TOP TEN SENIORS AWARD
The University of Texas at El Paso Alumni Association annually bestows the Top Ten Senior honor to graduating seniors who exemplify excellence in academics, leadership, service, campus/community involvement, achievement, character and personal growth. Top Ten Seniors traditionally embody the spirit, values and work ethic of a UTEP MINER! These students have often served as ambassadors in various capacities and promoted UTEP at the local, regional, state, national and international levels.
The Top Ten Seniors Selection Committee selects the honorees after reviewing all completed applications. Representing each of the UTEP colleges, the committee members strive to select students who have met all award requirements and demonstrated high ideals both in and outside the classroom as well as in the local community. The Top Ten Seniors Award recognizes students who have excelled in scholarship, leadership, and service to campus and community and have brought distinction to UTEP. The ten students represent the best of the seven undergraduate academic colleges.
During the annual awards ceremony, the Alumni Association welcomes family, UTEP staff, mentors and friends to honor the Top Ten Seniors students.
For more information, please contact us at TopTenSenior@utep.edu
TIMELINE & PROCESS
- Application Opens: October 12th
- Application Closes: December 3rd at 5 p.m.
You must send the reference form link to one professional reference who can fill out a form on your behalf. It must be also be submitted by the listed deadline.
Your form will be APPROVED when we have received your reference form and your application has all the required items. Only approved applications will be reviewed.
We will DENY your application if something is missing or incomplete. If we deny it ahead of the deadline, you will have the opportunity to correct it.
eligibility
The Top Ten Seniors Award recognizes graduating students who exemplify excellence in academics, leadership, service, campus/community involvement, achievement, character and personal growth. To be eligible for the award, you must meet the following criteria:
- Graduating in Fall 2026, Spring 2027, or Summer 2027
- Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA
- Strong record of involvement, leadership and community engagement
What to prepare to complete your application
- Self-recorded Video
- 1-2 minutes, posted to YouTube
- Outline the 3 reasons you should be a Top Ten Senior. Please avoid generalities such as "Because I am passionate" and provide details that are specific to you.
- Essay (400 words max)
- What is something you learned during your time as a student at UTEP that changed who you are as a person? This could be related to your curriculum, extracurricular activities, or experiences outside of UTEP while you were a student. We are interested in how you have demonstrated growth academically, socially, and/or professionally, etc. How do you envision impacting the world as a UTEP alum with what you’ve learned?
- 2 Short Answer Responses (200 words max, each)
- How have you positively impacted your community during your time at UTEP?
- How have you become a leader during your time at UTEP?
- Involvement Overview Excel
- Share the top 5 involvement experiences that have shaped your UTEP experience. Please select the experiences that best demonstrate your leadership, service, campus involvement, and/or impact.
- Download the template here.
- OPTIONAL: You may also attach a resume to provide additional context about your experiences and accomplishments. You must still only list your top 5 involvement experiences in the Excel, but your resume may include additional experiences and information you would like the Selection Committee to see.
- Contact Information for Your Professional Reference
Professional Reference Form
- Do not submit this on your own; this should be submitted by your reference
- Your application can be submitted while you wait for your professional reference form to be completed
- See “Reference Info” tab for details
For questions, please contact us at TopTenSenior@utep.edu
Overview
Applicants will need to have one professional reference complete a reference form. It is a brief form that allows their reference to share more about the student applicant’s character, accomplishments and overall impact during their time at UTEP. The completed form must be submitted through MineTracker by December 3rd at 5 p.m..
Instructions for Student
- Select one person to complete a reference form on your behalf.
- Your reference must not be a family member or close friend; they will need to be a professional or academic reference.
- On the application, you’ll include their contact information.
- Send your reference this link to complete a reference form on your behalf: https://minetracker.utep.edu/submitter/form/start/734463
- You can have them fill out the form before you finish your application. Don’t wait until you’ve applied to send them the form.
Iinstructions for Reference
Please complete the MineTracker Form requesting the following information:
- Your relationship to the student
- How long you’ve known them and in what capacity
- Your rating of the student on 5 categories: Academic Excellence, Leadership, Service to UTEP and/or Community, Campus Involvement/Miner Spirit, Character and Personal Growth
- Any additional comments for the committee to consider
- A recommendation rating: Highly recommend for the award; Recommend for the award; Indifferent (Due to lack of relationship, lack of demonstrated achievement, etc.); Do not recommend for the award
For questions, please contact us at TopTenSenior@utep.edu