CHS Announces Honorific Roles for Spring 22 Commencement
Published May 9, 2022
By Darlene Muguiro
UTEP College of Health Sciences
This weekend, four CHS students will serve in honorific roles at the spring 22 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.
Anna Gonzalez, Graduate School Banner Bearer
Anna, a proud first-generation college student and born leader, will graduate this weekend with a Master of Social Work degree. Throughout her academic career, Anna took advantage of opportunities to hone her leadership skills, including service as the president of the Student Association of Social Work and as a College of Health Sciences Advisory Board member. Anna balanced her studies with part-time work as a graduate teaching assistant and case manager for the Ft. Bliss Emergency Influx Shelter, helping to provide family reunification services for unaccompanied minors traveling from Central America. She also co-authored the article, “Living in Limbo: Aspiration-Attainment Gap, Occupational Health Risks, and Intergenerational Mobility of Mexican Origin Migrant Farm Workers in El Paso, Texas.” After graduation, Anna will continue serving CHS as a student mentor. She also plans to establish a nonprofit and join the many UTEP alumni who are making a positive impact in the world.
Jennifer Torres, Graduate Student Marshal of Students for the College of Health Sciences
Jennifer clearly remembers a time sitting in the Don Haskins Center telling herself, “One day that will be me.” This weekend, the future speech-language pathologist will cross that same stage and count herself among the proud UTEP alumni who bleed orange and blue. During her time in the SLP program, Jennifer participated in state conferences and earned a clinical certification in modified barium swallowing impairment. She also served as president for the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association, a role she says has taught her important life lessons in management, collegiality and decision-making under pressure. In addition to her academic and work commitments, Jennifer was active in the community as a volunteer for the Young Adult Ministry, Autism Society of El Paso, and the ASPIE Girl Support Group, all while maintaining an impressive 4.0 GPA. As she embarks upon her professional career as a clinician, Jennifer says she will take the eye-opening experience of living through a global pandemic with her to ensure she has the necessary tools to serve those in most need.
Valerie Medina, College Banner Bearer for the College of Health Sciences
Valerie’s early exposure to creating exercise modifications for populations of varying age and athletic stature during a strength and conditioning course cemented her decision to pursue a career in physical therapy. Despite the challenges of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and balancing a busy schedule of academics, volunteer activities with local rehabilitation agencies, and a full-time position with Border Therapy as a physical therapist technician, Valerie is on track to graduate this spring with summa cum laude honors. She was also selected as a member of the 2022 cohort of CHS Outstanding Seniors. After graduation, she plans to apply to the UTEP Physical Therapy Program and hopes to become a mentor to undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in the field.
Vi Nguyen, Undergraduate Student Marshal of Students for the College of Health Sciences
Vi calls her experience in the Minority Health International Training program (MHIRT) the most significant during her time as a CHS student – a period of time that not only helped her to develop important life skills such as resiliency, but which also unearthed a passion for research. As a MHIRT undergraduate research assistant for the Por Mi Familia and Healthy Mind, Healthy Life initiatives, she also learned that she really enjoyed the opportunity to help others. She says that her experience in the MHIRT Ropes Course Challenge, designed to get participants to overcome their fears, taught her one of the most important life lessons: taking the first step. After graduation, she plans to do just that, and will look into opportunities to further her education and continue to participate in research.
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Go Miners!