A L U M N I
N NO O TT E ES S P R O F I L E
00s CONT.
Austin. The society is a worldwide lay Catholic organization that strives to relieve the suffering of the poor and needy through person-to-person contact with the underserved.
M A RY T R E V I ÑO, ’86, & SONIA HURTADO, ’04 Sonia Hurtado, ’04, always knew she wanted to work in law enforcement. But she worried that her race, gender and stature might hinder her — until 1997 when she attended her routine 11th-grade accounting class at Nikki Rowe High School in McAllen.
Linda L. Sessions, ’00, of St. Louis, Mo., is working on a doctorate at Saint Louis University. Tommie James Baugh, III, ’02, of Dallas, currently attends UT– Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and is pursuing a master’s degree in Physical Therapy. LORI NAJVAR
That day, Mary Treviño, ’86, spoke to the class about her job as a special agent for the IRS’s Criminal Investigation department. She discussed a narcotics case, complete with pictures of contraband and automobiles confiscated during a sting operation — and she looked like Hurtado. Treviño’s presentation and appearance cemented Hurtado’s career plans.
Nancy Flores, ’02, is a Hearst Newspapers Journalism Fellow currently assigned to the San Antonio Express-News. She has covered the crime, general assignments, state news and court beats and is currently working at the state news desk. For her first front-page article, which appeared in the Jan. 5 issue, Flores reported on how colonia residents in Laredo cope with not having running water or wastewater connections.
Hurtado talked with Treviño about the education requirements of becoming a special agent. Treviño advised Hurtado to major in Accounting rather than Criminal Justice. An Accounting major herself, Treviño explained that the business degree would distinguish Hurtado from other candidates. And the IRS’s training for new agents would cover all the criminal justice needed.
MARISCELA MENDEZ, ’05
Hurtado enrolled as an Accounting major at St. Edward’s in Fall 1999. She also recontacted Treviño, who told her about an internship opportunity with the Criminal Investigation department. Hurtado applied, and in September 2003, she was sworn in as a special agent student trainee. This May, as she graduates with her BBA, she is preparing for six months of training. Once she finishes, she will begin investigating tax fraud cases as a special agent. “I felt particularly proud as an alumna to be able to provide guidance to Sonia. The biggest reward has been seeing her stay focused on her goals,” said Treviño. “It has been my privilege to help her, but all of the credit goes to Sonia. She is the one working hard and earning the respect of her peers and supervisors.” Hurtado, in turn, is grateful to have met Treviño. “Having Mary in my life has been a blessing. Becoming an IRS-CI special agent would have never been a part of my career goals if I hadn’t met her,” said Hurtado. “Mary has inspired me to dream — and to realize those dreams.”
Emily Mathews, ’02, of San Augustine, ran for the Republican nomination for the District 1 Congressional seat now held by Democrat Max Sandlin of Marshall. Sonya Robinson, ’02, of Denton, is senior writer for development communications at the University of North Texas. George Troxell, ’03, of New Orleans, La., is attending Tulane Law School.
— Jessica Jimenez, ’04
O MECOM I N G 2 0 0 4 H O M E C O M I N G 2004 HOMECOMING 2004 HOMECOMING 2004 HOMECOMING 2004 HOMECOMING 2004 HOMEC O M I N G 2 0 0 4 H O M E C O M I N G 2 0 0 4
11
12
44
13