engineering,” he explained. “Proximity to the rink and a strong engineering program made UCCS the missing part of my puzzle.”
Several financial supports, including the Boeing COSI Matched Scholarship and the Kane Family Scholarship, have also been critical pieces of that puzzle. The Boeing award offers $4,000 for just five students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS), with a focus on underrepresented populations and military-affiliated students. The Kane Scholarship covers the full cost of tuition, fees and books for up to four years, an estimated value of approximately $60,000.
“The Kane Scholarship has been a lifesaver,” Hudson said, noting that the combined financial support allows him to focus 100 percent of his time and energy on schooling and training.
He also received the Chancellor’s Award.
“Together, they’ve removed the financial pressure that could have forced me to choose between my goals,” said Hudson. “Instead, I can pursue both.”
He said UCCS represents possibility and the ability to go all in on the ice has paid off.
Despite injuries early on, he rebounded to make the U.S. National Development Team twice, win Gold at Novice Paris Sectionals, and earn a Pewter Medal at the U.S. Paris Final. Now, he is preparing for the U.S. National Championships in January with hopes of making the podium with his skating partner Elizabeth Hansen.
Hudson’s journey shows what’s possible with determination and support. By pairing world-class training with a life-changing education, he’s proving that two big dreams can coexist.
