Carlos Doel Hendricks-Verdejo was born in Trenton, NJ. At age three, his family relocated to Carolina, Puerto Rico, where he would enjoy his formative years. He returned to New Jersey 16 years later and began his studies at Livingston College Rutgers University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Spanish and Puerto Rican Studies. During his years at the bank, he was a student/athlete lettering for the RU baseball team and the Panthers varsity football team of Livingston College. Carlos was also active in several student organizations, such as the Unión Estudiantil Puertorriqueña, El Congreso Estudiantil Latino Americano, Rutgers University Hispanic Coalition (RUHC), and the Paul Robeson Athletic Association (Black Knights), to mention a few. One of his most outstanding achievements is being a charter member of Latinos Siempre Unidos (Lambda Sigma Upsilon, Latino Fraternity, Inc.), which was founded in 1979 at Rutgers University.