Terry Transfer Scholar Utilizes UTEP Resources to Build Pathway to Success
Edgar Felix enters every professional development workshop he attends with a single thought: "If I can get one thing out of it, that's going to be good enough for me."
Majoring in general management, minoring in marketing, and pursuing a certification through the Lockheed Martin Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Academy, Felix graduates in spring 2021 with a job offer from Oracle in hand. This is the culmination of his enthusiastic use of student and professional development opportunities made available through the University and the Woody L. Hunt College of Business-specific events.
Initially hesitant to participate in these opportunities, Felix found encouragement from his supervisor at his job with UTEP’s Department of Housing and Residence Life to reach out and begin taking advantage of the different opportunities on campus.
“There was a reluctance and lack of knowledge about the existing resources, but I couldn’t let these chances pass by without trying, so I began using the Woody L. Hunt College of Business resources almost immediately upon transferring to UTEP,” Felix said.
Felix is a Terry Transfer Scholar, an honor awarded to non-traditional students who are transferring from a Texas community college or university working toward their first baccalaureate degree. He praised the efforts of the Undergraduate Programs Office and the College’s Career Development Manager, Pamela Prieto, as catalysts for his involvement with student organizations, professional development, and corporate tours.
After a corporate tour to Seattle – which Felix calls a “life-changing, mind-altering experience” – he became a full-fledged champion of the Woody L. Hunt College of Business resources, often encouraging students he meets to register for professional development activities.
“Not everyone has the same opportunities, knows the same things that I do, so I took it upon myself to tell students to apply to everything,” Felix said. "If UTEP was giving you the opportunity – take it. That's ultimately the reason I applied to the EPDI as well.”
It’s UTEP’s mission to provide access to opportunities like this, I want to give back or create opportunities for other students. I was so fortunate to have received what I did while at UTEP, and I feel compelled to give back and elevate others.
The Employer-Led Professional Development Institute (EPDI) is a CARES Act–funded program that offers UTEP students over a dozen virtual professional development workshops led by local and global employers from the corporate, public, and non-profit sectors. Felix completed the EPDI in fall 2020.
It was during the EPDI when Felix networked with a representative from Oracle, which led to a full-time job offer from the cloud computing giant.
“During the workshop, I received an invite from Oracle about a potential position – I thought this is too good to be true – I emailed Pamela and Student Success Manager, Suzanne Ramirez, to get their opinions, to see if it was legitimate,” Felix said. "Both gave it the OK, and about two weeks after I interviewed, I was given an offer.”
Having taken full advantage of every opportunity given to him by the Woody L. Hunt College of Business and UTEP, Felix said he was well prepared to utilize the skills and UTEP Edge advantages he gained while a student to walk confidently into the interview process.
“It’s UTEP’s mission to provide access to opportunities like this, I want to give back or create opportunities for other students,” he said. “I was so fortunate to have received what I did while at UTEP, and I feel compelled to give back and elevate others.”
