Eight UTEP Students Earn Archer Fellowships
Program gives participants the opportunity to live, learn and intern in the nation’s capital
EL PASO, Texas (May 26, 2023) — The Archer Center selected eight undergraduates from The University of Texas at El Paso for its prestigious semester-long fellowship program in Washington, D.C. In the program, students receive firsthand experience in public service and policymaking.
The UTEP students will intern full-time with a government agency or organization of their choice. Previous Archer Fellows have served at the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Department of State, and offices in the White House and on Capitol Hill, as well as numerous nonprofit organizations. The students will participate during either the fall 2023 or the spring 2024 semester.
“This fellowship will be a great experience for our students,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “I’m glad to see more UTEP students applying for these opportunities that help them grow into servant leaders.”
UTEP’s 2023-24 Archer Fellows have majors or minors in economics, political science, legal reasoning, geological sciences, Chicano studies and psychology. Many of them expressed interest in sharing their perspectives of life on the U.S.-Mexico border with the rest of their cohort.
Here are UTEP’s 2023 Archer Fellows:
- Zoe Andritsos is a senior economics major with minors in management and legal reasoning. On campus, she serves as Chief Justice of the Student Government Association’s Supreme Court and is a member of the Law School Preparation Institute (LSPI). As a proud native of the U.S.-Mexico border region, Andritsos aspires to help defend the rights of immigrants and women.
- Brianna Bazan, a senior political science major, is the marketing director for IGNITE at UTEP, an organization that empowers women to participate in politics. She is also a member of the UTEP LSPI and the Criminal Justice Mentorship Program. Her vision is to become a district attorney to represent those who require justice while remaining cognizant of the challenges faced by marginalized groups in her community.
- Diego Castilla, a sophomore political science major, served recently as secretary of the El Paso Mock Trial Association and as the community service chair of the University Honors Council. He plans to attend law school and pursue a career in election and political litigation.
- Kayla Eulloqui is a junior political science major. She was recently elected president of IGNITE at UTEP. She has also held various positions connected to the office of Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, most recently as an intern in the congresswoman’s district office. Eulloqui aims to one day represent her hometown of El Paso in the U.S. Congress.
- Aine Garcia is a senior political science major. Her leadership experience includes work with Justicia Fronteriza, a political action committee, where she took part in voter registration drives and worked to place several ordinances on the ballot. She currently works at a civil litigation law firm in El Paso.
- Manuel Guzmán is a senior double major in political science and Chicano studies. He recently served as Senator-at-Large in the Student Government Association and is enrolled in the LSPI. Guzmán is currently a Frontera Fellow for Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, interns for the Honorable Judge William Moody of the 34th Judicial District, and teaches civics and English courses for people obtaining their citizenship in El Paso, TX, and Las Cruces, NM. Upon graduation, he plans to attend law school and become an immigration attorney.
- Frida D. Garcia Ledezma is a senior geological sciences major. She has several passions ranging from environmental justice to space. She is currently researching agricultural soils, irrigation, and their correlation to carbon dioxide production. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a doctoral degree in geochemistry.
- Josselyn Rachel Molina, a junior economics major, is a participant in the LSPI and serves as a Senator-at-Large in the Student Government Association. Upon graduation, Josselyn aims to attend law school to one day become an attorney and, ultimately, start her own law firm to provide affordable legal assistance.
“The Archer Fellowship offers students an invaluable opportunity to learn and develop as future professionals,” said Arturo Barrio, assistant vice president for international relations and UTEP’s Archer Fellowship program coordinator. “It’s incredibly encouraging to see our students taking interest, applying, and being accepted in this program at consistently increasing rates.”
The Archer Fellowship Program, which launched in 2001, is open to students in The University of Texas System. Since the program’s inception, 83 UTEP students – 64 undergraduates and 19 graduate students – have been named Archer Fellows.
The UT System worked with former U.S. Representative Bill Archer (R-Texas) to establish the Archer Fellowship Program. Each application process is competitive and those selected are among the best and brightest from across the UT System.
Last Updated on May 25, 2023 at 12:00 AM | Originally published May 25, 2023
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
