Picked the Right Miner: From College Sweethearts to Proud Parents - Catherine and Claudio Ibarra’s UTEP Love Story

February 2025
By Christian Diaz, '20

College is a pivotal part of many people’s formative years. It is where you continue your social development, prepare for your career, make lifelong friends, and sometimes meet the love of your life. UTEP is no different and has been the foundation for countless friendships, lifelong memories, and even love stories. For Catherine and Claudio Ibarra, their journey together began right here on UTEP’s campus. 

Catherine and Claudio first met at UTEP through a mutual connection—her cousin, who happened to be Claudio’s fraternity brother. At the time, they were simply enjoying college life, not actively looking for a relationship. But as fate would have it, their paths continued to cross. They met in 2008, fell in love in 2010, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Greek life played a major role in their love story. Without it, Catherine and Claudio might never have met—he was often found in the psychology building, while she was focused on her studies in education. Their time together often revolved around UTEP traditions, including tailgating on the psychology building lawn before cheering on the Miners and spending long hours at the Union between classes and organization meetings.

The couple credits UTEP not only for their relationship but also for the strong foundation it provided for their professional lives. Claudio became the first in his family of seven to earn a college degree, while Catherine discovered her passion for education. Their involvement on campus, especially in being in a sorority and fraternity respectively, helped them develop essential communication and networking skills that have served them well in their careers.

Now, nine years into their marriage, Catherine and Claudio have built a beautiful life together filled with travel, adventure, and new beginnings. This year, their world was forever changed with the arrival of their twins, Kingston Cruz and Kataleya Capri—future Alpha Kappa Lambda and Zeta Tau Alpha legacies.

Looking back, the Ibarras encourage current UTEP students to embrace every moment of their college experience. “Follow your heart, get involved, and meet new people,” they advise. “There’s nothing better than having someone by your side to support you through your journey. We lifted each other up, stayed engaged, and helped one another find our paths.”

Their love story, rooted in UTEP, is a testament to the power of connections, campus involvement, and the unexpected ways in which life can bring people together. For Catherine and Claudio, the University wasn’t just a place of learning, it was where they found a lifelong partner in one another. So, let’s take this time to tell the people we cherish, whether it be our spouse, significant other, family, or friends, how much we love and appreciate them in our lives.