Grad Profile: Katherin Castillo-Reyes

Katherin Castillo-Reyes, a business administration graduate at Northampton Community College (NCC), is paving her own path in the world of business and technology, one bold step at a time. 

With business administration, Castillo-Reyes learned the fundamentals of how markets work, and the distinct roles people can play. She wants to launch an organization that builds businesses designed to support people in need. “Jon Bon Jovi’s JBJ Soul Kitchen really inspired me. He created a place where people can eat for free and donate if they’re able. This innovative approach to community support has motivated me to pursue the creation of similar ventures that encourage a culture of collaboration and kindness, ultimately creating a meaningful and lasting impact on society.” 

As a first-generation college student, she had to pave her own way. “I live by something my mom always says, ‘Querer es poder,’ which means, ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way.’”  

Castillo-Reyes's journey has been supported by two scholarships, the Harold A. (Hap) & Marcia Wagner Scholarship Endowment and the Brown-Daub Foundation NCC Promise Endowed Scholarship. These honors recognize her academic dedication and commitment to growth.  

This past spring semester, Castillo-Reyes was honored at the Student Life Awards for her work in the Spring Leadership Class. Through this course, she learned how to build effective teams, communicate clearly, and make ethical decisions—skills she continues to refine through her involvement in campus tours, having led over 60 for incoming and prospective students.  

As Secretary of the Hispanic Club on NCC’s Bethlehem campus, Castillo-Reyes sees leadership as a way to celebrate and elevate her culture. “I carry it with me in everything I do,” she says. After graduation, she plans to spend a month in El Salvador reconnecting with her roots and the family who helped shape her journey. 

To gain real-world experience, she completed job shadows at JULABO, Sixth Street Shelter, and the Boys & Girls Club, diving into aspects of each workplace like management, accounting, and human resources. Each opportunity helped her discover how businesses operate and impact their communities. 

Castillo-Reyes has her eyes set on transferring to Drexel University in spring 2026 to pursue degrees in economics and computer science, taking her one step closer to her dream with the intention of going into the field of quantum finance. “I’m drawn to this field because it sits at the intersection of technology and economics, two things I’m enthusiastic about. It’s a space where I can innovate and be part of shaping the future of finance in a way that’s smarter, faster, and more impactful,” she explains, “Using that knowledge will help me to help the community take advantage of the market to build their own dreams.”  

If she could offer one piece of advice to her fellow students, that would be to, “Embrace the good, the bad, and the awkward in everything. It’s important to learn from both your successes and your setbacks. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks as they can lead to major growth and open doors you never saw coming.”