CHS Announces Spring 2025 Commencement Honor Roles
Published May 15, 2024
By Darlene Muguiro
UTEP College of Health Sciences
This May, five CHS students will serve in honorific roles at the Spring 2025 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.
Yasmin Abukhurma, BS in Public Health, University Banner Bearer
Yasmin’s most meaningful experiences at UTEP revolved around her internship at Sun City Dietitians. There, she discovered a passion for research in epigenetics, specifically in the area of obesity. While shadowing dieticians during consultations with clients, Yasmin also conducted her own research, which combines the science of epigenetics with nutrition to ultimately suppress the obesity gene.
While honing her professional skills in both research and patient communication, Yasmin also balanced a full schedule of classes. She says keeping her grades up was no small feat – at one point, she struggled with difficult concepts in a few of her classes. Rather than feeling sorry for herself, she adopted a growth mindset. She says that viewing obstacles as opportunities instead of setbacks, and pushing through them, no matter the circumstance, kept her on track throughout her degree. Like a diamond, she has been shaped through pressure. Yasmin is on track to graduate this spring summa cum laude, with an impressive 4.0 GPA.
After graduation, Yasmin intends to continue her education and enroll in a dietetics program. Ultimately, she hopes to become a registered dietician and open her own practice where she can assist children and parents who struggle with obesity. She also hopes to continue her research in epigenetics and highlight the need for continued research in the field.
Paola Gallegos, MS in Speech-Language Pathology, Graduate School Banner Bearer
Paola Gallegos, a candidate for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree, made an early life decision to commit herself to the field. Her passion was ignited in middle school after reading the book Out of My Mind, which tells the story of a young girl with cerebral palsy who is nonverbal and who gains independence through the use of an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device. She says that she was drawn to study at UTEP because of the university’s clear alignment with her cultural identity and commitment to serve bilingual communities.
Throughout her time at UTEP, Paola received financial support through various scholarships, allowing her to not only excel academically and maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA, but also to participate in enrichment activities such as a summer study abroad in Spain and the UTEP - University of Wisconsin-Madison Summer Intensive Research program. There, Paola worked with renowned researchers and deepened her understanding of bilingualism and hearing loss. Alongside her academics, she also had the opportunity to hone her leadership skills as the president of the UTEP chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
After graduation, Paola plans to begin working in El Paso as a speech-language pathologist. In the future, she intends to continue studying and pursue a doctoral degree, focusing on the examination of hearing loss in underserved populations.
Tandra Ghosh, Master of Public Health, Graduate Student Marshal of Students
Growing up in a small village in Bangladesh, Tandra Ghosh, a candidate for the Master of Public Health degree, witnessed firsthand the challenges of food equity and health disparities. Her background and work with several humanitarian organizations instilled a deep passion for public health, and she pursued her education with a singular purpose – to ensure equity for minority populations.
After graduating as the top student in her class at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s most prestigious public university, Tandra moved to El Paso to begin the Master of Public Health degree. While at UTEP, she balanced a busy schedule of coursework and a teaching assistantship with meaningful extracurricular activities. As a member of the UTEP Food Equity Student Council, she brought awareness to the issue of food insecurity on the UTEP campus and also presented to the UTEP administration about possible solutions. Tandra also received an award from the Students for Public Health for her high level of community engagement during her time in the organization. Despite her busy schedule, she remained committed to excellence and maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA.
After graduation, Tandra will continue her education and pursue a Ph.D. in Epidemiology at the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, where she has been awarded a prestigious Arnold Fellowship.
Samantha Garcia, BS in Rehabilitation Sciences, Undergraduate College Banner Bearer
Like many of her peers, Samantha felt a calling to serve the community that shaped her. As part of the Neurological Disorders and Stress Management Lab, Samantha wrote multiple literature reviews targeting minority populations with multiple sclerosis, which ultimately led to a publication in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. With the help of her peers, her research on minority populations was also shared at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and UTEP’s Viva la Salud Health Disparities conference.
While juggling a demanding schedule of academics and a job as an undergraduate assistant in the College of Health Sciences Dean’s Office, Samantha also took on leadership roles as the historian for the Student Association of Rehabilitation Sciences and secretary for the Pre-Physical Therapy Association. Shortly before the fall 2024 semester, Samantha also became her grandmother’s primary caretaker while her grandmother was in hospice. During this time, she leaned her true strength and how to embrace every moment, never letting little things overcome her from that point forward.
After graduation, Samantha will begin the UTEP Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Long-term, she plans to pursue a physical therapy residency or a physician assistant degree.
Annapaula Herrera Armendariz, BS in Rehabilitation Sciences, Undergraduate Student Marshal of Students
Annapaula knew from a young age that she wanted to help others and make a difference in the world, and set her sights on a career in health care. She was drawn to a career in rehabilitation by her own niece’s journey, saying that she felt inspired by the dedication of the therapist and witnessing firsthand the incredible impact that physical therapists can make in their clients’ lives.
Annapaula began her journey at UTEP, majoring in the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences program with a concentration in Physical Therapy. While managing her busy class schedule, she also took on a campus position in the Office of Community Standards as well as a leadership role as historian of the Student Association of Rehabilitation Sciences. One of the biggest challenges she faced was balancing her busy schedule while managing the commute to campus, walking daily to UTEP from her home in Ciudad Juarez. Despite the physical challenges, she never let the distance stand in the way of her education, and her dedication to excellence led to placing on the CHS Dean’s List for three consecutive years as well as being selected for the CHS Honors Program.
After graduation, Annapaula plans to work while she prepares for her upcoming application to the UTEP Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
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Go Miners!
