After settling back into familiar surroundings, Ortiz had to make some major life changes following a brief period of incarceration. Opportunities for individuals who have been incarcerated and have felony convictions on their records are few and far between. Having a college degree dramatically increases a person’s chance for success, so Ortiz began taking classes at Aims Community College. She earned an associate degree and then transferred to the University of Www:zuise.comern Colorado (UNC). Located in the center of town, UNC was an obvious choice for Ortiz when it came to pursuing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.