Student Spotlight

To be recognized as a Top Ten Senior is an honor and privilege I am deeply grateful for. The
University Honors Program was a pivotal part of my success and guiding me towards the
many opportunities I partook in while at UTEP. From student employment to study away
experiences, the Honors Program supports and equips students with the tools necessary
to access these life-changing tools. UTEP students are unique in their drive and will to
succeed. All we need is access to these opportunities.

During my career at UTEP I tried to look out for as many opportunities as possible to increase my skills and knowledge, one of the best opportunities that I came across with was joining the University Honors Program, becoming a member of this program greatly benefited me by strongly encouraging me to go out and get involved in campus, I was able to greatly increase my network and get to know a lot of wonderful people while learning more on the importance of communication and helping out my community. UHP has a great team that always helped me out when needed, I’m extraordinarily grateful of the support given from Monica and Mariana who always encouraged me to go a step further and helped me through my time at the program. Thank you so much UHP

I am incredibly blessed to be graduating with honors and grateful to the University Honors Program for taking the time and effort to acknowledge the years of hard work. I am incredibly grateful to receive this recognition for my achievements, including my internship at the U.S NRC, student employment at Facilities Services at UTEP, and my research at the NASA MIRO Center for Space Exploration and Technology Research (cSETR), where I was part of the incredible MERG team. I am forever thankful to the University Honors Program for introducing me to a rigorous and enriched academic experience

List of accomplishments:
Engineers for a Sustainable World:
- Member of the year 2017-2018
- Member of the month March 2018
- Member of the semester Spring 2017 

College of Engineering Dean's List:
Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, and Fall 2020

 Student employment opportunities:
Orientation Leader (New Student Orientation Office), Undergraduate Peer Advisor (Academic Advising Center),and Peer Leader (Entering Student Experience Program)

Internships:
Clemson University, General Electric Healthcare, and Cummins

 How the University Honors Program helped me achieve my accomplishments:
The University Honors Program encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone by having an active participation at the university, participating in internships and supporting me with scholarships that helped me suceed in my career.

My name is María Ramos Pacheco born and raised in Chihuahua, México. I graduated from multimedia journalism with Summa Cum Laude honors. In my time at UTEP, I served as the editor in chief of Minero Magazine, UTEP’s bilingual student magazine. Meanwhile, I was selected to participate in the ProPublica Emerging Reporters fellowship 2020 and participated as a student representative in The National Association of Hispanic Journalists 2020 conference. In 2021, I received several scholarships to attended data bootcamps from The Investigative and Reporters Editors organization. I was a spring intern for El Paso Matters, a non-profit news organization. In my last semester, I did a remote internship with The Dallas Morning News / Al día. Being enrolled in the UTEP honors program helped me stay focused on my goals and classes, especially during the pandemic.

There was point in my life where I was very shy and doubtful about my capability in being involved in school because I felt that I wasn’t fit for anything. One day I took a chance and decided to join UTEP’s honor’s program and through the high impacts I obtain the courage to allow myself to be involved at UTEP. I soon join the National Society of Leadership and Success and after being inducted I became the Internal Vice President and one of the Successful Networking Team Facilitator. Another organization that I joined and became an Ambassador was the Minority Association of Premedical Students, where I became the head contact with The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine.

During this time I was interested in participating in research at UTEP. I was given the opportunity to work in Dr. Arshad Khan’s Systems of Neuroscience lab and got to collaborate with Dr. Melissa Chee at Carton University in Canada. Soon I was accepted to work in Dr. Alexander Friedman’s lab where I am learning about Brain computational research. I was also honored to have been part of the Howard Huge Medical Institute Phage Hunters laboratory. After having this experience under the honor’s program I felt the confidence to apply for the College of Science honors program, which I was very proud of taking the first step by applying. Coming close to graduation I realized how the honor’s program allowed me to grow and gain confidence. Through work and dedication to my high impacts, I am expected to attend the National Institutes of Health at Bethesda, Maryland to continue performing neuroscience research after graduation in May 2021.

Andrea “Daniella” Mata will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology May 2021 with the highest honors as a Suma Cum Laude. She is the recipient of several awards including the BUILDing Scholars Program, Bill Archer Fellowship, teacher of the month, regional top ten mock trail witness, George A. McAlmon American Inn of Court Scholar, Houston Endowment Scholar and more. She has served in numerous on-campus and community organizations including SGA-Supreme Court Justice; Zeta Tau Alpha-Risk Reduction and Education Chairman; Mock Trial Association witness and Treasurer; Project Amistad Peer Support Specialist; TX-16 Intern for Congressman Beto O’Rourke-Congressional Intern; Global Co Lab-Project Coordinator; Immigration Initiative-Outreach Coordinator Director and more. She works alongside Dr. Carina Heckert studying stratified access to care for maternal first- and second-generation women. Ms. Mata is described by her mentors as “a leader and a true advocate for the disadvantaged individuals and families in our community.” She will begin her doctoral degree at Michigan State University studying special education this fall 2021 and she was awarded the most distinguished scholarship named the University Fellowship. Ms. Mata’s abundant opportunities were possible because of the generous support from the honors college and the strive to serve disenfranchised populations. Go Miners!

I have shared my accomplishments and how the UHP has helped me achieve my goals as follows: UTEP Honors Student, Alpha Chi National Honor Society, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Volunteer Research in Stanley E. Fulton Gait Research Lab & Movement Analysis, Community Engagement: El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, Internship at Border Therapy Services, Leadership positions: Secretary and Community Outreach officer for the Pre-Physical Therapy Association and VP of Service for a non-profit organization called Alpha Phi Omega.

As a first-generation college student, the University Honors Program allowed me to fulfill my academic experience to its fullest by engaging and serving the community, campus, and organization itself. UHP helped me discover several opportunities such as research, internships, leadership positions, and community engagement. While pursuing my bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, I was able to discover numerous research opportunities within my department such as the Stanley E. Fulton Gait Research & Movement Analysis Lab. I learned how crucial biomechanics research was especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. During my last year in college, UHP helped me find an internship at a Physical Therapy Clinic. Upon completion, I was hired as a full-time rehabilitation technician for Border Therapy Services.

I am looking forward to applying the knowledge and skills UHP taught me as I continue my education in the UTEP DPT program. Without UHP, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. I can guarantee any student who is considering joining the University Honors Program to not only succeed but to excel in their academic studies and desired profession.

The University Honors Program encouraged me to take initiative of my educational experience by expanding my learning outside of the classroom through research opportunities, work-study positions, and community service. My involvement in the Honors Program and the scholarships offered through UHP enabled me to participate in so many meaningful high-impact educational practices, including: serving as a tutor for my first-generation peers in Organic Chemistry I & II, presenting my research on Women in Medicine at the Entering Student Research & Creative Projects Showcase, participating in a study abroad course (Gender, Health, and Medicine) in Morocco, serving as a Student Note taker in a History class for a student with disability, working as a Research Assistant at the Biobehavioral Research Lab, dissecting human cadavers in the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Anatomy lab, working as a Phlebotomist with the UTEP School of Pharmacy, and working as a Contact Tracer & Lead Case Investigator with the CHS to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce transmission of the virus. 

Through these activities, I have gained invaluable leadership experience and further developed my professionalism, active-listening, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills. 

In December 2020, I graduated Summa Cum Laude with an Honors Degree in Health Promotion & Minor in Chemistry. I was selected as a Top Ten CHS Outstanding Senior and as the Undergraduate Student Marshal for the College of Health Sciences. I feel very fortunate to have had these wonderful experiences during my undergraduate education. These experiences have brought me one step closer to achieving my academic and career goals. I look forward to applying the knowledge and skills that I have learned through the University Honors Program as I continue on my journey to become a physician.

During my time at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), I have gained many professional skills that will help me as a nurse. I became a member of various organizations such as Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key International Honor Society, University Honors Program, Texas Nursing Student Association, University Honors Council, and many others. These organizations that were available to me at UTEP helped me to engage more in not only the UTEP community, but also the El Paso community. My experience with the Honors Program is one that I am extremely grateful for. Through this program I became more interactive in the UTEP community and it taught me how to connect with others, work with others, and how to become a leader.

As an officer of the University Honors Council organization for 3 years, I became a leader, role model, influencer, and speaker. Furthermore, the University of Texas at El Paso and Honors Program helped me to have a successful career and lifelong success by providing the resources that were made available to me. Thank you UHP!

I am a first-generation Mexican American and I have just graduated from my Bachelor's degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering with a Minor in Mathematics. The summer before my freshman year I received an email that I was invited to join the UHP, I was excited to be part of something before even starting college. During college, I had different experiences thanks to the UHP; I was able to engage with my professors throughout the UHP Contracts. Later on, I was motivated to engage more in UTEP Edge Experiences in order to obtain my Honors Degree.

During the past 4 years, I have been a proud UTEP Miner, honors student, undergraduate research assistant, student employee, an active member in 3 different organizations, and the secretary officer of Alpha Pi Mu Industrial Honor Society. I know that my experience at UTEP has been composed of all these experiences that have made me challenge myself inside and outside the classroom. Looking back on most of my experiences at UTEP, I realize that I have surpassed the wrong belief that a woman cannot pursue a career in STEM, because even though I am a first-generation UTEP student, here I am: I am a graduated Latina with a degree in STEM and I am proud of what I have achieved so far, and I am ready to continue working towards my dream career.

I am excited to share some of my accomplishments; I have landed a Production Planning and Logistics Co-Op position with Johnson & Johnson Ethicon for the Fall. Moreover, I am an awardee of the Houston Endowment Scholarship and the Pathways to Success in Graduate Engineering (PASSE) Scholarship. Thanks to these scholarships, I am also going to start my Master's degree in Systems Engineering at UTEP this upcoming Fall.

During my undergraduate studies, the University Honors Program motivated me to stay engaged in student organizations, study abroad experiences and student employment. All these EDGE experiences and some more helped me to get several internship opportunities, the most recent one at Microsoft where I am planning to start my career next May after I graduate from my Master's in Manufacturing Engineering. UHP support and scholarships have been vital for my growth and daily motivation during my studies and even beyond. Understanding that not only my GPA is important but also all the other experiences I get was the most valuable thing I learned during my Undergrad degree. I highly recommend students from all colleges to apply not only because it looks good on your resume, but because being an honor student will keep you motivated and focused on your goals

I would primarily like to say that would not be who I am without the University Honors Program (UHP) at UTEP. One of the many things, UHP offered me is the tenacity to walk into a professor’s office and ask if I could do the honors project with them. With the courage that no matter what happens I would finish the project, which in the end and end up being able to use as experience to obtain an internship in a National Laboratory, Industry, or Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs). In my case, I would like to say thanks to UHP in helping me talk to and have projects with professors, which led me to obtain three internships, one with the Fire Science and Technology Department at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), the Oceanic, Atmospheric, and Remote Sensing Sciences Department at The John’s Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and last but not least the Aerosciences Department at SNL. Given all this, publishing six conference papers at prestigious conferences as an undergraduate student. One of the strengths of UHP was having the ability to talk about my college projects and knowing how to defend my ideas by talking to other students in UHP, which is great, thanks, UHP!

The University Honors Program (UHP) enabled me to work on projects with professors of physics and mathematics. This involvement let me to win both their departmental awards and to be selected as banner bearer for the College of Science at my commencement. In addition, UHP allowed me to complete an honors thesis in physics which is leading me to coauthor a publication and to give a talk at a top journal and conference.

As an international student, I know that access to research fellowships can be limited. Nonetheless, I am proud to have completed internship at MIT, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and UTEP, and to have presented posters at several conferences. I also attended specialized schools in physics held by Yale University, Michigan State University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Utrecht University.

Keep in mind that it is never easy. When things do no work as you expect, you just have to keep working.

Honors Student
VP of Philanthropy in Alpha Xi Delta
VP of Community Service in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Historian for Eta Sigma Gamma
UTEP Marching Band 2015-2016
Undergraduate Assistant for Professional and Public Programs
UTEP 21st Century Scholars
First Generation Graduate
Study Abroad in Seville Spain 

The University Honors Program has helped me achieved my goals by giving me confidence in myself and has opened many opportunities to translating what I learn in the classroom to helping my community grow strong. I have achieved my goals with the help of meeting other honors program members who share similar ideas, passion and dedication of changing the world for better. Thank you for instilling that working hard and digging for gold like a true miner will never go unnoticed. I will forever be proud to be call myself an UTEP alumna. Go Miners!!

During my undergraduate studies, the University Honors Program encouraged me to participate in the different Edge experiences. While pursuing my bachelor’s in Geological Sciences, I was able to effectively balance my academic studies, on-campus employment at The Office of the Provost, two capstone courses field camps, and a research project on Petrographic Analysis of a Clastic Dike in the Franklin Mountain. With these accomplishments, I learned the importance of commitment, while also helping me shape my leadership, engagement, and communication skills. I am looking forward to putting all of these skills into practice as pursue my Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering.

"The University Honors Program (UHP) truly set the stage for my development at UTEP. I started the program my freshman year and it immediately challenged me to be the best version of myself, and mold me into the individual that I am today. Thanks to UHP and the honors students, I earned a leadership position in the University Honors Council (UHC) my freshman year, worked as an undergraduate assistant, served as the 2016-2017 UHC President, and traveled to Europe and Africa as part of GO SEE program. Global Opportunities Student Enrichment Experience (GO SEE), a program that provides students with the opportunity to travel internationally and learn about history, leadership, community service, and global culture. I've have been immersed in many valuable high-impact practices and have had many enriching experiences that give me my UTEP EDGE. Thank you UHP and GO MINERS!

"My experience at UTEP has had a positive impact on my educational and career goals. I am very excited to have recently been accepted as part of the incoming class of 2019 at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. The University Honors Program has given me the chance to delve deeper into my undergraduate classes and find greater meaning in my education. I have been fortunate to be a part of countless opportunities including peer tutoring, participating in chemistry research, studying abroad in Morocco, volunteering in the PLFSOM microbiology and anatomy labs, and playing with the UTEP Ultimate Frisbee Club. My undergraduate journey has taught me teamwork, communication, leadership and a commitment to the success of all people. It is my hope to bring what I have learned from these experiences to my medical education and eventually, to my practice as a physician."

"The University Honors Program is a valuable program that fosters student success by providing students with support and encouragement. While at UTEP, I participated in research opportunities such the Novartis internship program which allowed for personal and professional growth. "