MinerAlert
MinerAlert
December 2025
By Alexandra Sanchez ’17
UTEP alumnus John Michael Briceno ’11 arrived in El Paso in January 2009 from Cusco, Peru. His time at the University would eventually plant the seeds for a philanthropy project that continues to grow globally. Briceno came to UTEP after meeting professors at a conference in Cusco who encouraged him to pursue graduate studies in physics. With support from Dr. Lopez, then-chair of the Department of Physics, he joined the program as a teaching assistant and began a journey that would shape both his career and his calling.
During his years on campus, Briceno found community among international students and helped start the International Student Fellowship, an effort supported by the First Baptist Church of El Paso that still serves students today. It was during this time that he built one of the most meaningful relationships of his life with the late Dr. Lola Dawkins, a former UTEP business professor. Dawkins, then 92, opened her home to Briceno and became a maternal figure whose generosity continues to guide him.
“She inspired me to always see the good in people,” he shared.
After graduating, Briceno transitioned into medical physics, later working at Henry Ford Hospital and eventually joining Elekta, a Swedish company specializing in radiation therapy technology. But even as his career advanced, he never forgot his roots or the challenges he faced growing up in poverty in the mountains of Peru.
With those experiences, Briceno created The Coat Project, a mission that came from a moment: seeing children in rural Peru shivering without adequate clothing.
“My father asked, ‘Why don’t we buy them coats?’” Briceno remembered.
Briceno funded 250 coats in his first year. Six years later, The Coat Project has distributed more than 10,500 coats to children living between 10,000 and 16,000 feet above sea level.
In February 2025, The Coat Project officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, marking a major milestone in its growth and sustainability. Shortly after, the organization completed its first independently led mission. The organization is co-organized by El Paso native Mark Sida, who guided a team of four volunteers from Missouri and five from El Paso through the mountains of Peru.
Now, in its seventh year, the nonprofit is expanding its impact beyond coats. Briceno and his team are launching after-school programs that will provide daily meals and homework support to 100 children per school at a cost of just $1.25 per child per day.
“Many kids are sent home with homework but have no help and often no food,” he said. “We want to change that.”
The organization’s most recent major trip took place December 10–17, 2025, when volunteers delivered 2,000 coats during the annual Christmas outreach—the largest distribution of the year. A second adventure and service trip is scheduled for June 19–27, 2026, with only 10 spaces available for alumni seeking an experience of cultural immersion, service, and purpose.
Briceno hopes to continue strengthening his ties to the UTEP community.
“As a proud UTEP alumnus, I would love to share this story with more Miners and invite alumni to join future trips or support the mission through a tax-deductible donation,” he said.
When asked what advice he has for current students or alumni hoping to make a difference, he said, “Don’t overthink it. Just do something kind for someone. Start small, start anywhere, but start.”
To learn more, volunteer or donate, visit The Coat Project’s Website or Facebook page.
Website: https://thecoatproject.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Coat-Project/61555118338008/