RECognition: Alex Castaneda, Events

Recreation's monthly series to celebrate our staff

By Shawn Cyr
Assistant Marketing Director

Alex Castaneda has always been hands-on during his time with Recreation.

As Student Lead for the Events department, he’s helped lead the teams that set up court-side chairs and benches; put up goals, hoops, and nets; and paint field lines, among many other essential game-day tasks. 

“The idea of working in an environment where there were sports always seemed fun, but I never thought I would come to love it this much,” Alex says.

And while Alex has had a hand in many Recreation and Athletics events since he came aboard in August of 2022, it’s his ears where his true passion lies.

“I’m looking to pursue a career in anything audio,” says Alex, who will graduate in June 2025 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts from Earl Warren College. “My time in REC definitely gave me a starting point to what a job’s community should feel like.”

Alex spends his free time listening to music, playing guitar, and hanging out with friends. He doesn’t have a favorite genre of music — “As a lot of my close friends know,” he says — instead vacillating to whatever tunes are catching his ear in the moment.

“I think my favorite song to play on the guitar in general is ‘Burn Burn Burn’ by Zach Bryan just because it’s a fairly easy song with only four chords,” says Alex, “But as of late my favorite has been ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ by ABBA.”

He’s also discovered a new love of bouldering in the past year after climbing for the first time at the Canyonview Climbing Center. This tracks, as Alex has been rock-solid for the Events team, says Events Operations Coordinator Kevin McGlone.

“Alex has been a mainstay for us,” McGlone says. “He has continuously expanded his responsibilities within our department and is now also an integral part of our Field Lining team.”

A member of the Recreation Leadership Council — which provides guidance within the department to enhance the experience of the broader campus and student employees while promoting lifelong well-being, growth, and success — Alex has found a home here and says that the community aspect has been his favorite part of his experience with us.

“I’ve had so many memories that I’m fond of and they’re all a culmination of the relationships I’ve built here,” says Alex, who puts the REC trip to a Padres game in 2024 in the top three. 

“It’s more than a job; it’s like a family.”