Student Profile: Jose Felipe Reza Holguin

Last Updated on August 26, 2020 at 12:00 AM

Originally published August 26, 2020

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

Jose Felipe Reza Holguin, a senior mechanical engineering major, quickly jumped at the chance to work on campus when he first enrolled at The University of Texas at El Paso. He credits his student employment opportunities with introducing him to people and experiences that helped enhance his college career and set him up for future success. He hopes to use the knowledge he has gained at the University to help create a more sustainable planet.

Jose Felipe Reza Holguin, a senior mechanical engineering major, quickly jumped at the chance to work on campus when he first enrolled at The University of Texas at El Paso. He credits his student employment opportunities with introducing him to people and experiences that helped enhance his college career and set him up for future success. He hopes to use the knowledge he has gained at the University to help create a more sustainable planet.

Name: Jose Felipe Reza Holguin

Classification: Senior

Major: Mechanical Engineering

What high school did you graduate from? When? I went to high school in Ciudad Juárez at the Instituto México.

What drew you to UTEP? The amazing campus. The advanced facilities showed me I had a great opportunity to develop my mechanical engineering knowledge. The Library, Student Recreation Center and the Union Building are great places to relax, have fun and socialize.

What have you enjoyed most about studying here? The opportunity to meet and work with a lot of people and build strong, lasting friendships.

In which extracurricular activities are you involved? I’ve been a student employee since my first semester at UTEP. I started working at the Recreational Sports Department and currently, I am working with the UTEP Honors Program.

What’s your favorite place to relax or study on campus? My favorite place to relax and study on campus is the Library since it has any resource I could possibly need for my classes. It also has quiet areas for relaxing.

What has been your favorite class so far, and why? My favorite class so far has been the thermo-fluid lab. This lab was the first time I experienced actual mechanical engineering experiments. I observed how air and fluids affect and are affected by other objects.

Tell us about a hands-on learning experience you’ve had at UTEP? I got certified as a lifeguard a couple years ago. This experience was really fun, and I met a lot of people. But I also learned important knowledge that could save someone’s life and that everyone should know such as CPR and how to help someone who is choking.

Tell us about undergraduate research opportunities you’ve taken advantage of at UTEP? I haven’t had the chance to do research yet, but I am looking forward to being part of a research team before I graduate.

What are your career aspirations? I aspire to obtain as much knowledge as possible on sustainable energies, specifically in the automobile area so I can work with a company that’s helping the world transition into a greener place.

What’s your favorite UTEP event, and why? I really enjoy Splash and Sparks, the annual staff and faculty appreciation event, mostly because of the fireworks display, which I love to see every year.

What advice would you give to an incoming UTEP student? To look for student employment opportunities. Working on campus helps you get to know people and pay for books and school equipment.

What is your best UTEP memory so far? When I did the highs and lows training when I worked at the Recreational Sports Department. This was two awesome weeks I spent with my friends learning and doing incredible activities that took me out of my comfort zone.