CHS Announces 2024 Commencement Honor Roles
Published May 8, 2024
By Darlene Muguiro
UTEP College of Health Sciences
This May, five CHS students will serve in honorific roles at the Spring 2024 commencement ceremony at the Don Haskins Center. These students were selected for their positions based on academic achievement, extracurricular participation, and community and University service.
Kaycee Carmignani, Graduate School Banner Bearer
Kaycee overcame multiple odds to begin her education and, ultimately, receive her graduate degree this spring. As a domestic violence survivor, she spent many years raising her two sons on her own, with little hope for the future. She later met her second husband and came to El Paso as a military spouse with her teenaged sons, where she began living out the life she had always imagined.
Kaycee’s desire for a life of service dedicated to others – shaped through her own experiences of hardship – led her to enroll in the Bachelor of Social Work program. She graduated in 2023 as a CHS Outstanding Senior. Shortly thereafter, she was accepted into the Advanced Standing cohort of the Master of Social Work program.
Along with managing her full-time studies, Kaycee interned at the Willie Sanchez Rosales Family Center for elderly and frail homefree men. She says that the experience of witnessing their growth and resilience shifted her perspective on life, and made her fully aware of the gaps in policy that need to be filled to better serve vulnerable populations.
After graduation, Kaycee hopes to continue her education and pursue a doctoral degree. She plans to work on the macro level to change policy surrounding mental health practice with military members and their families.
Mikaela Reyes, Graduate Student Marshal of Students
Mikaela decided early on that she wanted to dedicate her life to the field of speech-language pathology. While still in high school, she battled a chronic illness and faced being removed from advanced placement courses. But her speech-language pathologist believed in her potential and stood up for her when others didn’t. At that point, Mikaela decided to enroll in UTEP’s College of Health Sciences to give back to her community and advocate for the success of other students with disabilities.
Despite frequent hospital visits that required completing assignments and finals from her hospital bed, Mikaela graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences degree and a designation as a CHS Outstanding Senior. Throughout the next two years, she took advantage of several opportunities for personal and professional development, including a study abroad experience in Spain, where she learned proper SLP terms in Spanish, as well as a volunteer position in telehealth providing therapy for an aphasia patient. During a spring 2023 rotation, she found her clinical calling after helping a patient with dysphagia safely eat a slice of birthday cake with his daughters shortly before his passing. At that point, she realized the impact she could make as an SLP.
After graduation, Mikaela will begin her clinical practice, focusing on adults with aphasia, dysphagia and cognitive disorders.
Joshua Cayme, University Banner Bearer
From the beginning of his academic career at UTEP, Joshua followed the adage “You get out what you put in.” Growing up, he enjoyed physical activity and chose to major in kinesiology. With the hope of a medical career, he added minors in biology and chemistry, which ultimately helped him to form both academic and professional connections. He jumped immediately into UTEP’s Freshman Year Research Intensive Sequence program, where he actively participated in real-world research projects and ultimately published a co-authored manuscript. Shortly thereafter, he also became a peer leader for the Chemistry Department’s Peer Led Team Learning program, where he tutored fellow students and offered unconditional support.
Joshua worked hard to overcome challenges in making new connections due to his reserved nature, first applying to become a Miner Ambassador. A memorable encounter with President Heather Wilson gave him the encouragement he needed to continue, and he ultimately earned officer positions in the Kinesiology Club and Medical Professions Organization, and a senator position in the Student Government Association. These experiences enhanced his leadership skills and helped him to realize the value of his voice and the power of running toward social interaction instead of away from it. During a ten-week summer research fellowship at Mayo Clinic, Joshua participated in bench-to-bedside research, which solidified his interest in translational research by showing its crucial role in medical practices.
After graduation, Joshua plans to attend medical school and become a physician-scientist.
Jessica Garcia Nungaray, Undergraduate College Banner Bearer
Jessica’s experience with a social worker, who assisted her family during a particularly vulnerable time period, ignited a passion to pursue a career in the field. She decided to begin her academic journey at UTEP, accepting a prestigious offer to join the Department of Social Work’s honor program for undergraduate students.
Jessica’s most cherished experience in the BSW program was interning at El Paso Villa Maria, a transitional home for women experiencing homelessness, as a Loretto Justice fellow. The experience was life-changing, allowing her to network and create lifelong bonds with other professionals, as well as to better understand the barriers that home-free individuals and women, in particular, face. While interning, Jessica also studied full time, served as the BSW senior class representative, and participated in community service as a member of the Student Association of Social Work. These positions not only allowed her to learn from her classmates, but also motivated her to continue striving for social justice, dignity and respect for all people.
After graduation, Jessica will continue her studies in the advanced standing Master of Social Work program at UTEP. Ultimately, she plans to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and practice in the border region, potentially in a school or medical setting, and will open a private practice in the future.
Christian Carbajal, Undergraduate Student Marshal of Students
Christian began his academic journey as a transfer student from El Paso Community College, where he studied culinary arts. It was there that he became interested in nutrition, which ultimately led him to UTEP’s Bachelor of Public Health program. Despite initially planning for a different path, Christian found that public health complemented his goals and would prepare him for a broader scope of practice to better serve his community.
Despite his full-time work and school schedules, Christian found time for community service as both a volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association and as an officer for Students for Public Health. Through his position in SPH, he honed his leadership and networking skills, and developed lifelong friendships. As a result of his practicum experience at Sun City Dieticians, he was granted the opportunity to serve as a Health Equity Fellow through the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, where he networked with other students across the nation.
Following graduation, Christian plans to work as a health educator and continue his education, pursuing dual master’s degrees in public health and nutrition sciences, with the goal of becoming a registered dietician. He will also pursue a Certified Health Education Specialist credential to equip him with critical skills for serving communities within the field of public health nutrition.
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