Page 2
Page 8
Page 21
Page 26
Opinion: The Prospector staff says farewell
UTEP picks its top ten seniors
‘Into the Woods’ brings a twist to classic fairytales
UTEP says farewell to student athletes
VOL. 107, NO. 16 MAY 3, 2022
Assayer of Student Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
theprospectordaily.com
Graduates Paola Garcia Hernandez, Adam Campos, Jordan Seth Dominguez and Andrea Cecilia Herrera Aguirre wave their caps at the Health Sciences and School of Nursing bridge. Photo by Annabella Mireles and graphic design by Hugo Hinojosa/The Prospector.
Great styles for men, women and children!
$11.99 with UTEP ID Students, Staff & Faculty!
EL PASO Miner Plaza • 2500 N. Mesa, Ste. B2 • (915) 206-2116
PAGE 2 · MAY 3, 2022· THE PROSPECTOR
Opinion
Alberto Silva Fernandez, editor-in-chief
Goodbye The Prospector and hello New York as high as the possibility of you succeeding. It is a fear I will never conquer, but I know I will always have to face. The Prospector, along with Veronica Gonzalez, Tracy Roy, Isabel Castillo, Amy Bocanegra, Kate Gannon and Angela Kocherga, has taught me the best way to minimize this fear is by enhancing my professional skills and focusing on solutions. It taught me these lessons by lending me the opportunity to cover exciting events like Cher’s “Here We Go Again” tour and interviewing local business owners reinventing attractions in El Paso. It also prepared me to face difficult events, putting my understanding of ethical journalism to the test, such as covering the El Paso Walmart
BY ANAHY DIAZ The Prospector
It would be difficult to summarize in 500-700 words the ways in which The Prospector has changed my life, personally and professionally. However, as I reflect back to my time with the publication I cannot help but think my journey has been a compilation of goodbyes and hellos, just like Paulo Coelho author of the The Alchemist once said: “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” I said goodbye to my reporter position at The Prospector in 2019 to say hello to the position of copy editor. I said goodbye to copy editor to say hello to editor-in-chief in the spring of 2021. I said goodbye
Anahy Diaz
to the leadership role to say hello to three semesters of internships with NBC. Change is not easy. It puts your values to the test and makes it clear the possibility of failing is just
Thank you, next
Hugo Hinojosa
iconic. It may not have been for everyone, and it is certainly not a guarantee of a life of luxury or popularity – or whatever we think success is – but we must realize that it is not easy whatsoever. Now, add a global pandemic into the mix? I will absolutely buy Jamba Juice on my way to therapy. It may sound obvious, though often we take the journey for granted and sabotage ourselves in the process. I am guilty of falling for self-sabotage. I used to be too worried about decisions affecting my future and too obstinate not to make decisions at all. I would freeze and let deadlines sting see THANK YOU on page 3
BY JULIA LUCERO The Prospector
I do not think that I have had to make a goodbye as hard as this one. I will be leaving UTEP and moving on to the next part of my life. UTEP has become my home. From working at the Union, working for The Prospector, meeting new people in my classes, and having amazing professors, I do not think that I have had a school experience as great as this one. In fact, nothing comes close. I did not have the best high school experience. I did not make meaningful connections with people or felt that I belonged at my high school. To tell the truth, I did not attend my graduation because it did not mean anything to me. UTEP is the only place where I genuinely felt that I belonged somewhere. I felt that I had found “my people” and “my tribe.” People with whom I could be my authentic self. People who wanted the best for me and brought it out of me as well. It is bittersweet, but it is nice to think of it as a place that is worth missing. I could go on and say UTEP was filled with so many memories and I am going to miss that . But the main thing I want to stress in this
VOL. 107, No. 16 May 3, 2022 EDITORS & STAFF Alberto Silva Fernandez, Editor in Chief Hugo Hinojosa, Designer Victoria Rivas, Entertainment Editor Maria Luisa Guerrero, Web Editor/Copy Editor Annabella Mireles, Photo Editor Anahy Diaz, Multimedia Editor Emily Autumn Velasquez, Sports Editor Itzel Giron, Audience & Engagement Editor
long as journalists like them exist, I know our community’s voices and stories are in good hands. I hope to make The Prospector, UTEP, El Paso and my family proud as I say hello to the NBC Page Program in New York City. I feel lucky to be surrounded by individuals and places that make saying goodbye and hello a beautifully difficult challenge. So with all the courage I can master, goodbye Prospector and here’s to hoping life continues blessing me with equally as adventurous hellos as the ones you gave me. Anahy Diaz is the multimedia editor and may be reached at aydiaz1@miners.utep.edu; @by_anahydiaz on Twitter and Instagram.
Slow down and enjoy your time at UTEP
BY HUGO HINOJOSA The Prospector
My name is Hugo Hinojosa, and I am your layout editor for this newspaper– which means that, if you have been reading The Prospector for the past year, you are familiar with my work. I also happen to be a senior student about to graduate – which means that I, like my fellow graduates, deserve a lifetime award for making it through the odyssey. For the way we acted through boring classes pretending that we liked them, for the way we wrote the same number of essays as there are songs on a Taylor Swift album, for the way we walked a marathon’s distance going from one building to another, for the way we became Formula One racers wanting to get to our 8 a.m. classes at 8:05 a.m. Girls, gays, and theys, we may not win an Oscar or a Grammy, but our bachelor’s degrees symbolize a lifetime’s effort for overcoming these and many challenges. Seriously though, as much as one wants to downplay being a college student, we must admit that getting a degree is kind of
shooting and multiple Black Lives Matter movement protests. Each experience reinforced my passion for journalism and my commitment to writing honest and accurate news rooted in humanity. Along the way I have also had to say goodbye and hello to journalists I am proud to call friends. I said goodbye to outstanding individuals like Victoria Almaguer, Glenda Avalos, Marisol Chavez, Bryan Mena, Valeria Olivares and Paulina Spencer. I said hello to inspiring new faces like Alberto Silva Fernandez, Itzel Giron, Maria Guerrero, Hugo Hinojosa, Annabella Mireles, Victoria Rivas, Alyson Rodriguez, Kristen Scheaffer, Daniel Lopez, Julia Lucero, Emily Autumn Velasquez and Katrina Villarreal. As
Kristen Scheaffer, Staff Reporter Daniel A. Lopez, Staff Reporter Katrina Villarreal, Staff Reporter
PHOTOGRAPHERS
ADMINISTRATION
VIDEOGRAPHER
Veronica Gonzalez, Director Tracy Roy, Assistant Director Amy Ontiveros, Administrative Assistant Isabel Castillo, Accounting Specialist SalmaPaola Baca, Work-study/Advertisng Coordinator Karina Saldana, Work-study/Advertising Coordinator
Vacant
Carolina Uribarri Roman Patrick Carr
CONTRIBUTORS Alyson Rodriguez Elisha Nunez Maria Salette Ontiveros Julia Lucero
Julia Lucero
farewell letter is: undergrads, slow down. I too wanted nothing more than to rush out of here and “get it over with.” Well, that is what I thought I wanted. Yet, here I am staring at my cap and gown in the corner of my closet wishing it was not mine. Of course, I am proud of myself for coming this far and obtaining my degree. It is awesome! But I also wish I had taken the time to enjoy the little moments, the big moments, the frustrating ones, the “That is it, I’m dropping out!” moments. I will never get those back. I will never be a college kid anymore. So, to all my underclassmen, please enjoy being a student. There are going to be times where you want to give up. When you miss
your 8a.m class and you are angry at yourself for it or you are up all night studying and wish you could go to bed. Enjoy those times, do not let it engulf you. Enjoy the things you hate about college and the moments you adore. The best way I could describe this feeling to you is through a song called, “You are gonna miss this” by Trace Adkins. The song is about living in the moment. Stressing to not rush anything in life because you are too busy waiting for the future, you forget you are living in a time that you are going to look back at and miss. I really wish that I had known. I wish that I had taken a step back during the chaotic late nights writing, attending different events, hanging out in The Prospector and Union offices, and just allowed myself to look around. To capture the moment, to really be there. I wish that someone had taken me by the shoulders and said “Stop! Stop worrying about the future and just be here. There was a time where you couldn’t wait to be in college and have the experiences you are living through now. Enjoy them, before they’re gone.” So here is my rattle on the shoulders to you: Snap out see SLOW DOWN on page 3
SP E A K YO U R M IND! …and submit a letter for publication. Please include your full name, street address, telephone number and e-mail address, as well as your student major, classification and/or titile if applicable. Write us to 105 E. Union, prospector@utep.edu, call us to 747-516, or send a fax to 747-8031. Personal information (phone numbers and address) will be used for identification only. Letters are subject to editing to fit available space, clarity and brevity. The Prospector is published by the Student Media and Publications Board, 105 Union East, 500 W. University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968. The Prospector appears in print once per week on Tuesdays during the fall and spring semesters. The newspaper is not printed during holidays and when classes are not in session. The Prospector does provide news online at www.theprospectordaily.com. The Prospector is provided to students through student fees. First copy is free. Any additional copies, if available, must be purchased for $1 through the Department of Student Media and Publications. The Prospector is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. Additional policy information may be obtained by calling the Prospector at 915-747-5161. Opinions expressed in The Prospector are not necessary those of the university.
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
NEWS Page 3
2022 NEWS IN PHOTOS PROSPECTOR STAFF REPORT
This photo gallery is meant to focus on a few of the many news stories that we covered during the Spring 2022 semester. It is a great way to look back on this semester and remember the many events that shaped it. TOP LEFT: U.S Rep. Veronica Escobar sat down with Editor-InChief of The Prospector newspaper Alberto Silva Fernandez for a one-on-one interview in The Prospector office on Dec. 15. BOTTOM LEFT: Representative Beto O’Rourke holds a campaign rally at DeadBeach Brewery Jan. 8. O’Rourke spoke to the crowd about his ideas for the State of Texas and matters such as women’s rights, weapons and school funding. TOP RIGHT: $295 billion in damages resulted after Winter Storm Uri hit Texas and the eastern half of the U.S. Thursday, Feb. 3, 2021. 246 Texans’ lives were taken, two-thirds of which were caused by hypothermia. Gov. Greg Abbott released a press release Feb. 1 stating his preparation for future storms. BOTTOM RIGHT: Back on March, UTEP was declared an R1 research university for the second time by The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, making it the only university in the U.S with this status while holding a 100% admission rate. Photos by Annabella Mireles and Kristen Scheaffer/ The Prospector
THANK YOU from page 2
until I had no option but to rush to-turn them in. Fortunately, I learned to let go. “Go with the flow,” as they say. But what does that mean? For me, it meant that, to maintain your mental psyche, I had to accept the present (or at least acknowledge it). I had to realize that I am not a professional with years of expe-
rience, and I will not be anytime soon. It was the false expectations of success that fed my insecurities. I also had to grasp that other’s accomplishments are not my failures. I had to be grateful for what I had already accomplished to shake the envy. So, look at your trajectory and you will find success. At 23 there
are few, but a degree is no small accomplishment. And the most exciting part is that we are just getting started. So thank you UTEP... next! I would like to thank my professors and supervisors for supporting me and allowing me to find direction and purpose during my time at the university. I was lucky enough
to learn from fantastic people who love their discipline and were willing to lift others. I want to specially shout out Kadiri Vaquer Fernandez, Ph. D., Maria de los Angeles Flores, Ph. D., Jorge L. Aguilar, Richard Piñeda, Ph. D., Frank Perez, Ph. D., Roberto Avant-Mier, Ph. D., Corinne Boudreaux, Katie Bird, Ph. D.,
Tracy Patrick Roy, and Veronica Gonzalez. From every single one of you I learned integrity, leadership, initiative, creativity, and kindness.
a chance on a girl who had never written for a newspaper before. Thank you to all the Prospector goofballs, Albert, Emily, Itzel, Kristen, Victoria, Annabella, Hugo, and everyone else for listening to my life stories and sharing your own. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take my career to
the next level. I could not have done it without you all. Thank you to Union Services. Ofelia, Edgar, and Cynthia for also taking a chance on me and being the reason I was able to have met my most valued friends. You all took the time to make us better students and workers. No one does it like you
all. Thank you to my professors for showing me what it means to have educators that truly care about their students. Thank you, Professor Gannon and Professor Kocherga for reading, editing, and critiquing some of my most terrible stories and being able to teach me what it means to be a journalist. You both
went above and beyond for your students and for that, I am eternally grateful. UTEP, thank you for everything. I’m going to miss you and farewell.
Hugo Hinojosa is the designer and may be reached at hahinojosap@miners.utep.edu; @fotohinojosa on Instagram.
SLOW DOWN from page 2
of it. Before you are walking across that stage and it is too late. I find myself leaving behind some of the best moments of my life. To The Prospector, I do not think that a simple “thank you” can hold the weight of my gratitude, but I will try it anyway. Thank you Tracy, Veronica, and Anahy for taking
UNIVERSITY AUTO CARE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ALL-SERVICE SHOP We are guided by honesty and respect for all our clients
2920 N. Mesa • (915) 544-6333
Julia Lucero is a guest contributor and may be reached at jlucero13@miners.utep.edu
Oil Change/ Non-Synthetic starting at
$45 AC Service starting at
$85
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
Page 4 NEWS
UTEP students trained in public health informatics thanks to $10M grant BY ANAHY DIAZ The Prospector
UTEP students will be trained for careers in public health informatics thanks to a new $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), according to a news release from UTEP Marketing and Communications. The nine-institution collaboration, “Gaining Equity in Training for Public Health Informatics and Technology” (GET PHIT), is part of ONC’s Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (PHIT Workforce Program) which aims to strengthen U.S. public health information technology efforts and increase representation of underrepresented communities within the public health IT workforce. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health informatics is the systematic application of information, computer science, and technology to public health practice, research, and learning. At UTEP, Amy Wagler, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematical sciences and director of UTEP’s Data Analytics Lab; Michael Pokojovy, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematical sciences and computational science; and Christina Sobin, Ph.D., professor of
A $10 million grant from the U.S Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology will allow students to be trained for careers in public health informatics. UTEP will join the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Biomedical informatics and School of Public Health. Photo courtesy of UTEP Marketing and Communications
public health sciences and director of UTEP’s Master of Public Health Program, will help lead the opportunity. These faculty members will coordinate curriculum development and introduce students to important concepts through camps and internships, according to the news release. Their aim is to immerse students in topics subject to development of standards and clinical care guidelines that enhance electronic health records. Wagler told UTEP Marking and Communications that one of the main challenges in health informatics is the under-representation of Hispanic, African American and
Native American groups in both its workforce and in the patient data used for research. “As a result, these groups have not experienced equity in contributing to or benefiting from advancements produced by informatics research,” Wagler said. “For UTEP, this presents a valuable opportunity.” UTEP will be joining the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Biomedical Informatics and School of Public Health, leading the effort, alongside Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and the minority-serving institutions of Huston-Tillotson University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas
A&M International University, The University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas Permian Basin, and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The universities’ goal is to provide training, educational services and career development resources to about 1,900 students and professionals over a four-year period. “Our students will be able to contribute to the development of easily accessible, real-time health data to address the health care challenges present in our region’s Hispanic population,” said Robert A. Kirken, Ph.D., dean of UTEP’s College of Science in the news release. “Through this partnership, we will
play a major role in how this public health informatics infrastructure will be delivered to communities.” As part of the GET PHIT program, an interdisciplinary team of UTEP researchers will help coordinate a pair of two-week GET PHIT boot camps each summer from 2022 to 2025, to help a minimum of 125 students receive public health education. The bootcamp curriculum is a compilation of various training including an introduction to public health informatics, data standards, public health analytics, and public health surveillance. In addition, according to UT Health Houston, each summer students accepted into the program will be supported by a stipend of $1,500. Stipends will be allocated on a first applied, first accepted basis. Paid internships within health departments, nonprofits and health systems are also available for eligible students. The GET PHIT internship is a 160 hour part-time experience, where students also have the opportunity to receive a stipend ranging from $2,440 to $3,000 based on education and skill. UTEP students interested in applying for public health informatics training opportunities can visit www.uth.edu/get-phit/index. htm#bootcamp Anahy Diaz is the multimedi editor may be reached at propsector@utep.edu; by_anahydiaz on Twitter and Instagram.
Thank you
to alL our spring 2022 Graduation isSue sponsors THANK YOU!
Accounting and Information Systems Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS) College of Health Sciences College of Liberal Arts Dean of Students Department of English Graduate School Housing and Residence Life Office of International Programs and Study Abroad (OIPSA) Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR) Physics Department President’s Office Recreational Sports Department Union Services University Career Center University Marketing and Communications Vice President for Business Affairs Vice President for Student Affairs
THANK YOU!
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
NEWS Page 5
After 22 years, UTEP student body elected its first all-female executive team, Dream. The team from left to right. Cira Vera vice president of external affairs, Gabriela Muñoz as president, and Alyssa Martinez as vice president of internal affairs Photo courtesy of Victoria Duran
SGA elects first all-female executive team in 22 years BY KRISTEN SCHEAFFER The Prospector
The UTEP student body elected its first all-female executive team, Dream, since 1999. Starting June 1, the Student Government Association (SGA) will welcome Gabriela Muñoz as president, Alyssa Martinez as vice president of internal affairs, and Cira Vera as vice president of external affairs. Once appointed, they will have the opportunity to appoint an executive assistant whom Muñoz says will be made up of woman as well. “It’s like an honor to be in a position like this, because ultimately at the end of the day, I don’t think
we even realized the impact that we would have on other students. It’s crazy to see the span we had with this campaign considering we’re all women,” Vera said. SGA was established in 1922 and is an organization that represents the UTEP student body. SGA shoulders the responsibility of protecting their rights and being the voice for students across campus. “If students ever feel like they have any issues on campus that they need or want to bring to light or we have events they want to see on campus, or they need help with anything,” Muñoz said. “We’re here to go ahead and inspire that change
and help them with that change as much as we can.” Muñoz said that Dream will focus on the four main pillars: sexual assault awareness, campus engagement, connectivity, and student empowerment. “At the end of the day, that is one thing that dream is really trying to change; people don’t know who SGA is, don’t know who represents them,” Muñoz said. “I feel a lot of the time these past SGAs have really relied on students coming to them and, even during this whole campaign, it’s something that we’re completely trying to reform. Students shouldn’t have to come find
us; we need to go find students.” Muñoz and Vera said that their top priority once taking office would be to visit the various organizations and introduce themselves, saying they cannot do anything if the student body does not know who they are. The creation of Dream was conjured one night at a coffee shop; the girls were talking about what they wanted to do in the future with SGA It was their campaign manager, Kyle Jacquez, who came up with their teams name. Muñoz said Jacquez put in a lot of work to help them win their campaign.
“At the beginning, we didn’t really mean for it to be all women or for that to be like, our catch. We just kind of knew that we were friends, and we were in SGA and we were together and we wanted more,” Muñoz said. Muñoz and Vera said it was not easy but they pushed through it. “We were all just three girls that wanted more for ourselves and people. We face a lot of adversity from people telling us no, like we were experiencing something, and we just decided to throw ourselves in there,” said Muñoz. Kristen Scheaffer is a staff reporter and may be reached at kmscheaffer@miners.utep.edu.
THE UTEP STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM (SSSP)
Spring 2022 Graduates Karina Banuelos Brian Gatewood David Guereca-Berumen Elia Licerio Adrianna Martinez Robin Medina
Italy Ramos Alison Rivera Dan Edgar Salvosa Xidney Velia Valenzuela Samantha Vargas Laura Villalobos
Summer 2022 Graduates Andrea Bordier Sofia Carranza Emilia Franco Amanda Guevara
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
Page 6 NEWS
Olympic gold medalist headlines UTEP 21st century conference BY ALYSON RODRIGUEZ The Prospector
UTEP’s Student Engagement & Leadership Center (SELC) hosted the 21st Century Southwest Leadership Experience Conference April 22-23 in the Undergraduate Learning Center on the UTEP campus. The conference had many different types of breakout sessions for students to attend and lots of fun activities in which to participate. There were various inspirational speakers, including keynote speakers Laurie Hernandez and Richard Montañez. The last time the conference was held it was strictly online due to the pandemic. Members of SELC were eager for the conference to return in person this year and to see students develop their leadership skills. “SELC is hosting this event to provide a leadership experience for students,” said Daisy Marquez leadership, inclusion, and advocacy coordinator at SELC. “A lot of our population who signed up for this event had never been to a conference. This is an excellent opportunity for students to learn how to navigate a conference.” Other topics the breakout sessions covered included money saving strategies, mental health and holistic wellbeing, combating imposter syndrome, career planning, enriching your college experience, belonging, life after UTEP, first-generation students, faculty and staff stories, reclaiming your education, intentional communication, and leadership amongst many more topics.
“I had the great honor and opportunity to be a part of the committee that put this conference together,” said SELC intern Andrea Nuñez. “I got to work with many UTEP directors, working this event has been an incredible experience. We have a lot of students and professors here presenting on issues such as financial stability, mental health, and imposters syndrome which is a huge thing especially for a lot of us first-generation students. I’m especially looking forward to listening to the awesome keynote speakers.” The keynote speaker for Friday evening was Olympic gold in gymnastics, Laurie Hernandez. She was the winner of “Dancing with the Stars” season 23 mirror ball trophy. She is also a New York Times bestselling author with her first book, “I Got This: To Gold and Beyond.” Her presentation involved following your dreams and embracing who you are. Richard Montañez was the keynote speaker for Saturday. Before he retired, he led multicultural sales and marketing as vice president of all Pepsi North American divisions for 42 years. “I like taking opportunities to increase my leadership skills,” said UTEP multidisciplinary studies major Matthew Crawford. “I’ve learned so much already and I’ve only been to two breaks out sessions. I really enjoyed learning about the miner ambassador program, I didn’t know it existed before going to the presentation.” Continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner were provided to attendees
and presenters. Students got to enjoy having dinner on Friday night with keynote speaker Laurie Hernandez. President Heather Wilson joined in on the fun and joined students for lunch and activities during Saturday’s events. For many breakout session presenters who were students, this was the first time they were speaking at a conference. But they did not let their nerves get in the way of them spreading their knowledge to conference attendees. “I thought this was a unique opportunity that the miner ambassador program provided that I had to jump on,” said Brooke Dorsey, one of the presenters for “The Miner Ambassador Experience: Creating Future Leaders” presentation. “There aren’t many opportunities in the program where you get to be the star of the show. This was my first time attending the leadership conference and I didn’t even know about this event before. Now that I’m here and looking at all of the amazing people and the effort put into it, it’s quite incredible.” To learn more about SELC, visit www.utep.edu/studentaffairs/selc MineTracker ww.utep.edu/student-affairs/selc/ a list of events hosted by SELC may be found on MineTracker at minetracker.utep. edu/organization/selc
Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez was one of multiple keynote speakers for the Southwest Leadership Conference on Aprill 22, an event hosted by UTEP’s Student Engagment and leadership Center. Photo courtesy of SELC.
Alyson Rodriguez is a contributor and may be reached at aerodriguez20@miners.utep.edu; @alyson_rod1127 on Twitter
Miner Ambassador Brooke Dorsey presented The Miner Ambassador Experience: Creating Future Leaders alongside her fellow miner ambassadors at the second break out session. Photo by Kristen Scheaffer/ The Prospector
Campus Advocacy, Resources and Education (CARE) is proud of all the students who are graduating this semester. Thank you for making UTEP a great campus community.
(915) 747-7452 | CARE@UTEP.EDU | WWW.UTEP.EDU/CARE |
@UTEPCARE
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
NEWS Page 7
Early college students prepare to join the work force BY KRISTEN SCHEAFFER The Prospector
After completing the early college program provided by EPCC, Paulina Medrano will graduate, leaving them to receive their bachelor’s degree only two years after graduating high school. “Early college high schools are opportunities for students in the public schools to earn their high school diploma and their associate’s degree during the time that they’re doing their high school work,” said Ivette Savina, assistant vice president for the AVP Student Outreach and Access. “So, in the end, they graduate with both, the high school diploma and a full associate’s degree.” Students enroll into the program in eight grade and work on their associates until high school graduation, leaving them the oppertunity to receive their bachelor’s two years after their high school graduation. “I kind of leaned into it because it was going to save me a lot of time and money,” said Itzel Torres, UTEP senior, when talking about why she chose early college high school. Medrano said that she was persuaded by a close friend in the program and stuck it out, because it was something different. Early college high school was started in 2006 in El Paso due to a joint effort between the Socorro
High schools such as W.H. Burges offer early college programs that help students graduate with not only a high school diploma, but also an associate degree, saving students time and money. El Paso Community College collaborates with school districts such as Canutillo, Clint, El Paso, Fabens, San Elizario, Socorro, Tornillo, and Ysleta. Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
independent school district and the El Paso Community College, according to Savina. Mission Early College High School was the first to open in El Paso expanding to add more colleges within the years, according to Savina.
Savina said that El Paso currently has 27 early college models with seven more due to open in the fall. “I think it’s a testament to the students that have come through these programs, you know, that had made it; the bar is set at a certain
point and the students just exceeded every single time,” said Martin Ramirez, program coordinator/ manager for the AVP Student Outreach and Access and former early college graduate. Torres used the term “bittersweet”
to describe her experience, saying that it is a lot of work but the payoff was worth it in the end for her. “Being a product of it, I really do think that as an eighth-grade student applying into the program, into the early college high school, you don’t really understand what a great opportunity it is,” Ramirez said. “As an eighth-grader, you hear about it and it sounds great, and that’s what gets you to be interested, but I don’t really think you grasp what a great opportunity it is until, you know, you’re really moving onto what’s next after high school.” According to Ramirez, this spring, 169 early college alumni will be graduating with their degree from UTEP. A total of 22 of the 169 will be receiving their master’s degrees, three will be graduating from the PharmD program, and three receiving their doctorates. “Through the work that the students are doing in their particular ISD and through the community college, some of our students are able to complete their associate’s degree by the end of their junior year in high school,” Savina said. “And so, what happens after that is that the students then have the opportunity, or the option, continuing their college coursework at UTEP.” Kristen Scheaffer is a staff reporter and may be reached at kmscheaffer@miners.utep.edu
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
2022 Spring Commencement DON HASKINS CENTER Saturday, May 14, 2022 1 p.m. Health Sciences and the Schools of Nursing & Pharmacy 6 p.m. Engineering and Science
Sunday, May 15, 2022 1 p.m. Liberal Arts 6 p.m. Business Administration and Education
For information: www.utep.edu/commencement
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
Page 8 NEWS
UTEP PICKS ITS TOP TEN SENIORS BY ITZEL GIRON The Prospector
Every year, UTEP students are presented as The Top Ten Seniors –10 graduating or recently graduated seniors who are not only academic achievers, but have a combination of leadership, involvement, and service in both their community and on the UTEP campus, according to the UTEP Alumni Association website. For 2022 the Alumni Association picked 10 seniors who fulfill the requirements of being a Top Ten Senior but exceed the expectations. Ranging from all majors and different colleges, UTEP’s 2022 Top Ten Seniors are:
Adam Campos Students are always encouraged to push themselves in multiple aspects, from community service to involvement in student events, Adam Campos has redefined the word service to his own terms. His involvement in the Medical Professions Organization, the Pre-Pharmacy Organization, the Texas Tech Double T Medical Honor Society and even assisting UTEP in their rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, Campos has always lent a helping hand. Like each student at UTEP, every college experience is different in a multitude of ways, but for Campos service is the one word he would use to describe his time here. “I would say service. Throughout, I have always been passionate about volunteering and giving back to the community and giving back to those who need it most,” Campos said.
Anahy Yoselin Diaz Arriving at UTEP as a prestigious Terry Scholar, Anahy Diaz has become a leader not only on campus but at The Prospector. From being editor-in-chief to recently being multimedia editor, Diaz has made an impact on not just UTEP but many students. Her hard work and dedication have not only been highlighted in her work but displayed in her acceptance into the NBC Page Program in New York City.
Six of UTEP Top Ten seniors pose in fromt of the Lhakhang building. From left to right (top row) Andrea Cecilia Herrera Aguirre, Maximo Gamez, Jordan Seth Dominguez (bottom row) Paola Garcia Hernandez, Anahy Yoselin Diaz, Adam Campos. Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
“Being a top 10 senior means not only representing UTEP and the values that it’s taught me like compassion and hard work, but it’s also a celebration of my hard work these past four years,” Diaz said. “It’s also the dedication and support of my parents and family and especially the mentors I have met here at UTEP.” Camille Ariana Garcia A native of Puerto Rico who moved to El Paso when she was a young girl, Camille Ariana Garcia said the city’s welcoming community spirit was also felt at UTEP. When COVID-19 hit the region, she became part of a strong Miner community that met the challenges of the time, especially as a premedical student. With the pandemic as a backdrop, Garcia co-founded the Minority Association of Premedical Students, or MAPS, which provides professional development opportunities for aspiring medical students. She was motivated to excel in rigorous STEM courses and balance commitments, including her role as a general chemistry peer leader. She hopes to one day join the medical field and serve the health care needs of underserved communities.
Jordan Seth Dominguez First receiving the Terry Scholarship four years ago, Jordan Dominguez has spent his years at UTEP working hard to reach
this moment. Dominguez has not only been on the Dean’s List every semester but has been awarded the Houston Endowment Leadership Scholarship. “I’ve worked really hard throughout my four years here and I think it’s kind of something that puts a cherry on top of all my work,” Domiguez said. “It summarizes everything I try to do to make change here at UTEP.”
Paola Garcia Hernandez Every college experience is different for every student, whether it be good or bad, it is up to the student to take the experience and mold it to push them further than they believe. For Paola Hernandez, sometimes the toughest battles a student can face are the ones at home. “Throughout my entire college career my dad has been battling cancer,” Hernandez said. “(It is what) got me into medical school but also the biggest challenge. Having to see him go through that because he’s always been my number one motivator.” Destiny Alejandra Rodriguez de San Miguel Starting as a biliteracy tutor in her second semester, Destiny credits this job for building her communication and leadership skills. Those valuable attributes helped her not only secure the prestigious Gilman scholarship, Honors Houston Endowment scholarship, but the
Houston Professional and Leadership Development scholarship. After returning from a semester abroad in France, Rodriguez immersed herself in student organizations relating to her accounting and finance majors, which helped her take part in four internships, including a summer analyst position at J.P. Morgan in New York. She built on this momentum, returning to UTEP for her final year to cofound the Finance and Investment Club, a new student organization intended to prepare students to secure positions on Wall Street.
Andrea Cecilia Herrera Aguirre Like many here on campus, Andrea Aguirre is an international student who travels from Juárez to come to school. As an honors student, Aguirre graduated Summa Cum Laude from her undergraduate degree in English and American literature. “Since I started UTEP, I have gone to commencement ceremonies and I saw the top 10 seniors of that time; I didn’t even know what that was but once I saw the big honor, I just wondered what it would be like to be me,” Aguirre said. “Now that it’s actually me it feels very surreal, and it means a lot, especially people that have graduated to recognize something in me that they’ve seen in so many other special individuals.”
Maximo Sebastian Gamez As a first-generation student Maximo Gamez quickly fueled himself from the very beginning to become something bigger. Joining a local startup, Gamez hopes to make entrepreneurship opportunities more attainable to aspiring Hispanic innovators in the region. “You’re provided with all the help and mentorship to make change (here at UTEP),” Gamez said. “Make something of what you see around you, build something out of nothing and help others in the process.” Sophia Anastasia Andritsos The path to a career in law for Sophia Andritsos started at UTEP, where she said her peers motivated her to work harder. UTEP’s Law School Preparation Institute provided Andritsos with opportunities for on-campus activities and competitive internships that have helped lay the groundwork for her career preparation. From spearheading initiatives to encouraging voter registration efforts on campus to landing her dream internship at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., through the prestigious Archer Fellowship Program, Andritsos’ time at UTEP has prepared her to pursue her goal of becoming a civil rights attorney advocating for women’s access to equal rights and equal pay. Kaelin Li Walker Despite the challenging academic environment of a global pandemic, Kaelin Li Walker utilized and built her communication skills as she worked as a UNIV 1301 peer leader, guiding students as they took on new challenges. While studying dance as well as women’s and gender studies, the honors student was a Student Government Association Senator at Large, a Houston Endowment Scholar, and was recognized by the Student Engagement Leadership Center with the Distinguished Leader Award. Walker’s academic path also helped her gain leadership skills and convey complex ideas through dance. She grew as a leader directing a team for her capstone dance production, which focused on the role of gender and race in society. She hopes to continue raising awareness of important issues and grow as an advocate. Information provided with the help of The UTEP Alumni Association website. Itzel Giron is the audience engagement editor and may be reached at iagiron@miners.utep.edu; @by.itzel.giron on Instagram; @itzel_anahi_16 on Twitter.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO SPRING 2022 GRADUATE
College of Engineering Doctor of Philosophy David Alexander IV Miroslava Barua Edgar Bustamante Jaime Aaron Cano Mohammad Sujan Miah Alyssa N. Olivas Beu Primavera Oropeza Jaime Eduardo Regis James Cherrington Susen Jose Armando Terrazas
Master of Engineering in Civil & Environmental Engineering Gianna Aguirre Karen Paola Saenz Munoz
Master of Science Lucas Tameirao Abrantes Hermilo Acosta Oscar Samuel Acosta Ojo Adebanji Adeniji Carmen Noemi Almeraz Carlo Alejandro Alvarado Gerardo Ivan Armenta Chantal Atienzo Dominic Helmut Emil Austen Edgar Avalos Jorge Mario Avila Alexis Ayala Moreno Erick G. Balaguer Elsa Bramasco-Rivera Omar Domingo Bravo Guerra Benjamin Cashen Zachary Aidan Chanoi Bobby Charles Carlos Alberto Chavira Martin Cirkov George Joseph Cleary Juan Alberto Del Real Gonzalez Jr Londie Cesar Delgado Adrian Diaz Rene Alexis Dominguez Garcia Mauricio Esquivel Kevin Samuel Estala Rodriguez Hector Hugo Estrada Medinilla Sandra Jaheli Fernandez Luis Carlos Ferrero Padilla Ebal Galan Jr. Michelle Gamboa Alan Garcia Pedro J. Garcia Jr Alejandra Garcia Alvarado Guillermo Gaxiola Eliska Glaserova Adrian Alberto Gonzalez Cesar Alan Gonzalez Pilar Gonzalez Rueda Flores Ivan Drisdel Granero Vega Asad Ullah Hil Gulib Samuel Ernesto Hall Sanchez Alexandra Hernandez Julio Alberto Hernandez Carlos Herrera Mauricio Roberto Hidalgo Joshua Holguin Steven Ibarra Naomi Nicole Ingram Toshiki Kamio Jaehyun Kim Stuart Paul Kohn Adrian Jacob Lopez Brian Osvaldo Lopez Renata Lopez Carlos Andres Lopez Garcia Jose Luis Lugo
Class of 2022
Erik Scott Macik Sarah Cassandra Manzano Celia Nayeri Martinez Leilani Anahi Martinez Jesus Javier Mata Israel Means Jesus Manuel Melendez Daniela Luisa Mendoza Priscilla Annette Mendoza Alberto Meza Luis Carlos Meza Jesus Minjares Cristian Alberto Molina Simental Jorge Osvaldo Montes Douglass Wayne Morgan Scott Gregory Morris Stephani Nevarez Christian Steve Nieto Zackery Ryan Nieto Luis Eduardo Ochoa Maria Gliset Ornelas Roberto Ornelas Mota Alberto Perez Jr. Emmanuel Rodolfo Perez Katerina Pithartova Orlando Quezada Simental Edier Eleno Quinones Jose Angel Ramirez Yves Alejandro Ramirez Jorge E. Ramirez Carrasco Brianna Marie Ramos Estephany Rascon Ariadne Sheccid Reveles Ignacio Humberto Reyes Jr Raul Reza Sanchez Erik Rivera Jose Rivera Ruiz Brianda Susana Rocha Vejar Angel Guillermo Rodriguez Diego Edmundo Rodriguez Carlos Rodriguez Galvez Alejandro Romero Karl Luis Ruiz Bernal Bryan Enrique Ruvalcaba Ivan Saenz Andres Sagredo Henry Salgado Cesar Yahir Sanchez Zambrano Christian Javier Sandoval Martin Saucedo Jr Ian Wolfgang Scheithauer Scott David Abraham Sepulveda Brandon Deon Smith Kent C. Solis Javier I. Soon Jose Eduardo Soto Jesus Javier Terrazas Gabriela Teresa Terrazas Valles Andrea Paola Tovar Felix Ian Matthew Turner Brenda Leticia Valadez Mesta Adan E. Valdez Gerardo Ivan Valenzuela Mendoza Ariztbe Valladolid Erin Antonia Vandergriff Angel Vega Jacob Robert Wessel Matthew Asa James Wiener Timmy Lee Williams Jr Alexander Wittmann
Master of Science in Data & Information Sciences Maria Fernanda Fiscal Centeno
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering Angel Gabriel Bustamante
College of Liberal Arts Doctor of Philosophy
Stephen Jantuah Boakye Nicholas Daniel Evans Patricia Flores Hutson Juan Moises Garcia Renteria Suresh Lohani Claudia Iliana Lopez Carlos Portillo Jr Aurelio Saldana Jr Evelyn Saru Jimmy Andrea Marie Severson Natalie Elise Taylor
Master of Arts in Teaching Ana Maria Doll Ghelere Portas
Master in Public Administration Angelite Aleman Edgar Arnall Anthony Ryan Haas Clark Daniel Hitchcock Christopher Alan Holder Joe Adam Palacios Desiree Naomi Traver
Master of Arts Evelyn Aguilera Cynthia Alamillo Adrian Aranda Sergio Alexeiev Armendariz Patrick Abel Baker Jose L. Bayona Jacob Joseph Belpedio Eric Antonio Beltran Leonard Calvin Boyer Candice Fawn Coffman Javier F. Cortez Kira Rae Crider Daniel Joseph Cromer Richard Gregory Dickerson Monica Edman Vianey Esparza Veronika Evangelina Espinoza Phillip Wesley Fenrick Ana Fuentes Mariany Astrid Gainza Perez Luis Felipe Garcia Mauricio Gomez Marcus Alexander Graves Bianca Valentina Gurrola Maximiliano Gutierrez Shalim Guzman-Rodriguez Brandon Lamar Hatchell Adam Heywood Tracy Aldaco Huhn Maribel Jauregui Kristian Brandon Jones Bailey Adam King Kenneth Lee Koenemann Elizabeth Rose Loewenthal Gema Sarahi Lopez Santos German Lopez SR Jason Daniel Martin Sebastian Ezequiel Martinez Antonio Mendoza Carlos Mendoza Daniel Miranda Daniel Paul Miskei Arlene Ogan Pablo Patricio Olivas Russell Wayne Pace Taesung Park Walker Daniel Peatross Oluwabukola Motunrayo Pereira Fabiola Pongratz Sonia Lizet Ramos Angelica Rey Acevedo Vivian Raquel Rivas
Lesley Vanessa Rodriguez Minerva Rodriguez Raul Rodriguez Maria Elena Rubio Roberto Sagaribay III Alhaji A. Savage Laura Schwanke Jesse A. Scoggins Jason M. Silva Kera Lynn Steele LaVander Neil Talley Robert Michael Theus Benjamin Eduardo Torres Lesdy Yedid Tovar Melissa Lisette Trejo Lauren Elizabeth Uribarri Alexis Gerardo Valerio Valdez Maria Alicia Vonzaluskowski Rachel Lynn Williams Melisha Karon Wilson Michael Woolley Sophia Corinne Wozniak
Master of Defense & Strategic Studies Cruz Manuel Duran Saffron Marie Fletcher Jose Aramis Herrera Alejandro Rincon Martha Trevino Sablatura Victoria Louise Gisella Underwood
Master of Fine Arts Benjamin Bouvet-Boisclair Andrea Lora Castillo Marilyn Noraya Ccoyure Jefferson Daniel De Los Rios Sr Ana Mayela De Velazquez Farfan Erik Arturo Josue Fernandez Pozo Ines Gallo De Urioste Sergio Andres Godoy Tori Michelle Hicks Robin Marcelle Latimer Yoshimar Gerardo Maceda Jonathan Albert Maltz Hugo Javier Moreno Sr Bobi Page Jason Michael Palomo Adam L. Ramsey Tania Maria Romero Alaide Ventura Medina Heidi Zeigler
Master of Music Shamlan Ahmed Al-Masoud Jesus Ramon Burciaga Anthony Louie Castillo Benjamin Adam Crowder Keith Alexander Morales Matthew Isaac Pena Jesus Josue Perez
Master of Science Maria Sharlene Aguilar Deon Barbee Lucia C. Coria Jose Alfredo Donacio Jr Veronica Andrea Espinoza Leonardo Garcia Selen Kuden Elizabeth Olivas Justine A. Provencio Mark Eduardo Riusech Karina Rosas Aguilar Sergio Saldivar Eliana Padilla Samaneigo Robert Matthew Sanchez Jessica Lee Sumrall Creslan Troy Williams
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Class of 2022
College of Science
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Cynthia Carolina Teran Lopez
Myriah Lorraine Acuna Jyoti Ahlawat Mirza Mohammad Maqbule Elahi Brian Ivan Grajeda Asad Ullah Hil Gulib Md Mahmudul Hasan Bianka Andrea Holguin Amie Marie Kern Mariana Marcos Alejandro Rodriguez Austin Nicholas Roy Hamed Tavakoli Yixin Xie Xiaojun Zhang
Master of Arts
Master of Arts in Teaching Aaron Esparza Racheal Gabrielle Schrock
Master of Science Valeria Itzel Arteaga Muniz Pablo Ever Avalos Robles Omar Avina Karma Dema Martha Gallegos Adalberto Issac Garcia Armando Garcia Jr Axel Misael Hidalgo Perry Ivan Houser Hector Iturriaga Alexander Irun Johnson Oula Khouzam Joshua Matthew Lewis Alan Eduardo Lopez Hernandez Zaira Elizabeth Mather Vanessa Judith Meraz Rubyann Olmos Jason E. Sanchez Martin Santos Derek Travis Scott Sydne Rose Spinella Huanhuan Zhao
College of Education Doctor of Education Cindy Corinne Contreras Yvette Huerta Kristin Elizabeth Oberheide Hilda Ontiveros Jesse Antonio Sepulveda George Clair Thomas
Elizabeth Abilez Kate Vianette Galvan Veronica C. Gomez Paul Edmund Halliday Miriam Smith Lambert David Miranda Michelle Sagaribay Holly Christine Watkins
Master of Education Rebecca Alarcon-Clybourn Vianey Laura Anchondo Sarah Elizabeth Baranyay Elizabeth Irene Barker Cinthya Araceli Barraza Bianca Larissa Barrera Manuel Barron Diana Caldera Luz Angela Calzada Sergio Cardenas Brenda Melissa Carrasco Diana Yvette Castaneda-Villa Alma Chavez Jeanette Davis Elizabeth Theora De La Rosa Javier Del Campo Diana Delgado Sonia Delgado Amy R. Dominguez Ashley Lina Donacio Katerina Erickson Miguel Espinoza Monique Esquivel Guadalupe Favela Enrique Gomez Dafne Lorena Hernandez Jaime Hernandez Amaliery Hernandez Sanchez Celeste Kieffe Claire Cecilia Kirkland Whit Antoine Madere Eduardo Marquez Viridiana Hernandez Mascorro Gabriela Maria Maynes Marisela Melero Gretchen Lorraine Olson Melo Jazmin Gabriela Montanez Naomi Sue Morales Nidia Veronica Moreno-Holguin Gregory James Oates Valeria Ordoque Rosa Isela Orozco Elizabeth Ortiz Josue Israel Palomino Kathy Janet Pena Elsa Melina Perez Eric Pichardo Jose Carlos Pineda III
Trisha Rae Reade Andrea Rios Escobar Cesar Romero Estela Marie Ruiz German Saenz Uriel Ernesto Saenz Lydia Sandate Emma Alejandra Serrano Jordan E. Sonora Maria del Refugio Soto Brenda Alejandra Terrazas Ashley Danielle Thomas Hilda Vanessa Turner Raquel Kelly Watts
Master of Science Melissa Mariel Bedolla Sylvia Boerger Eva Leticia Briones Maria Isabel Castanon Lilian E. Diosdado Zuzanna Barbara Gromulska Natalia Anali Murillo Sasha Vanessa Ponce Sarah Rouhani Michelle Cordero Santana Lydia Carmina Sosa Sharlene Marie Tandy Maria Aracely Terrazas
College of Business Administration Doctor of Philosophy Adrian Joseph Tippit Yilu Wang
Master of Accountancy Elizabeth Yvette Aguilar Jeanette Nicole Alvarado Luis Angel Avitia Andrea Corral Alfonso Guerrero Mandy Michelle Henderson Arisbet Hernandez Hernandez Iris Jazmin Hita Erika Alicia Hungate Pamela Kuchle Cristina Laguna Jesus Manuel Larrea Ana Sofia Meouchi Madrid Yesenia Molina Adrian Angelo Ramos Gabriela Lizeth Rodriguez Daniel Steven Seegers Melissa Villanueva
Congratulations Class of 2022! Congratulations to all of the College of Liberal Arts Graduates From the Liberal Arts Dean’s Office COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
We are proud of you!
Master of Business Administration Oscar Manuel Alvarez Manuel Adrian Alvarez Ramirez Abril Astrid Arzate Tarek Moatasem Azzam Elena Barrios Walter Alfonso Bencomo Paulina Alicia Caldera Lucia Cardona Leticia Caro Chihyu Chang Jason A. Colon Fabiola Diaz-Paz Ricardo Miguel Dominguez Jr. Edgard Estrada Leslie I. Franco Alejandra Sarahi Gamez Corral Hector Arturo Garcia Raquel Garcia Sergio Miguel Gomez Baltazar Miguel A. Loya Jose Javier Loya Fernandez Ivan Luna Manali Arun Mahalungkar Elizabeth Leonore Marquez Rebecca Moreno Leticia Munoz Joseph Alfred Nava Nathan M. Nguyen Margarita Nieves Evelyn Ortiz Cynthia Carolina Perales Liliana Maria Quevedo Claudia Manely Ramirez Jaquez Denise Reynosa Alexis Rivera Christian Tyler Rivera Stephanie Michelle Rivera Celia Maria Rodriguez Victor Manuel Rodriguez Karime Saad Gema Aline Sanchez Victor Serrano Hector Gabriel Silva William Anthony Vega
Master of Science Adriana Carmona Raul Estrada Karla Janeth Lujan Villa Maria Priscila Vargas Fierro
College of Health Sciences Doctor of Philosophy Martin S. Dietze Hermosa Salvador Dominguez Patrick Vaughn Hopkins Sheralyn Sarah Sanchez Marni Elise Shoemaker
The Physics Department congratulates all students graduating this year. We look forward to hearing about your success. Go Miners!
PHYSICS DEPARTMENT
Doctor of Physical Therapy Jesus Gabriel Altamiranda Molina Maria Isabel Avila Seles Raquelle Avila Gregory Steven Bell Jonathan Chase Britton Michelle N. Brown Larissa Castro Roger Iram Castro Michelle Constante Briana N. Dawkins Clarissa Katelyn Diaz Megan Myung Eckert David Gonzalez Alexandra R. Gutierrez Loya Kayla Harrell Josephine Supiny Hay Adrian Joshua Llanez Sebastian Joao Lopez Asha Marchant Oscar Alberto Martinez Nicholas Jacob Montoya Kenny Nguyen Jesus Roberto Ortegon Jr Anja Louise Parikh Natalie Marie Quesnel Julia Lynne Reagan Angel Rene Rodriguez Nora G. Salgado Chavez Rebecca Nicole Sharp Juan Carlos Torres James Thomas Walther Collin Robert Wigely Lauren Ashley Zoller
Master of Occupational Therapy Diane Chau
Master of Public Health William Campillo Terrazas Eduardo Elias Chaib Denise Nicole Portillo
Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Manelic D. Alcala Monica Corin Alfaro
Master of Science Ariadna Gisel Amparan Vibrianna Estrella Avila Annette Marie Barron Simon Patrick Bejarano Viktoria Marie Calanche Armando Frausto Jr Alexis Renee Garcia Ana Luisa Guerra Sarah Rebecca Loveless Brianna Celine Lozano Melissa Machorro Evelyn S. Madrid Emily Martinez Lorena Marisol Martinez
Armando Martinez Ruiz Bailey N. Matthews Alma Graciela Mosley Vanessa Marie Orraca Jaime Alfredo Perales Devon Richter Genesis Romero-Hernandez Isabella Sabino Karla Michelle Sanchez Jacqueline R. Soto Darby Sublasky Julianna Marie Thomas Jennifer Torres Alexis Rose Zak
Sutha Mervin Fernando Crystal Garcia-Martinez Marcia Watts Hammons Assumpta Ifeyinwa Iwe Azeb Hailu Lemma Maria Magdalena Marquez Desiree Ann Medina Erika Victoria Meza Rodriguez Gabriela Mimbela Mariagorety Okwuzimuche Nwiloh Raquel Okubo Angel Pineda Holly Powers Miguel Angel Rodriguez Lyndsey Marie Slape
Master of Social Work Emmanuel Avila Tiana Pualani Babers Jaclyn Nicole Berger Kassandra Suhey Borrego Sandra Cortez Noemi Cortez-Calderon Valerie Yvonne Fielding Janet Flores Jisselle C. Gallardo Areli Suset Garcia Yarenn Garcia Melody Renee Gomez Anna Melina Gonzalez Vianca Reyna Guadarrama Ambar M. Gutierrez Araceli Hess Yvette Janel Lares Brittany Michelle Lewis Paola A. Ling Ismael Lopez Corina Aurelia Marrufo Melissa Montanez Milca Morales Ana Victoria Nunez Janine Yvonne Ortega Miriam Johanna Perez Iskra Noriky Pichardo-Gonzalez Mariana Pifer Norma Alexis Porras Gabriela Lizet Prieto Denise Rascon Terrazas Alix Marie Rivard Dayna Kelsey Schwedhelm Xarenny Trujillo Amanda Lee Valverde Martha Leticia Vargas
School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice Maria Mercedes Acevedo Juan Emmanuel Anzures Jr Bertha Lorena Contreras Maria Inez Crespin Lucia Belleza De La Paz
Master of Science in Nursing Iris Aguilera Wendy Erika Araiza Alejandra Arredondo Rebecca Dina Avila Ngozichi Azuonye Rasheta Cannon Matthew Castanon Richard Conger Latasha Crockett Cindy Yadira De La Cruz Cynthia Lizeth De La Cruz Talisha Jenelle Dennis Jose Santiago Esquivel Jr Erika Flowers Crystal Marie Garcia Angelica Louise Gutierrez Josefina Hernandez Garcia Jose Jimenez-Camacho Rachael Lynn Kirn Kaitlynn Allysse Licon Vanessa Magallanes Raudel Melchor Valerie Molina Anjelica Allegra Moncada Hanna Minh Mospens Micah Christianna Meily Ocampo Jason Ortegon Antonio Ortiz III Alma Angelica Palacios Eunice Quayson Georgina Reyes Jasmine Yvette Reyes Crystal L. Session Nancy Sosa Jessica Swingler Jeannette Tapia Woodroe Thomas Jr Courtney Elizabeth Tracy Cecilia Valdovinos Ashley Nicole Walker Zack Thomas Wills
School of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy
Erick Paul Alvarado Jasmin Aileen Amaya Marie Jacqueline Angayen Daniel A. Antunez Melissa E. Aragon Darcy C. Aranda Raul Banuelos Jr Heidi Nohemi Barron Alexis Noelle Betancourt Daniel A. Betancourt Ascencio William Campillo Terrazas Brisa Janae Chacon Leticia Cortez Amanda Ann De La Cruz Bianca Alexis Duran Andre’ Matthew Frigyes Abigail Gallegos Tsige Gebremedhin Emily Teresa Hibbert Erik Christopher Holland Lilian Jeptoo Koech Susana Y. Lopez Raymundo Javier Luna Fernando Martinez Johanna Yvette Martinez Briana Vanessa Mason Samantha L. Montoya Christian Martin Monzon Maite Moyers Elie Naddour Alejandro Olmos Orelon Osei Vianca M. Padilla Abril Ramirez David Victor Ramos Mrudula Raparla Miguel Rivera III Sarah Ruth Salazar Gerardo Sanchez Salma Lorena Sandoval Javier Sarinana Clarissa Alexandra Soto Christopher Alexander Styles Luis B. Tinoco Jr Samuel Urenda Priscilla Valle Eduardo Crist Vazquez Jasmine Yvette Velarde Ashleigh B. Williams
Fernando Daniel Zambrana Valenzuela
Ashlynn Mary Zeiger
Engineering Science/ Interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy Md. Nurul Huda Anand Raj Rebecca Alexandra Romero
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Class of 2022
HAPPY GRADUATION DAY FROM THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND STUDY ABROAD !
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND STUDY ABROAD
The College of Health Sciences is so proud of your achievements! We can't wait to see your next steps, and we want you to stay connected to us! Thank you for helping us to build our future together!
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
CONGRATULATIONS MINERS! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT! WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST! DEAN OF STUDENTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO Spring 2022 Candidates Undergraduate
College of Engineering Bachelof of Science in Civil Engineering Yasser Alejandro Aguilar Venegas Steve Armengol Sergio Avalos Cid Edgar Bissuett Joram Carranza Davyan Chavez Jose Fernandez Anthony James Fraga II Luis David Garcia Noelyn Nahomy Garcia Zepeda Janette Gomez Izik N. Gonzalez Jose Manuel Gutierrez Erick Eduardo Herrera Quezada Austyn James Hill Susan Adelle Kessler Crystal Licon William Limas Brianna Davina Lucero Xavier Alejandro Lujan Danielle Madrid Melissa Martinez Armando Meza Gabriela Montes Arreola Crystal Alondra Nunez Marissa Dolores Olivas Abraham Juan-Valentino Pedroza Charles M. Perkins III Rafael Rodriguez Ana Paulina Saenz James A. Schornick Patrick N. Serna Robert Anthony Soto Gabriel Alejandro Tarango Angel Villalobos
Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering & Management Joanna Arlene Garcia
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Ulises Aguilera Rodriguez Javier Alfonso Arellano Armand Joseph Avila Fabian Botello Mauro Cabada Enrique Ceballos Marco Anton Colmenero Daniel Jacob Contreras
Class of 2022
Alberto R. De La Rosa David Alberto Dominguez Brito Francisco J. Duran Alexis Estrada Hicmar F. Falcon Juan Angel Gallegos-Perez Sebastian Humberto Garcia Bryan Gonzalez Pedro Manuel Hernandez Christian Benjamin Huerta Aritzy Nicole Ibarra Kevin Xavier Jauregui Elia Vanessa Licerio Nina Liz Lopez Ruiz Cristian Ramon Marmolejo Richard C. Martinez Carlos E. Mata Hazel Elizabeth Mc Kenzie James Michael Mc Kenzie Jesus Mertig James Gilbert Ortega Salvador A. Palma Carlos E. Quinones Hernandez Ronald Silas Ramirez Jr. Daniel A. Reyes Ricardo Rodriguez Eunize Alejandra Tobias Oscar Rodolfo Urbina Daniel N. Villalva
Bachelor of Science in Industrial & Systems Engineering Omar Abdulhameed Alhashmi Karina Lizbeth Aranda Saucedo Aylin Crystel Barbosa Karla Campos Briana Cardenas Edwin Alejandro De La Cruz Nelia I. Faz Luis Eduardo Garcia Martinez Diego Enrique Garcia Tovar Jesús Alejandro Gutiérrez Araiza Roxana Infante Mireya Jimenez Manuel Arath Lopez Jose Emilio Loya De La Rocha Nour Moraveg Luis G. Moreno Hamad Mubarak Brenda Pacheco Isaac Gabriel Perezchica David A. Pina Monica A. Prieto I Abisai Ramirez Ramirez Grecia N. Soto
Bachelor of Science David Martinez Aguilar Eduardo Enriquez Maximo Sebastian Gamez
Alejandra Guadalupe Garay Magdalena Isabel Guillen Diego Martinez Nain Ortiz Jorge Alberto Valle Nelson Gabriel Villanueva
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Manuel Aguilar Bryant Austin Allsup Kevin Samoa Aofia Ana Karen Arellano Marissa I. Atilano Nadia Atiyeh Betza Avalos Adrian David Avendano Alex Adrian Avila David Antonio Ayala Oscar Ayala Gavin Paul Baechle Michael J. Beard Alfonso E. Beltran Dafne Tais Bencomo Laura Veronica Blanco Aaron Destin Brown Ruben Alexander Bustamante Abel Carrasco Denise Gabriela Castro Daniel Gustavo Chavez Catalina Maria Chinolla Cristobal Jose Chinolla Ryan Philip Clark Maria Fernanda Corona Ortega Solomon Davis Ivan M. Espino Eduardo Fernandez Alan Gerardo Garcia Claudio Angel Garcia Eduardo David Garcia Nathan Garcia Denise Marie Gomez Paulie Jo Gonzalez Juan Oscar Gutierrez Sofia Miranda Gutierrez Sofia Guadalupe Hernandez Carlos Andres Jaime Elisa Jimenez Todd Laurence Justin Labayen Alfred A. Laredo Jeremiah Rene Lopez Roberto Israel Lopez Adrian Albert Luna Joseph Medina-Sandoval Janeth Yvonne Meraz Josue Morales Delgado Grecia Navarrete Miriam Paulina Olague Osagumwenro Osasumwen Osaretin Diana S. Ramirez Joel A. Ramos Christopher Reyes Abel Rodriguez III
Alfredo Rodriguez Andrew Rene Rodriguez Angel Rodriguez Justin Drake Ruiloba Manuel Aureliano Ruvalcaba Ricardo Ruvalcaba Noah Manuel Saenz Tyler James Salas Adrian Sanchez Jr. Madison Clair Schlosser Daniel Solorzano Javier Daniel Tellez Andrea F. Torres Stephanie Kristen Valdez German Viezcas Angel Villalpando Wenbo Xie Joshua Arael Zamora Arae Zarzosa Antonio Zavala Anaya
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Sarah Abed Edwin Guadalupe Adame Stephen Patrick Aguilar Efren Manuel Alvidrez Amber L. Atkinson Omar Attar Alexis Avila Hernandez Cristian Banuelos Saul Cosme Barraza Genesis Anahi Barraza Reyes Paola Alesandra Barrientos Eduardo A. Barrios Omar A. Barron Perla Bribiescas Jacob Thomas Bryant Gerardo Calderon Juan Carlos Chavez Jr. Vanessa Carolina Chavez De La Rosa Valeria Estefania Chavez Torres Mario I. Cortes Jacqueline Rose Cottingham Jarod C. Courtright Isaiah Emmanuel Cyr Gerardo Del Toro Julio Cesar Diaz Nicholas E. Durand Miguel A. Escobedo Carla Estrada Arturo Adrian Galindo Arlet Neftaly Gamboa Andres Garcia Ian Garcia Juan Pablo Garcia Chavira Julian Isaiah Gardea David Fernando Guereca-Berumen Lina Hajir Jr. Brian R. Hernandez Cameron Josep Hill Erick Loera
GRADUATES
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU! DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
YOU DID IT, MINERS! CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS! UNIVERSITY MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Eloy Lopez Alexa F. Lucero Laura Itzel Marquez Hector Marquez Ordonez Javier Alberto Martell Jason Alan McCleary Vianey Miranda Monica I. Monroy Brian Aaron Morales Hector Manuel Morales Juarez Adam Julian Munoz Luis Andres Nunez Marrero Luis Carlo Nunez Saenz Cristian Ochoa Orlando Olivas Jr. Sebastian Orozco Salvador Orozco Martinez Abigail M. Ortega Isaac L. Ortiz Sara Alejandra Ortiz Jesus Alfredo Ortiz Galarza Raul Eliazar Palacios III Victor Antonio Paz Lino Porras Jr. Eduardo Alonso Ramirez Jenna Luisa Ramirez Joe Andrew Ramos Tess Adelynn Reyes Gustavo Adrian Rios Ibanez Adam Palafox Roberts Jacob Isaiah Rodriguez Denise Rojas-Melendez David F. Salas Jorge A. Salazar Yolanda Maria Sanchez Rodrigo Sanchez-Crespo Daniel Sandoval Sergio David Sepulveda Jr. Ayushma Sharma Timilsina Ericka Priscila Soltero Lazalde Randy Robert Soriano Alan A. Terrazas Sanchez Karla Vasquez Luisa M. Venegas Justin Villalva Arianna Isabel Villegas Hasan Said Zwid
Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Daniela Andrade Chavez Zachary Wayne Barker Victor Alejandro Burciaga Zavala Jr. Celine Chiong Hugo Ernesto Heredia Ivana Hernandez Adan Joel Mireles Valeria Marie Morales-Rosario Joel Alexander Mudloff Michael G. Nava Cassandra Lissett Orozco Kevin Noe Renteria Jesus Alan Valerio Hernandez
College of Liberal Arts Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science Maria Graciela Gonzalez
Bachelor of Arts Rose Lynn Janice Aguilar Laura Mavil Aguilera Lizette A. Aguirre Victoria Justine Aguirre Brian Thomas Akers Desiree Kristelle Alba Vianey Alba Sabrina Alcala-Soleno Khalid Salem Aldossary Briana N. Almanza Daniela Paola Alonso Jacqueline Alvara Ashley Danielle Alvarado David Alvarado Jazmin Alvarado Lourdes Letic Alvarado Mia Zade Alvarado Raymond Alvarez Lizbeth Alvidrez Kimberly Bustillos Apodaca Nicole Marie Aragon Reyna Marie Arciniaga Daniela Arevalo Veronica Ursula Armendariz Sophia Angeline Arrieta Stephanie Arroyo Evelyn Nicole Avelar Alison Avila Armand Joseph Avila Fabiola Janeth Avila Jacob Avila Lidia M. Avila Janet Yadira Badillo Carlos Anthony Baeza Issac Andre Banda Neil Edward Barnhouse Daniel Ray Barraza Felicia Rene Basco Abbigail Frances Bayless Kevin Andrew Bazar Syniya Ann Mion Beauge Edward Elliott Bernard Melissa Blanco Amaya Nicole Boles Dana Raelynn Booker Clarissa Lynette Boone Jonathan Tommy Bravo Eric Breuer Salma Buhaya Lauren Alicia Burke Xochilt N. Burrola Aaron Alejandro Caldera Chavez Teron James Caldwell Gema Campa
Gabriela Cangas Iris Janeth Cano Genesis Dayana Cantu Jessica Cardoso Aaron Carrillo Claudia Yvette Carrillo Jennifer Patricia Carrillo Marlene Castillo Karina Elaine Castillo Velazquez Isabel Castorena Moises Castorena Ana Areli Ceballos Christian A. Ceniceros Valeria Chavarria Tshering Choden Vanessa Pauline Ciocco Kaytlynne Jane Clanan Kayla Nichole Clark Jacqueline Nichole Claudio Aja Koren Conde Andrea Contreras Emily Contreras Jasmine Gutierrez Contreras Miguel Ivan Contreras-Muro Caitlyn Quinn Cook Kerri S. Cordero Selina S. Cordero Christian Elizabeth Corona Clara Patricia Cortes Brandon Cortez Isaiah Joseph Crest Diego Cruz Clarissa Rene Cuevas Allen Cunyus Mariel Duarte Dabash Oscar Davalos Ali Joanna Daw Michael Christopher De La O Rachel Anne De La Rosa Yadira De La Rosa Alexis Annette Dean Justin Tyler Dees Mayra A. Delgado Sebastian Delgado Anahy Y. Diaz Cristian Michael Diaz Joselyn Antoinette Diaz Alexis Dominguez Daisy Dominguez Michelle Dominguez Vicente Armin Dominguez Jr. Michael Anthony Dubrule Ariel Duran David Victor Duran Karla Maris Duran Matthew Paul Duran Seth Ryan Eisenberg Mayte Elizalde Dafne A. Elizalde-Gomez Norma A. Elizondo Priscilla Elizondo Hernandez Maria Fernanda Escobar Cota Sarah Elizabeth Esparza Karen Juliette Espinoza
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Class of 2022
Congratulations Graduates. Thank you for living on campus with us. We wish you all the best of luck in the future.
HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE
THE OSCCR WISHES ALL 2022 GRADUATES THE BEST ON THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
GO MINERS!
OFFICE OF STUDENT CONDUCT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Maria Espinoza Renee Dolores Espinoza Sebastian Esquivel Alejandra Esquivel Saucedo Abril Alondra Estrada Fernanda E. Estrada Jasmine Estrada Laura Favela Matthew Fernandez Andrew Kyle Ferree Lorena Figueroa Ana J. Flores Diana Aida Flores Eddy Flores Dominic Anthony Foggia Vianney Frias Bonnie E. Fuentes Daisy G. Fuentes Anahi Gallardo Javier Gamez Jr. Alexander Jones Garachana Alexa Jude Garcia Anahise A. Garcia Angel Alexis Garcia Arlene Villegas Garcia Daniela A. Garcia Diana Lizbeth Garcia Isabel Garcia Jacqueline Ivonne Garcia Linda Julissa Garcia Nancy Vianey Garcia Rene H. Garcia Valeria Elizabeth Garcia Sandra Garcia Acevedo Diego Garcia Mendoza Doris Garza Brian Gatewood Brooke Anne Gerdes Taylor Sydney Gilmore Karen Desiree Gomez Maria Margarita Gomez Serjio Alexander Gonzales Bernice M. Gonzalez Brianna Julia Gonzalez Charles Adam Gonzalez Jaime Gonzalez Jr. Hilda Lidia Grage Angela Marie Grijalva Bernardo Guillen Jr. Aylin Andre Gutierrez Alex Guzman Alizee Clementina Guzman Leonardo Guzman Hibah B. Hamdan Robert Leo Harkrider Jr. John Paul Hensgen Ana Carola Hernandez Arturo Hernandez Daisy Hernandez Daniel Hernandez Jr. Derek Hernandez Marleen Hernandez Michelle Rose Hernandez Miguel A. Hernandez Arizbeth Hernandez Arellano Cassandra Amor Hernandez de la Cruz D’Laura I. Herrera Lorenzo Librado Herrera Hugo Angel Hinojosa Padilla Jessie Marley Hunt
CONGRATULATIONS ! THE DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING IS EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THIS MOMENTOUS ACHIEVEMENT WITH ALL UTEP GRADUATES. WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST.
PICKS UP! AEROSPACE AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UTEP CLAS
SS OF 2022
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO Alberto Jimenez Benny A. Jimenez Brianna Victoria Jimenez Dallas Joe Jimenez Liliana Jimenez Todd Lorena Jordan Monica R. Juarez Justin Garrett Jurado Emily Rebecca Kazhe-Lee Tamara S. Lainez Yvonne Lara Cesar Esteban Lazcano Alexa Marie Leon Briana Leonard Brandee Lerma Emily Bernadette Leyva Lourdes Leza Samantha Ashley Linn Ivan Lom Nathan A. Lopez Cisneros Hilda Lujan Ivan Lujan Jasmine Lujan Patricia Lujan Jacob N. Macias Lesley Macias Michelle Marin Salma Edith Marin Contreras Esmeralda Marin-Villanueva Jose Luis Marquez Jr. Maritza Marquez Mariapaula Marroquin Sandoval Alexis Marie Martinez Alexys A. Martinez America Daniela Martinez Andrea Linette Martinez Myriam Sofiah Martinez Sandra Michelle Martinez Sujey Yanet Martinez Zylene Jeannette Martinez Belia Marie Martinez Gonzalez Michael Aaron Maynes Michael Burnette Mcgee III Samantha Jean Mcgee Abraham Medina Javier Omar Medina Priscilla M. Medina Heidy Miche Medrano Joshua David Gideon Meier Alyssa G. Mejia Abel Melendez III Marlene Mendez Alexa Mendoza Marcos Antonio Mendoza Jr. Ricardo J. Mendoza J Luis Alonso Menendez Dafhnie Briana Miramontes Maria Miranda Andrea Miravete Daniel Antonio Monarrez Gutierrez Laura V. Montelongo Edgar Emman Montes Ian I. Montes Manuel Fabian Mora Urquidi Jr.
CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!
UNION SERVICES
Class of 2022
Daisy Morales Hillary Morales Miguel Angel Morales David Moreno Robert Austin Morris Elisa Nicole Moton Jasmin Moya Esdras Elias Muniz Alyssa Danie Munoz Brian Steve Munoz Eduardo A. Munoz Alan Navarro Maribel Rosario Navarro Isaac Eduardo Nevarez Jojo Ngongo Ayana A. Noel Itzyiana Marie Nunez Janina Nunez Samuel Ontiveros II Ruby Esmeralda Orduno Ernesto A. Ortega Andrea Ortiz Cynthia M. Ortiz Misael Ortiz Braedon C. Oshea Brittany Marie Padilla Jacqueline Padilla Manuel Padilla III Victoria R. Padilla Yamil Alejandra Palacio Bianca Aurora Parra Cayla A. Payne Daniel M. Pedroza Jr. Alexa M. Perez Cassandra Perez Clarissa Perez Samantha Marie Perez Jesus Antonio Ponce Jr. Oswaldo Arturo Portillo Gaytan Rhiannon Dawn Powers Esteban Prado Gabriela Prieto Joselynn Stephanie Puentes Erik Lee Quesada Brisa Quezada Emilio Guillermo Quezada Seth Elias Fox Quinones Carolina Quiroga Carlos Ramirez Jr. Daniel Alfredo Ramirez Jacob Ramirez Melissa Ramirez Karen Ramirez Simental Adriana Ramos Amanda Nicole Ramos Daniela I. Ramos Andres Ivan Raya Mariana Paulina Reyes Melissa Reyes Miguel Rico Jr. Victoria Graciela Rios Alison Rivera Marie J. Rivera Adrian G. Robles
Ana Cristina Rodriguez Aracely Rodriguez Bryan D. Rodriguez Jonathan Rodriguez Jose Armando Rodriguez Mariela Areli Rodriguez Hannah James Romero Lynette Alyssa Romero Samuel Rosas Valeria Ruan Efrain Rubio Jacob I. Rubio Ari Alejandro Ruiz Isis Andrea Ruiz-Hurtado Avy Nohemi Ruvalcaba Aislyn Saenz Sarah Feras Salama Esmeralda Salas Gema Gabriela Salazar Lizbeth San Martin Brianna N. Sanchez Jonathan Sanchez Maricela Sanchez Nayeli Sanchez Yesenia G. Sanchez Daniel Antonio Santos Noah Anthony Sarabia Evelyn F. Schaffer Andrew Noel Shah Alejandra Rosa Sifuentes Javier Alejandro Silerio Fernanda Silva Samantha Renee Silva Anshuman Arul Singhal Alexis Dreyana Singleton Ivan A. Solano Elena Sotelo Diego Omar Soto Renee Lianne Soto Rodolfo E. Soto Evelin Soto-Ramirez Justinray Darrin Spence Mary Katherine Springer Macaleb Adrian Stephenson Andrew W. Stokes Payton Rhoderick Street Diana Irene Taylor Danita R. Teague Albert Lee Teran Fabiola Terrazas Duarte Rebeca Tiburcio Bryan J. Tiscareno Andres Torres Ivey Mitchell Torres Jazmine Lizeth Torres Jorge Jesus Torres Lucero S. Torres Munise Z. Tosun Alejandra Trujillo Aylin Trujillo Austin Reece Rodrigo Unger Fernanda Xcaret Urbina Yesenia Valdez Sofia Denise Valenzuela Dominguez
Daniella Martha Valles Jesus H. Vasquez Jr. Kaylie Ann Alyssa Vasquez Karina Vazquez Stephanie Vazquez Mia Lin Vecchione Jacob Andrew Veilleux Arturo E. Velez Lily Esmeralda Villalobos Evelyn Cecilia Villarreal Gabriela Alejandra Villegas Raven Milagro Waroquiers Catherine Marie Washington Thomas Michael Weinheimer Cristina Zapata Irene Zarate Ashley C. Zeh Emily Zuniga Sandra V. Zuniga
Bachelor of Fine Arts Ruben Aguayo Jr. Jaime Armenta Jr. Katelyn Marie Behrens Mike B. Bombach Adrian Christopher Cuellar Andrew C. Cuellar Kassia Rene Curl Jordan G. Dodson Jennifer Gallardo Myrna Navil Garcia Roxanne S. Gonzalez Valeria Gonzalez Torres Andrew R. Lopez Alan Aaron Maguregui-Fuentes Jorge Edgar Martinez Zayra I. Mojica Jennifer Morales Nigeth Alexsandra Preciado Luis A. Rios Crystal Licet Rodriguez Ruben Alonso Rohan Isabelle Urquizo Judith Cristina Villalva Marcela I. Zacarias
Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies Erica Haide Acosta Vincent Francisco Arroyo Abraham Bailon Dennis Keyshawn Barnes Autumn Beaty Kyndal L. Braswell Jackie Vinson Cano Vanessa Carrasco Linda Carrillo Irma Cepeda Karla Alejandra Chavez Jordan Thomas Czarnecki Jessica Devin
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WELL-DESERVED SUCCESS!
WISHING ALL THE GRADUATES THE BEST ON THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS!
VICE PRESIDENT FOR BUSINESS AFFAIRS
PICKS UP, MINERS! -RECREATIONAL SPORTS DEPARTMENT
Pablo Diaz Edwin Duarte Jr. Shelbi N. Durant Michael Gerald Easterling Anthony L. Edwards Christina V. Elmore Diana Fierro Megan Elizabeth Fikes Jennifer Flores Melissa Dionne Flores Darrell L. Fountain Karen Alejandra Fournier Jennifer L. Gamboa Sandra Gandara Anna Margarita Garcia Stephanie Monique Guerra Mara Nohemi Gurrola Travis Lamarr Haines Jr. Ronald H. Harding III Elizabeth Haro Alma Ivette Holguin Verenzo Tamorris Holmes Jr. Jeffrey William Homan Kenidy Monae Howard Mara Gabriela Huerta-Baltazar Autumn Hunter Lydia Jaquez Ericka Latonya Johnson Cameron Sean Kelly Dennis Terrance Krenzer Jocelyn Marga Macias Vianey G. Medina Larissa Meza Peter Steven Miller-Valerio Sarahi Berenice Mora Michelle Moya Crystal Muniz Juana Elizabeth Nevarez Nelson Ortega Serena Paige Patterson Theresa Marie Pearson Adriana Berenice Pena Christina Esperanza Pietrowski Amyjane Tamanan Powers Justin Onyo Prince Breonna R. Ray Mauro Reyes Martha Isela Reyna Joanna Jael Rivera Carina Michelle Rodriguez Raul Rodriguez Jr. Zack Jacob Sawyer Christopher O. Smith Coco Marquita Smith Irma Estefania Tarwater Stephanie Torres Michelle Ariadne Vanecek Maryia Vasileuka Rafael Salvador Vaughan Deylon Rashon Williams Cedric Kalil Woodfork
Bachelor of Music Victor Alfonso Anchondo Milcha Isabel Andavazo Diego R. Calderon Celeste Dawn Collette Jaden E. Frescas Elizabeth Ann Gandarilla
Eli Garcia Jose G. Gardea Rebeca Gonzalez Maldonado Cathania Nicole Grau Fernanda Maria Jaquez Kody W. Jones Lauren Lizette Martinez Isidro G. Melchor Ricardo A. Mena Alice Marie Morris Paola Isabel Munoz Victoria N. Nila Angel Olivas Gonzalez Zaira A. Perez Osio Juan Francisco Rivera Christian Xavier Rodriguez Noah Raphael Rodriguez Cory Glen Tamez
Bachelor of Science Jacqueline E. Aguilar Daniel Eduardo Calvo Ilse Carrizales Laura Castro Diego Alfonso Cerde Mahika Reddy Chitti Adriana Contreras Brianna Marie Contreras Brenda L. De La Rosa Giovanni Damian Del Campo Aaron Xavier Garcia Diana Judith Gomez Perales Ashley I. Gonzales Giovanna Yuridia Gonzalez Karla Gonzalez Aguilar Matthew Dionicio Guerra Laura Nataly Gutierrez Sanchez Bryan A. Hernandez Nadiah Hernandez Cynthia A. Herrera Carrie Elizabeth Love Anagabriela Martinez Marco Anton Messina Jr. Brittany Andrea Mitchell Melanie B. Morales Stephanie Nevarez Sergio Nunez Jr. Diana Itzel Ornelas Michelle Vianey Ortega Cisneros Aiswarya J. Pillai America Ponce Charlyn Anahi Riojas Brissa Rivas Moises Javier Rosales Dulce Aglae Salinas Hannah Rebecca Salinas Ashleigh Sevillano Dana P. Smith Lina Saray Trejo Leslie Dayana Trevizo Yee Miguel A. Urbina Jr. Hayley Janice Vaughan
College of Science Bachelor of Arts Krystal Carmona Yamaris Miche Cordero Alfredo Gomez Jr. Alan Eduardo Lizarraga Lujan Janet Nohemi Melendez Jennifer Rodriguez Gabriel Vargas Jr.
Bachelor of Science Dilli Ram Acharja Alejandro David Acuna Gabriela Alexa Acuna Andrew Aguilar Misael Aguirre Christopher Matthew Allen Brenda Almanza Adam Israel Alvarez America Yamil Alvidrez Camacho Andrea Lilian Anchondo Raymundo Aragonez Brian Daniel Arellanes Monique Ariel Arellano Diego Alejandro Ariza-Barba Jessica Marie Avila Korina Avitia Natalia Balderrama Karina Banuelos Elizabeth Yvonne Beltran Renee V. Bernal Samantha Jazmin Bernal Andrea Betancourt Karol Judith Brito Shelsea Cabral Saul A. Caldera Jr. Luis Angel Calderon Adam Campos Carla M. Canales Diamond Alexis Candelaria Ulysses Cano Anissa Micaela Cardona Cesar Ivan Cardona Andrea Mariana Carlin Maria Fernanda Castaneda Mariana Mitzel Castaneda Leslie H. Castellanos Denisse Cervantes Guzman Jacqueline Chacon Mia Soledad Chan Alan Chavez Brayan Adolfo Chavez Sonam Choden Tashi Chophyl Brittney Nicole Collins Esequiel B. Contreras Jr. Valeria Cruz Camille Monique Cyr Jeremiah Deshawn Davis Bell Diana Raquel De La Cruz
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Class of 2022 CONGRATULATIONS ON REACHING THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE. GO MINERS!
OFFICE OF THE PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY CAREER CENTER
Sebastian De La Cruz Jocelynn De La Rosa Eric De Leon Giovanni Damian Del Campo Frida Mariana Delgadillo Erika Nicole Denio Pema Dhendup Cesar L. Diaz Edwin Jovani Diaz Jr. Jacob Zachary Diaz Victor Diaz Jr. George W. Doering Ariana Dominguez Jordan Seth Dominguez Melissa Dominguez Zarena Marie Dominguez Lhawang Nima Dorji Carlos Echevarria Jr. Nicholas Austin Enriquez Magaly Guadalupe Escobedo Roberto C. Espinoza Brenda Danielle Estrada Jacklyn Marie Estrada Alexander Fernandez Ana G. Flores Kayla R. Foster Edith A. Franco Camille Ariana Garcia Pedro Garcia Samantha Nicole Garcia Paola Garcia Hernandez David Armando Gardea Luzconsuelo Gavaldon Jose G. Gaxiola Valenzuela Joann Gluth Grace Coco Gomez Yameli M. Gomez Alexander Arturo Gonzalez Cynthia Marie Gonzalez Lizette Gonzalez Noemi Lizbe Gonzalez Perla Aide Gonzalez Cristina Diann Guerena Alejandra Guerra Elan Monet Guinn De La Rosa Perla Ivonne Haro Sydney Nicole Held Christopher Alexander Heredia Denise X. Heredia Joanna Hernandez Julie Marina Hernandez Myra Hernandez Nayeli E. Herrera Rebekah Tzigane Hightower Ricardo A. Isaac Itzel Odemaris Jaramillo Kelzang Jigme Jose Jonathan Jimenez Lourdes Asenath Jimenez Madrigal Annie Lauren Johnson Bruce Elion Jordan Mariah La Rosa Ruben Eduardo Lara Ruth E. Lechuga Arlene Paulina Levario Ariana Cecilia Lezama Isabella Liano Alyssa Iliana Lopez Enrique Acosta Lopez Jeremiah Rene Lopez
CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2022! WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
ACCOUNTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Yesenia Lopez Diana Lujan Bela Mahtabfar Kristian Adriana Mancillas Aparna D. Mangadu Adan Mares Jr. Mariana Marinelarena Lyndsey Marie Marquez Alondra Liliana Martinez Crystal G. Martinez Jaqueline Martinez Juan Pablo Mata Elias Medel John Oliver Melby Jr. Cecilia Melendez Jacob Robert Melendez Natalia Guadalupe Mendoza Noelia Mendoza Janeth Yvonne Meraz Heather M. Minjares Miranda Helena Miranda Nataly Montoya Ariadna Itzel Mora Eduardo D. Moreno Chandler Grant Morgan Samir Alejandro Muniz Anakaren G. Munoz Vanessa Murillo Heba Mustafa Brandon Willi Myers Denise Alicia Nevarez Desiree Nieto Autum Reign Nunez Jannarys Iveli Occttaviani Abraham Olivas Mark Anthony Olivas Raul Olivas III Rebeca Orozco Sepulveda Aaron Ortiz Helena Elise Ostos Christopher Paul Owens Miguel Angel Padilla Jixuan Pan Emily Elise Perez Zisley Perez Aiswarya J. Pillai Alexa Flor Pizarro Lawrence Portillo II Ryan L. Portillo Francesca Antonella Pulisci Carolina Quintana Michelle Quiroz Kayla Ragland Annmarie Cruz Ramirez Michelle Eloisa Ramirez Stacy Ramirez Victoria Ramirez Serena Marie Ramos Katherine Fatima Refaei Citlali Reyes Erik V. Ricker Aranda Luz Rivera
Class of 2022
Daniel Rivera Susana Robles Jr. Laura Michelle Rocha Amanda Star Rodela Anissa A. Rodriguez Ashley Giselle Rodriguez Genesis Rodriguez Jasmin Rodriguez Rochelle Rose Rodriguez Rachel Keely Russ Leylee T. Safabakhsh Samantha Marie Sakells Wendy Salinas
Xidney Dan Edgar Sangalang Salvosa
Jaqueline Abigail Samaniego Castro Alejandro Sanchez Alexis Sanchez Celeste Rose Sanchez Evelyn Sue Sanchez Maricela Sanchez Samantha Denise Sanchez Roberto Junior Saucedo Jr. Sergio Saucedo Blessing S. Savusa Athenns Edith Seijas Carina Serna Azul Florencia Silveyra Eduardo Tomas Soto Karena Hidalgo Steele Gerald Lee Strenke Susana Tapia Jorge A. Tarango Ilse Tarin Jonathan Anievas Tipo Melissa M. Torres Paulina Rocio Torres Lham Tshering Alexandra M. Turgeon Annmarie Elizabeth Ugarte Kareli Paola Valdez Viyaney Vale Velia Valenzuela Rebeca R. Valle Daniel Valles Irene C. Valverde Cosette Soraya Velasquez Christian Alejandra Verdugo Del Hoyo Viviana Alyssa Vidalez Benjamin Viescas Jr. Sophia Villegas Zyna Villescas Kinley Wangmo Aline Loren Zamora Sofia Lizeth Zepeda Brianne Zubiate Jacqueline Valerie Zuloaga Norberto Zuniga
CONGRATULATIONS, UTEP CLASS OF 2022!
College of Education Bachelor of Arts Paulina Acosta Kenya Ivonne Aguilar Rocio Guadalupe Aguilar Oscar David Alvarado Monique Apodaca Diana Ruby Araiza Maria Jose Arredondo Santillan Josefina Barraza Cinthia Carolina Barrera Simental Messiah P. Bryant Barbara Bueno Izenia Maria Campos Priscilla Campos Klarissa Estela Cantu Valeria Ruby Carlos Adam C. Castillo Paulina Graciela Chavez Jennifer Cruz Jacqueline Cuanda Edwardo Alejandro Del Campo Allison Nicole Dominguez Katelynn Duarte Blanca Aide Elias Kara Lynn Englisbee Juana G. Enriquez Elizabeth Espinoza Anna Rocio Flores Maria Fernanda Flores Paula S. Flores Claudia I. Francis April Kristine Frias Taylor Alexis Fuller Anika J. Galvan Dante L. Garcia Lannette Patricia Garcia Danielle Ruth Gomez Salma Gonzalez Cynthia Liliana Gonzalez Silva Karina Herald Hernandez Angelica Teresa Hnat Abigail Joy Jolly Stephanie Elisa Jurado Vanessa M. Lake Gabriella L. Ledesma Hannah Lynn Lerma Damaris Linares Aylin Lopez Kimberly Loya Manuel Antonio Luna Jessica Macias Isabella Maria Marin Anahi Marquez Kared Vianney Maving Morgan Katherine McCamon Claudia J. Melgoza Abraham Mendoza Edgar Ivan Mendoza Elida Morales Jr.
Ariana Moreno Nancy Jazmin Nava America Ogaz Natalie Padilla Amy Partida Guadalupe R. Payan Irma Yolanda Perez Isaura Yaremi Perez Jennifer Perez Leslie B. Ponce Olivia Ashley Pulley Leilani Quezada Azucena Quinones Jose A. Quintero Jr. Deni Alexa Ramirez Iris Melinda Ramirez Ana Karen Robles Joelstine Marie Ruiz Cynthia N. Samaniego Ashley Rachel Sandoval Enrique Santiesteban Vanessa Serna Michael A. Sigler Paloma Rodriguez Simmons Lorena Soria Naomi Celes Sosa Julisa Quintero Torres Blanca A. Urbina Ivonne Urueta America Azuce Valadez Rosa I. Valdez Maria Guadalupe Vicuna Jessica N. Vielma Laura K. Villalobos Alyssa Marie Villanueva Dana Marie Watson Amber C. Williams Stephanie M. Williams Samantha Nicol Woodart Emma Marie Zamora
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Loraine Yvette Fresquez Crystal Michelle Valdez
Bachelor of Science Cory Lynn Ball-Gonzalez Bryanna Bouche Vivian Alejandra Cigarroa Cynthia D. Gutierrez Iris Irene Herrera Melissa Janette Martinez Melissa Morales Joann Beatr Perales Lisette Rodriguez-Campos
CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2022 YOU WORKED HARD, YOU PERSEVERED TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS, AND NOW WE CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS AND PROMISING FUTURE! - PRESIDENT HEATHER WILSON
GRADUATE SCHOOL
College of Business Administration Bachelor of Arts Jorge M. Valdez
Bachelor of Business Administration Rafael Acosta Garcia Brenda Viridiana Aguilar Jorge Aguilar Jr. Narda Cecilia Aguirre Taisha Alicea Arce Fawaz F S E S Alsheetan Nathaniel E. Alvarado Diana Judith Alvarado Carreno Annabelle Renee Alvarez Bryan Alvarez Jennifer Alvarez Joseph Alvarez Zavior A. Alvarez Ryan Nicholas Anaya Sophia Anastasia Andritsos Carolina Angulo Carina Armendariz-Zamarripa Roxana Olivia Ascencio Isaac Avila Jacob G. Bach Jannell Denise Ballin Daisy I. Barbosa Jorge A. Barragan Alejandro Barriga Stephanie Isibet Barrios April Annette Benitez Corina Vianey Borges Jad Fayez Boureslan Jorge Alberto Buchanan Christina M. Bueno Samuel Lorenzo Cabrales Liliana Carbajal Sebastian Carbonell Ricardo Benjamin Carcamo Elizabeth M. Caro Jesus Fermin Carrera Jr. Celeste Carrillo Fernando Kevin Carrillo Marco A. Carrillo Jr. Diego Ernesto Carrizal Christian J. Casas Diana Gissell Casas Alejandra Castillo Omar R. Castillo Sergio Angel Castillo Escobedo John C. Castro Kevin Castro Ana P. Castro Medina Denny A. Chavez Valerie Lizette Chavez Edgar Alfredo Chavira Andrei Contreras Julia Contreras Cameron Nathaniel Cooper Richard Gerardo Corral Jacob J. Cortez Liliana Cruz Karoline Daland Danny James Daniels Natanael De La Cruz Valerie De La Cruz Alan Arturo De La Garza Servando Arturo De La Garza Javier De La O Jr. Jorge De La Rosa Chavez Manuel Vicente De La Torre Rosales Ingrid A. De Leon
Juan A. De Santiago Jr. Gilles Dekoninck Pearson Marie Delara Jordan Isaiah Delgado Peter Anthony Delgado Gerardo Delhoyo Jr. Patrice Coral Dewane Angie Lesly Diaz Dennise Daniela Diaz Yosef Julio Diaz Cory V. Do Jesus Eduardo Duran Kevin Allen Edwards Daniela Escamilla Evelyn Escobedo Oscar Alejandro Escorza Jr. Santiago Esparza III Omar A. Esparza Lara Anaid Esparza Zavala Elian Ricardo Estrada Kevin A. Felix Jr. Ariana Fernandez Lucas Michael Fisher Mariana Fuentes Amy P. Gabaldon Priscilla Gallegos Hernandez Edward Anthony Garcia Jr. Genesis Amairami Garcia Gerardo Javier Garcia Jaqueline Garcia Jazmin B. Garcia Jose A. Garcia Martha Elisa Garcia Mayra Garcia Miriam Garcia Koral Gardea Zachariah Garibay Rene Gijon Jessica Ruby Gomez Jesse Gonzalez Jocelyn Gonzalez Stephanie Gonzalez Nicole Alexis Grajeda Monica Guerrero Roman Juan Guerrero Vicente Guillen Christopher Dejesus Gutierrez Gabriel Gutierrez Jr. Luis Javier Gutierrez Yazmyne Diamond Hallback Ernest M. Haro Katherine Rachel Harper Karen Alondra Hawk Alejandra Hernandez Cesar Ozziel Hernandez Gustavo Hernandez Jr. Mia Hernandez Marcos Jaziel Herrera Victoria Regina Hidalgo Jean Salvador Holguin Sophia Grace Ibarra Fabiola Iniguez Guadalupe G. Jimenez Kyan Daniel Kamali-Nejad Kenan Andre Kennedy Keonte Le’Mun Kennedy Neyssa M. Krahn Oscar Lazcano Saira V. Liano Danica Lopez Ibn Lopez Maria M. Lopez Roberto Ivan Lozano Veronica D. Lozano Mirian Luna An Thuy Luong Youda Ma Ashley Areli Maese
Jesus J. Magana Jr. Jose Eduardo Manjarrez Maria Marin Becerra Adrianna Lorraine Martinez Carolina Martinez Kevin Javier Martinez Villalobos Malecia Avonnette Mathis Carla Mayer Veronica Rubio Mcgill Divina Blair Mclendon Alina K. Mcneil Daniel Enrique Mejia-Morales Christopher Rey Mendez David Mendez Jr. Szilarda Mendoza Miguel Angel Meraz Cynthia Meza Joshua Miles Miller Melyssa Moncayo Cirramy Moncivais Gerardo Montes Maria Jose Montoya Tostado Diana K. Mora Mariah V. Morales Mireya Moran Caraveo Crystal Janette Moreno Nathan A. Moreno Jacob Anthony Nathan Troy A. Nelson Giang Ngoc Nguyen Truett H. Nickey Yudith Nogami Cindiley Ojeda Munoz Adam Marci Olivarez Derek Giovanni Olivas Kaylaa Marie Olivas Miguel A. Olivas Jr. Daniel Jesus Olmedo Leonardo Ornelas Ferreyra Dominick Raul Ortega Jasmin Ortega Leticia Nicole Ortiz Samantha Marie Ortiz Giana Palacios Victor Parra Emily M. Parrott Sara Alejandra Pazcual Martinez Robert Pedrayes Melissa Yazmin Pedroza Erick Pena Alejandro Alonso Pena Montes Jorge A. Penuelas Kathleen Biong Percegona Coral Perez Fernando Arturo Perez Jr. Brenda Gianelly Perez Gonzalez Adrian Pham Carina Isolda Popoca Fehr Joseph A. Prado Sergio Salvador Preciado Angela Quezada Marco A. Quezada Damaris Ferna Ramirez
Jessica Stephanie Ramirez Gonzalez
Raiza Elizabeth Ramirez Rodarte Austin R. Ramos Paulina Ramos Sosa Jose De Jesus Rangel Yesenia G. Rangel Jose Renteria Quersten S. Resendez Isai Retana Daniel Rey Daniel Antonio Reyes Sergio Reyes Jr. Jose Luis Reza III Ashley Rincon Andrea Rivas
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Class of 2022
Briseida Rivera Daniela Rivera Miguel Angel Rivera Reymundo Rivera Lilian Armine Rivera Gutierrez Ruben Rivero Jr. Cristina Robles Anapaula Rodriguez Jesus Manuel Rodriguez
Destiny Alejandra Rodriguez De San Miguel Jr.
Alan Johan Rojas Janette Rojas Bryan Rojo Victoria A. Ruiz Edwin Guill Salais Isaias David Salas Luis Angel Salas Maria Fernanda Salas Prado Yoshari Melany Salazar Lorenzo Esteb Salcido Ramon Salcido III Alan Alejandro Saldana Leila A. Sanchez Orlando Sanchez Guillermo Arturo Sandoval Eduardo R. Sano Pedro Santana Ilena Rae Santos Philip S. Sarmiento Dylan Nicho Schirmer Jonathan Alec Scott Zareth Nichole Segura Georgina Sepulveda Viridiana Skelton Andrea M. Smith Oscar Alejandro Sosa Catalina Sotelo Prieto Juan Andres Soto Rodolfo Jose Soto Raziel Alexander Speer Larisa Elizabeth Stepashkin Geraldine Stevens Taylor M. Stone Jezreel Tarango Andre Terrazas Diaz Trent Nathaniel Thompson Luisa Fernanda Torres Rose Marie Torres Christopher Tovar Jonathan Marcos Tovar Bobby Trejo Sedivy Jr. Alexis S. Trevino Adrian Trujillo Isaac Uribe Myrka Valencia Alondra Arcel Valverde Norma Soledad Vargas Nancy Vedoy Ulysses Gary Velez Jr. Alejandro Villalobos Valeria Villalobos Moises Ivan Villalobos Mendoza Andrea Villalobos Ramirez Pamela Bernice Villasana Donald Riley Conner Ward Israel Raul Williams Carlos Alberto Yanar Greg H. Yellin Carolina Yong Janet Yvellez Diego Fernanado Zamora
College of Health Sciences Bachelor of Science Andrea Alarcon Celeste Dillys Amescua Nicole Andazola Brianna Andrade Leonie Aragon Nestor Felipe Arrieta Jr. Leslie A. Ayala Kristopher Anthony Barraza Joseph Abraham Batdorff Erick I. Batres Araceli Velarde Baylon Alexandra Renee Beltran Julia Benavidez Shaina Betancourt Daleemar Bonilla Destiny Rochelle Bradshaw Paola Gisselle Cabrera Diana Marie Cadena Katherine A. Calderon Marco A. Calderon Jessica Munire Canbaz Frances Loren Candia Adria Melissa Casale-Cuellar Christian Yair Casas Ortiz Jason J. Castillo Camiron P. Cathey Elizabeth A. Chavira Paulina Itzel Chavira Jose Ferna Conejo Sean Justin Cowans Valeria De La Cruz Carlos Alexis De La Rosa Retana Nataly Marie Delgado Vanessa Diaz Blanca Yadira Duran Krysten Skylar Estrada Rogelio Estrada Jr. Graciela Favela Alejandro Feuchter Viviana Isabel Flores Arisbeth Flores Chaparro Daniel Adrian Flores Lopez Kristen M. Fritsche Jailene Itzel Gallegos Eduardo Luar Garcia Izabel Janyce Garcia Sergio Alexandro Garcia Anna Karen Garcia Hernandez Evelyn G. Garibay Joshua Adam Gartner Rasheedah M. Garza Angelina Gasca Emilio Jose Gijon Gabriela Gomez Anthony A. Gonzales Adrian Gonzalez Gabriel Gonzalez Jose Gabino Gonzalez Viridiana Gonzalez Robert Grimes Brianna S. Guerra Haley Corina Gutermilch Brandon Gutierrez Samantha Victoria Gutierrez Chardonnae Yasmine Harvey Andrea Danielle Hernandez Myra Hernandez Paola Higareda Lizbeth Holguin Joseylin Huerta Ariana Masako Ibarbo Jose Ibarra Jr. Alyssa Janae Ibave Jazmine Lizette Jacobo Briana Alexa Jimenez Kacie Nicole Jones Jalen Jaquo Joseph Claudia Juarez
Sydnie Elise Judge Alexis Marina Lara Jose Ruperto Lechuga III Kenya Alejandra Ley Erica Leyva Carolina Lizarraga Jasmine Denise Lloyd Jade Gabrielle Long Yvonne Elena Lopez Alondra Lozano Gabriel A. Lujan Ricardo Fernando Luna Ramirez Desirae N. Luna-Villanueva Michael Anthony Macias Kristine Alyssa Magallanes Miranda Patricia Marquez Cacho Robert Dante Martinez Alexandro Ismael Medina Jesus Francisco Medina Jr. Valerie Medina Lisa Marie Medrano Paulina Medrano Christina A. Mejia Kenrry Lou Melendez Idalis R. Mendez Edna Gabriela Meraz Julian Ray Meraz Julio Cesar Meza Priscilla A. Miranda Anthony Thomas Molina Dominic Anthony Molinar Janine Elizabeth Montenegro Yasmine Montoya Benjamin John Morales Alyssa Gabrielle Moreno Isaiah Armando Munoz Sarah J. Murillo Vi Phuong Nguyen Eric I. Nunez Hazel N. Nunez II Ruben Mauricio Olivera Kevin Alejandro Ontiveros-Acosta Bryanna Maria Ophord Kailah Dasani Orellana Emily Hope Orquiz Omar M. Parada Jr. Chandelle Nicole Pehle Adriana Perez Leonardo O. Perez Paulina Michelle Perez Rosas Michael Louis Pinon Arlene Ponce Gabriela Michelle Portillo Sofia Alejandra Prieto Jose Ismael Quintana Sally Quintana Brianna N. Ramirez Jessica Christine Ramirez Jose Alejandro Ramirez Italy Anel Ramos Alejandra Andrea Ramos Banuelos Natalie Rae Rangel Daniela Rios Daniela Elizabeth Rodriguez Robin Renee Rodriguez Fernanda Rodriguez Loya Jonathan Jordan Sanca Matthew Shawn-Luke Sanca Sophia Nicole Sanchez Sara Noemi Sanchez Rodriguez Bianca Adria Sano Kiyomi N. Santiesteban Elizabeth Saucedo Genesis Sarai Saucedo David Joseph Sepulveda Evelyn Shelton Carmen Mariana Sierra Jessica R. Smith Rebecca Dawn Smith Carla Solis Yvette Solis Sabrina Isabel Sosa Johnathan Alan Stacy
Raul L. Tapia Lazcano Jr. Christina Michelle Taylor Leslie Ann Unzueta Chastidy Skye Urteaga Velia Valenzuela Melissa Vazquez Jacob Lee Velasco Brandy R. Williams Karen Lizbeth Young-Ramirez
Bachelor of Social Work Karla Jazmin Aguilar Mireya Lizzeth Aguilar Laurencio Baker Jennifer Bernal Mariel A. Bustamante Luis Miguel Casas Katya Neida Compian Jessica Janet Espinoza Tanya Flores Basti Gonzalez Paulina Gonzalez Priscilla Jodi Gonzalez Itzel Herrera Marisol Jacquez Kashion Elena Jenkins Younghie Glenda Jeong Adriana Limon Stephanie A. Lopez Adriana Esther Mariscal Hazel Lee Marquez Elena Mireya Neria Erika Ann Ortega Iliana Ortiz Alyssa Alexis Pedregon Jessica Perez Brenda L. Ramirez Vara Aaron R. Rascon Sofia Rochin Alyssa Arrian Rodriguez Jessica Ruiz Sandra Tibuni Saenz Edna Itzel Salcido Reyes Brian Eugene Selzler Treisy Erimey Skidmore Karina Vianney Sosa Jaime Sotelo Jr. Emmanuel Terrazas Aracely Valdez
School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing Alexandria Alvarez Teresa Marie Alvarez Brian Aranda Adam Michael Avila Alan C. Babcock Luis Andre Villegas Ballew Angel L. Barclay Cinthia D. Barragan Mariana Barraza Luisa Mariana Barraza Escudero Samantha Rose Bernal Victoria A. Bohdan Denise Ariana Borja Anthony Michael Bray Diego Sebastian Cantu Kevin Austin Castillo Hayde Lizette Cervantes Lauren V. Chacon Michael Jongyeop Chaird Suzan Myra Chaird Kimbel Elane Chatman Britney B. Cooper Francisco Cruz Itzel Natalia De La Torre Carolina De Los Santos Natalia Delgado Diego Alonso Duarte Desirae Renee Espino
Gilberto Esquivel Saucedo Karina Lorely Flores Liliana Y. Gallegos Samantha R. Galvan Alejandra Garnica Lizette Godinez Crystal Gonzalez Cassandra Hernandez Valeria C. Hernandez Arianna S. Hipps Yara Ahmed Hussein Macy Lee Jaynes Florence M. Kana Tido Joshua Jovan Lechuga Michelle Alejandra Lopez Zenia L. Lopez Julio Cesar Lozano Kimberly Lozano Karla G. Lucero Jacobo Luna De Leon Sarah Mares Vianey Jimena Marquez Mayra V. Martinez Lopez Mya Destiny Martin-Thomas Alejandro Medina Robin A. Medina Daniela Mendiola Eugenia Waynelle Mitchell Raquel Montoya Carlos M. Munoz Sarah W. Mwangi Eveyline Manka Ocheme Michaela Paige O’Hara Jesus A. Olaguez Sharai A. Orozco Mariana Palacios Lopez Raquel Nicole Piercey Emily Marie Poplawski Christian Eduardo Prieto Karina S. Raffaele Andrea Michelle Ramirez Irvin Brian Ramirez Ana Sofia Ramos Jasmine Iris Ramos Adriana Rivera April Suzanne Rivero Marisela Rizo Kalie Amber Roa Claudia Robles Daisy Esmeralda Rodriguez Natalie Rodriguez David Rojas Jr. Julie A. Romano Valerie Rosales Paola I. Rubio Karina B. Salas Miranda Gethsemani Salazar Melissa Ann Sanchez Adrianna Saucedo Sophia Annelise Sepulveda Alana Maya Serrano Rosemary Shearer Sujin Kim Shields Jordan Alexis Soliz Gabriela Soto Dominque Marcel Stubbs Nicole C. Talamantes Jennifer Turner Breanna C. Valles Samantha Estephania Vargas Carlos Villa Herline Leslie Wami Djeukwe Lucy I. Wiernicki Mariana Zambrano Luis Francisco Zamora
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Class of 2022
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022 · PAGE 21
Arts & Culture
Victoria Rivas, editor
‘Into the Woods’ brings a twist to classic fairytales BY ALBERTO SILVA FERNANDEZ THE PROSPECTOR
Jacqueline Arellano and Josey Pickett act as Rapunzel and the Witch for “Into the Woods” April 11 at the UTEP Dinner Theater, inside Union Bldg. West, Room 207. Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
UTEP’s Dinner Theatre premiered its newest production of “Into the Woods,” April 22 with a story line including traditional fairytale stories such as, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Rapunzel but with a dark twist into the second act. The musical is based on the original 1987 Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim instead of the 2014 film adaptation. The play is dedicated to Stephen Sondheim, to honor his life and career as a composer and lyricist, who died Nov. 2021, and Ingeborg Heuser a longtime UTEP professor, who passed away Feb. 14, 2021. The dinner theatre was originally set to perform “Something Wrotten” as its Spring production, but once the death of Sondheim was announced, they decided to switch to “Into the Woods” to commemorate the great lyricist and composer. The costumes designed by Jamie Barba and makeup by Ican Cano help transport the audience into the magical world. The characterization of all the characters is imersive, and it is impressive to see the Witch and the Wolf come to life on stage.
The story follows a baker and his wife who cannot have children and later discover that it is due to a curse placed on their family. Throughout the play the audience can see a new perspective of fairytale characters as they witness the interactions with the baker. The baker is responsible for giving Jack the magical beans, Cinderella loses her slipper to the baker’s wife and the baker helps Little Red Riding Hood kill the Wolf. The opening number, “Into the Woods,” is not only incredibly catchy that will have you singing it as you leave, but also impressive with multiple overlapping parts of the main cast. “Into the Woods” does an incredible job at highlighting each character’s personality and develops multiple backstories. The story is intertwined perfectly as all the characters’ stories cross paths when they all venture off into the woods. The chemistry amongst the cast really shined through in their acting, especially with Rapunzel’s prince, played by David Herring, and Cinderella’s prince, played by Zaid Zavala, as they sing their duet “Agony.” The baker played by Bry-
ant D. Webb, and the baker’s wife played by Mindy Escobar-Leanse, are the stars of the show as their story was heartbreaking and connected with the audience. Both actors played off each other very well and their duet “It Takes Two” was a beautiful heartfelt moment between the main protagonists. “Into the Woods” is a serious yet funny show with themes about family, trust and relying on others. The play will run from April 22 through May 8. A dinner performance ticket includes a three-course dinner for all spectators one hour before the lights go off and the show begins. Attendees can enjoy a dinner including chicken cordon bleu with béchamel sauce, wild rice, spring vegetables, garden salad with house dressing, coffee, iced tea, and tiramisu cake for dessert. Tickets are available at www.utep. edu/utep-ticket-center/ or can be purchased at ticketmaster.com
Bryant Webb plays the Baker in “Into the Woods,” April 11 with a premiered show April 22. Photos by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
Alberto Silva Fernandez is the editor in chief and may be reached asilva36@miners.utep.edu; @albert.sf08 on Instagram; @albertosilva_f on Twitter.
The Baker and the Baker’s Wife are played by Bryant Webb and Mindy Escobar-Leanse, April 11 with a premiered show April 22. Photos by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
Page 22 ARTS & CULTURE
Lights, camera, graduation! Get ready for your photoshoot belong to a sports team, or you spot a very cool place downtown.
BY HUGO HINOJOSA The Prospector
It is that time of the year when confetti becomes part of UTEP’s flora, and seniors congregate in front of The Lhakhang temple. Graduation has arrived. Whether you are a first-year student dreaming of commencement or a senior rushing through finals, it is not a bad idea to plan your graduation photoshoot now. The Prospector compiled a few tips on how to run a meaningful gradshoot (and do so smoothly). First, be ahead of time Give your photographers a break, especially if your photographer is a student just like you. Their time and dedication to their craft is limited. As a freelance photographer, I recommend booking your shoot weeks in advance. This will allow a more flexible schedule, and have time to visualize the overall aesthetic of the shoot. Save bucks, have a budget It cannot be stressed enough; time and dedication is restricted. One should expect a significant increase in prices for graduation photo-
Back to basics There is a reason why The Lhakhang temple is appealing. So are the UTEP Pick in front of the bookstore roundabout, the Nursing Building bridge, and the Esfera Cuántica Tlahtolli at the Fox Fine Arts. These are all emblematic spots that represent UTEP beautifully.
Monica Enriquez posing during her graduation photoshoot, May 2021. Photo by Hugo Hinojosa/ The Prospector
shoots compared with common portraits. Grad-shoots range, but a professional, one-hour photoshoot can cost between $80 and $400. It also depends on the experience and availability of the photographer. Nevertheless, having an idea of how much you are willing to spend will save you time and awkward conversations.
Aaliyah Mendoza poses for photographer Gaby A. Velasquez during her graduation shoot, Westside Natatorium, 2020. As everything shut down, Velasquez had to come up with options to creatively shoot a swim-suit-and-cap project. Photo courtesy by Gaby A. Velasquez
Have a mood in mind Now that your shoot is booked and the budget is established, it is time to think about visuals. Do you want an inspirational, ‘I made it’ flare in your photos? Do you want a dark, old-school tone in the background? Do you want to wear an elegant dress instead of your cap and gown? Will your family and pet be on the shot? Will you use confetti? These are some visual elements you may want to consider. In any
UTEP’s Alumni Association assists UTEP graduates BY ALYSON RODRIGUEZ The Prospector
As graduation ceremonies begin to ensue and graduates start to move on to the next step of their life, UTEP’s Alumni Association is ready to assist future UTEP alumni. The Alumni Association is a nonprofit organization that works in partnership with UTEP to celebrate alumni and provide meaningful engagement opportunities for graduates to maintain a lifelong relationship with their alma mater. The goal is to ensure that graduates maintain a strong relationship with the UTEP community and to help advance the university’s mission. “Our alumni continue to advance the mission of the university wherever they go,” said Assistant Vice President for the Alumni and Doner Engagement Mairbel Villalva. “They help recruit new Miners to UTEP and help create pathways for students to successfully attend UTEP by either contributing to scholarships or providing internship opportunities for students.” The Alumni Association provides a variety of services which include celebrations for alumni to commemorate their achievements through many programs like the Distinguished Alumni and Gold Nugget awards, the 35 Under 35 Alumni Speaker Series, and the Golden Grad Reunion. Other events include Homecoming and the annual Alumni Association Golf Tournament, which is held to raise money for student
scholarships. The association also honors and celebrates exemplary students by hosting the Top Ten Senior Awards and hosts Grad Fair. The association also joined forces with UTEP’s Career Center to create Grow with Google. They also have many programs, which current students can join, including Student Alumni Association, Miner Ambassadors, Bridging the Gap Mentoring Program, and the upcoming College of Engineering Alumni Network. The alumni association plays a big part in students’ graduation process by sponsoring a grad fair every semester with the UTEP Bookstore. This is a three-day event where graduating seniors can prepare for commencement in one place. Graduates can register for their graduation ceremony, purchase regalia, official class medallion, class ring, and diploma frames. They can also have their graduation portrait taken as well. On commencement day members of the alumni association get the honor to present every graduate with a lapel pin, which signifies welcoming them into the UTEP alumni family. “We would love to build stronger connections without campus partners so that we can begin engaging with students even before they enroll,” Villalva said. “We want to stay engaged with them during their entire UTEP experience to ensure that they’ll remain engaged once they graduate. We already do a great job engaging with our seniors, but one of our main goals is to have
all students identify the alumni association as an organization that is here for them while they’re students and will be here for them when they graduate.” There are many ways for recent graduates to stay connected with UTEP. Some of these ways include joining the Young Alumni Network which is open to all individuals who graduated within the last 10 years regardless of age. UTEP alumni are welcome to speak and share their stories at the 35 under 35 Alumni Speaker Series and the Leadership After 5 series. Also inform the alumni association when you change jobs, addresses, and email address so they can send you news and to learn of your successes. Graduates can join the Alumni Association for free. In 2020 the association decided to get rid of the annual membership fee and rather create the free “Picks Ups” membership to every graduate of UTEP. In order to activate this free membership, alumni need to go to MinerLink and create their alumni profile at minerlink.utep.edu. In addition to the free membership, the association also has a premium lifetime membership for $500. Lifetime Members are invited to year-round members only events. For information about UTEP Alumni Association or to become a member visit their website at or follow them on social media @ utepalumni. Alyson Rodriguez is a contributor and may be reached at aerodriguez20@miners.utep.edu; @alyson_rod1127 on Twitter.
case, whichever idea you think about, make sure to let your photographer know. In fact, do not be shy if you have zero clue about aesthetics. Ask for recommendations from your photographer, since it is also part of the negotiation process. Make it personal As beautiful as The Lhakhang may be, you may want to prefer to stay away from the default locations and instead have a unique and personalized session. For instance, you may
The last tip photographers recommend is to be respectful of these spaces. As good as star confetti may look on paper, it is rude to leave waste after using the spaces. Always clean up after yourself and be mindful that you may need to take turns. Overall, the grad shoot is an important part of the graduation experience. Even if it is a simple portrait or a complete fashion statement, freezing these moments in time to remember your milestones at UTEP will forever be special. So, reach out to your photographers, make the experience yours, and be respectful. Hugo Hinojosa is the designer and may be reached at hahinojosap@miners.utep.edu; @fotohinojosa on Instagram.
De-stress at ‘Up All Night’ BY ELISHA NUNEZ The Prospector
To end the semester with a night full of fun and to de-stress before finals, UTEP’s Student Engagement and Leadership Center (SELC) will host ‘Up All Night’ from 6-11:45 p.m. Thursday, May 5 at Centennial Plaza, Hawthorne Avenue and the surrounding areas. “It’s important that we provide and create opportunities for students to engage (and) feel like they’re part of the wider campus community,” said Romi Dehler, assistant director of SELC. “I think one of the reasons we schedule it for the time frame that we scheduled for is because it is on the last day of classes, so most classes are done by that point.” Students can enjoy a night filled with free activities, games, free food, and music. The gathering will also feature a late-night breakfast at 9 p.m. and the event will wrap up with a movie on the lawn. The event is open for all UTEP students and welcomes faculty or sponsorships to volunteer. “That’s really our mission as a center, (to) provide those opportunities that really enhance and engage students’ experiences,” Dehler said. “It’s a big collaborative event too, like we are the hosts of the SELC but we have lots of campus partners that are coming (to assist) us (and) be there to show their support for students during this time.” There will be a range of activities and entertainment for the night. During the activities portion of the evening, from 6-9 p.m., students can participate in activities
UTEP’s Student Engagement and Leadership Center (SELC) will host Up All Night, Thursday May 5 6-11:45 p.m., Photo courtesy of the Student Engagement and Leadership Center.
such as crafts, inflatables, and the Air Force band who are going to perform a variety of music. The Air Force band will perform for the first hour from 6-7 p.m., and afterward a DJ will take over and continue playing music for the rest of the night. A donation drive will also be present at the event and attendees can donate personal care items, backpacks and more. In a couple of weeks, SELC will release a list including all items they will be accepting as donations. Students who decide to donate, will receive a pair of special, bright orange glow sunglasses. “It’s definitely one of those experiences that is created to really bring the campus together, (to) really create a community (with) really engaged students in meaningful way,” Dehler said. “(SELC has) been doing this now for a good number of years and so, it’s something that the campus likes to engage with. I mean it’s something that we’ve been able to continue (and) actually do every semester, so we’re really excited for this this semester’s version to take place.” Elisha Nunez is a contributor and may be reached at email egnunez2@miners.utep.edu
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
ARTS & CULTURE Page 23
Celebrate loved one’s achievements with the best gifts BY VICTORIA RIVAS The Prospector
Graduation is around the corner, and families are ready to commemorate their graduates’ efforts and achievements. Gifting is a non-verbal expression used to celebrate a loved one’s accomplishments, and graduation is no exception. A celebration full of joy and anxiousness as graduates close a chapter of their lives and prepare to start a new one, whether it is by moving across the country, starting a new job or entering graduate school. Finding the best graduation gifts to celebrate this significant milestone can be tricky. That is why we have created a top five graduation gift list. Candles Moving out of their hometown and leaving friends and family members behind is difficult. Candles are a good gift for graduates to remind them of the scent back at home and bring them closer to their loved ones. The Lovesick Candle can help their homes smell like home. They combine specific scents to capture the ethos of states, cities and memories. This small meaningful gesture can bring them closer to home. Candles cost $34 and can be purchased at www.homesick.com
Jewelry Whether you gift them a graduation ring or any other jewelry piece, it is something graduates will cherish forever. Gold, silver and rose gold jewelry are perfect for any occasion and match any outfit. Graduates can wear their jewelry anytime and always carry a piece of their loved ones close to their hearts. Depending on the brand and item, prices can range for rings, bracelets, watches and necklaces. You could gift them a personalized jewelry piece with their favorite gem, their graduation date engraved or their initials. For more information or to schedule a virtual appointment on graduation rings visit www.jostens. com/utep. To place an order call 505-264-8995 or email renee. martinez@jostens.com Portable printers/Instax camera Graduation is a big milestone, and there is nothing better than being able to capture the moment forever. An Instax camera is perfect for graduates to capture their future endeavors after graduation. If they are moving out of town, the Instax camera will help them record all the new places they will visit or the new friendships they will form along the way. A portable printer is also an excellent gift for graduates because they
Candles, jewelry, instax cameras, UTEP apparel and office supplies are all great gifts to give to students walking the stage this spring. Photo by Annabella Mireles/ The Prospector
can print any picture as a Polaroid and as many copies as they want from their phone. Physical copies of pictures will allow graduates to cherish their memories forever. Some portable printer options include the HP Sprocket 2x3 Instant Photo Printer for $79.99, the Canon - IVY Mini Photo Printer for $99.99, or the Polaroid Hi-Print Printer for $115. 28 which are available in mutilple colors and can be purchased at www.bestbuy.com. UTEP Apparel Nothing is better than being able to show Miner pride with UTEP apparel. Graduates can buy mugs that say “UTEP Alumni” with lots
of different designs during graduation season. The UTEP bookstore also sells T-shirts for alumni, and also offer other shirts that represent each college within UTEP. During the commencement ceremony, UTEP sells T-shirts that say UTEP on the front, and on the back, it has all the names of the graduates. To find all the different T-shirt designs for alumni visit UTEP’s Bookstore website at www.bkstr. com/texaselpasostore/home. Office Supplies As graduates start their new jobs after graduation, office supplies are
a great way to help them transition into a new chapter. Paper clips, pens, journals, planners, and file organizers are a great way to prepare graduates to take on any task or job and help them stay organized. All the gifts listed above are a great way to commemorate graduates’ accomplishments and celebrate their future endeavors. Whether it is a personalized gift or not, graduates will surely love the gesture. Victoria Rivas is the arts and culture editor and may be reached at vrivas7@miners.utep.edu; @VicRivas_18 on Twitter.
CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2022 from The Center For Accommodations and Support Services
(CASS)
We provide student accommodations to address issues associated with:
• Mobility and temporary disabilities • Vision and hearing • Learning disabilities • Mental health • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) • Any disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAA) and the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 We also provide resources and training for students, faculty and staff.
Union East Bldg. Room 106 • cass@utep.edu • (915) 747-5148
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
Page 24 ARTS & CULTURE
‘Open Mic Night’ returns to showcase UTEP student talent BY ELISHA NUÑEZ The Prospector
From poetry reading to live rock music, UTEP’s ‘Open Mic Night’ hosted by the Student Engagement and Leadership Center (SELC) provided fun and entertainment for students April 13 at the Union Plaza. Students gathered around the stage to watch, listen, and feel the various acts by different performers. ‘Open Mic Night’ showcased the different types of talent the UTEP community has to offer. “We felt there was a great opportunity to have students show their talents, like singing or poetry, or performing,” said SELC intern Lourdes Jimenez. “This is the fourth one we hosted (and) I think we are making this event for them to have a space where they feel they can share their ideas and connect to the community.” The event was free and students enjoyed free pastries and drinks, while watching the live performances. The stage was open to everyone, and many students took advantage of the event to show their talents.
2022 Summer Events in EP BY VICTORIA RIVAS The Prospector
Summer is approaching, and El Paso is ready to host families with a variety of eventsall summer long. Below is a list of events happening during the summer: Sun City Craft Beer Festival The beer festival will be held May 21-22 at the Downtown Convention Center Plaza, located at Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, Texas 79901. Ticket prices range from $30 to $80. To learn more about the festival visit suncitycraftbeerfest.com fortickets visit www.universe.com. Downtown Fiesta de Las Luces The annual Fiesta de Las Luces will take place 3-11 p.m. May 21 downtown 620 S. El Paso St. The event is free. To learn more about the event visit www.downtownelpaso.com/ fiesta-de-las-luces-2022/ or call 915-400-2294. Mission Trail Art Market The market will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 19 at the San Elizario Historic District located at 1501 Main Street, San Elizario, Texas 79849, with free admission and pets are also welcomed. For information on the event visit www.sanelizariohistoricdistrict. com or call 915-851-0093. Viva El Paso! Opening night is scheduled for July 1, and performances will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights July 1 through Aug. 6 at the McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster, and prices range from $16 to $24. To learn more about these performances visit www.vivaelpaso.org or call 915-231-1100 Victoria Rivas is the arts and culture editor and may be reached at vrivas7@miners.utep.edu; @VicRivas_18 on Twitter.
UTEP’s Student Engagement and Leadership Center hosted Open Mic Night April 13 at the Union Plaza where students could watch poetry readings and live rock music. Photo by Roman Patrick Carr/ The Prospector
“I feel like every time we have one of these, people come more and more often because they feel like they have somewhere they belong,” Jimenez said. “There’s also a lot of people within (the) El Paso community that come just to enjoy what the students are presenting.” Multiple people attended the event and witnessed the great per-
formances. From rap to stand-up comedy, everyone appeared to have a great time with laughs and live music. Numerous performers sang, played instruments, or even both at times. Cover songs and originals that made their debut at the Union Plaza echoed throughout the area. Some performers who sang their
hearts out were Lauren Rincon, a UTEP student in the music department, and her band, Federal Offense. “We had a really good time at the last event that was at the amphitheater, and we thought it would be a really good idea to (perform) again. This is probably going to be the fifth or sixth time we’ve
played our originals in public, and hopefully, we’re going to record (an EP) in the summer,” Rincon said. “I’m actually in the music department, so (I) have to perform a lot (for that) too. (Our music is different), we play in a classic rock style so kind of like a mix between Foo Fighters and Billy Idol, or No Doubt.” There were a diverse set of acts for the night that drew many people into the acts. The crowd grew as the night progressed, with friends and family members sitting in the audience to watch students perform. One audience member was Mary Lou Cebollero, who attended with her daughter, Christy Rincon, to see Federal Offense’s performance. “I was invited by my granddaughter, and she’s going to be singing with her band. We like to support anybody and everybody, especially people from UTEP or people that are from community college, or anything with students, but that’s why we came here. We were invited and we enjoy this all the time,” Cebollero said. Elisha Nunez is a contributor and may be reached at email egnunez2@miners.utep.edu
A R T S & C U LT U R E D U R I N G ‘ 2 2 PROSPECTOR STAFF REPORT
Another semester is coming to an end and The Prospector covered lots of UTEP events and stories that made these past months memorable. Below is a round up of this semester’s most significant stories and events. The UTEP Don Haskins Center hosted a series of events including a sold out show by Bad Bunny, Friday Feb. 11 as part of his El Último Tour del Mundo 2022. Jud Burgess, owner of Brave Books honored the legacy of former UTEP President Diana Natalicio Ph.D., by allowing the public to purchase books from a special collection that were personally signed and dated by Natalicio. The collection was open to the public from March 12-13. The Prospector visted Erica Murrill, artist and owner of Café Arte Mi Admore. Murril is the proud owner of the unique and colorful coffee shop, located in San Elizario. Texas.
Jud Burgess, owner of Brave Books, poses with a street sign labeled “Natalicio” February 7. Burgess acquired hundreds of books from former UTEP President Diana Natalicio which range from topics such as art, linguistics, travel, baseball, Mexican history, and El Paso. Some of these books will be kept in a private section of the store and some are signed by El Paso icons such as Abraham Chavez and Tom Lea. Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
Erica Murrill, owner of coffee shop Café Arte Mi Admore, poses in front of her art at Café Arte Mi Admore. The cafe is located at 498 Main St. San Elizario, Texas 79849. Murrill started painting at age five, and now focuses on self-portraits as well as large scale paintings. Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
Bad Bunny performes at the Don Haskins Center, Feb. 11, as part of his 2022 Tour, “El Ultimo Tour del Mundo”. This is his second time performing at the Don Haskins in a sold out show. Photo by Salette Maria Ontiveros/The Prospector
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022 · PAGE 25
Sports
Emily Autumn Velasquez, editor
UTEP volleyball player ‘set’ for comeback BY KATRINA VILLAREAL THE PROSPECTOR
Senior UTEP volleyball defensive specialist/libero Ha’ahulakaleikaimana Crisostomo poses for The Prospector April 29. Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
UTEP volleyball defensive specialist/libero Ha’ahulakaleikaimana Crisostomo, also known as Hula, is from Honolulu, Hawaii. She has been playing volleyball for 10 years now and is looking forward to coming back next season after missing the 2021 season. Crisostomo is a senior psychology major with a minor in criminal justice and is set to graduate in the fall of 2022. After graduation, Crisostomo plans to continue her education to receive her master’s degree and go on to become a counselor for adolescents alongside coaching high school volleyball. “Hopefully become a graduate assistant at another school, so that could help me get into coaching and help me with the psychology aspect of it by helping the girls on a team – understand that there’s a mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical side to sports,” Crisostomo said. Crisostomo began playing at 12 years old, inspired by her older sister, Kawai, who also played volleyball. Crisostomo played at Ka Ulukoa Volleyball Institute until she was 17 years old and at the age of 18, she played for the Kuikahi volleyball club. Along with her sister being her inspiration, Crisostomo explains her dad has played a big role in inspiring her to play. “My dad is someone who is always working, and he wasn’t able to come to all my games sometimes. I always really looked forward to seeing him on the sideline or on the benches,” Crisostomo said. “My sister, too, has always been such a big role model for me. She’s my big
sister so I always wanted to be like her. Those two are my best friends, so I would do anything for them. I would keep playing for them.” Crisostomo’s favorite part about playing libero is keeping the ball off the ground to stop the kill and make the play continue when most would think it is over. Crisostomo also loves being supportive by being out there cheering on her teammates who are on the court. “I’m just really passionate about the game,” Crisostomo said. Being able to be a member of UTEP volleyball means a lot to Crisostomo, she mentions she has been able to be a part of something that has grown so profusely. Crisostomo explains everyone is always full of energy and excited to be a part of the team as they are always supportive of each other. “I think I’m just part of something that’s going to grow and develop into something really amazing,” Crisostomo said. “Everyone gives their all despite their role on the volleyball team, and I think that’s also something that’s really motivating and inspiring to be part of.” When she graduates, Crisostomo explains that she is going to miss the people she has met at UTEP. Crisostomo mentioned that during the pandemic she felt as if she had no support system, but this past
year she has made a lot of friendships. “I’ve met some great people and I made a big connection, especially with my family tree and with Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. They made a really big impact in my life just within the two months that I met them,” Crisostomo said. “Even with the girls on the volleyball team, I feel like I’ve made some pretty good connections with some of them as well, and I feel like those relationships that I have with them are going to last for a very long time.” Crisostomo wants to show the city of El Paso she is passionate and competitive. She feels as if she was not able to show that side of her due to missing the last season from a left knee injury. Crisostomo will be coming back next season, where she plans to show the passion she has for the sport. “I missed all of last semester, and I was a senior, so I felt like I was really missing out because I was injured. I felt like I wasn’t able to show El Paso who I am,” Crisostomo said. “I really want to show them that ‘oh, that’s the girl that’s super energetic, she’s always cheering super loud, she’s always hugging her teammates or slapping the ground whenever they celebrate a point.’” Katrina Villarreal is a staff reporter and may be reached at kvillarreal1@miners.utep.edu.
TOP: Crisostomo is number 5 on the team and hopes to become a counselor and coach for high school volleyball after graduation. BOTTOM: Crisostomo is from Hawaii and plans on coming back next season when she returns to UTEP for her master’s in psychology. Photos by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
Page 26 SPORTS
UTEP says farewell to student athletes
From left to right: sophmore guard Katia Gallegos, junior forward Tydus Verhoeven, sophomore wide receiver Jacob Cowing, junior guard Destiny Thurman, junior guard Souley Boum. Photos courtesy of UTEP Athletics. BY EMILY AUTUMN VELASQUEZ The Prospector
Every year several athletes are added to the rosters here at UTEP, and expected to perform to the best of their ability. But what can also be seen is athletes leaving to pursue opportunities outside of UTEP by entering the transfer portal. Sophomore guard Katia Gallegos, local El Paso talent from Franklin High School, has been one of the team’s strongest players for the women’s basketball team for the past two years. But now she is getting ready to say goodbye to her hometown to pursue bigger opportunities. “What I have decided is not easy, but I’m excited for what is to come
and looking forward to exploring all opportunities for my basketball career,” Gallegos said in a Tweet. After two seasons with the Miners, Gallegos is now taking her talents to the American Athletic Conference where she will be playing for Tulsa. Another player UTEP has parted ways with is junior guard Tydus Verhoeven after being with the Miners for the past four years. “I’m announcing that I will not be returning to UTEP and will be seeking my dream of playing professional basketball while also entering my name in the transfer portal to keep all options open,” Verhoeven announced on Twitter April 1. Verhoeven is set to continue his
UTEP softball player makes an impact on the diamond BY DANIEL ALEC LOPEZ The Prospector
Redshirt junior second baseman Pate Cathey is making an impact on the diamond for the Miners softball team. This season, Cathey has four home runs and 24 run’s batted in. Defensively, Cathey is averaging around a 1.000 on fielding. Other accomplishments include Conference-USA All Freshman team in 2019, Conference-USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll 2019, 2020, 2021, and finally, Conference-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal 2020, 2021. Cathey is originally from Frisco, Texas, and attended Heritage High School while playing just about every sport possible, with softball being the last sport she played in high school. “I started off with soccer, went (to) basketball, soccer, volleyball, track & field, gymnastics and lacrosse, all the sports with softball being the last sport I would play in high school,” Cathey said. This season, Cathey has been doing strong in helping the team get some wins. This year, she has started 37 games. Where as last season, she started 44 out of 45 games. When asked about what gave the coach confidence to put her in the starting lineup, this is what Cathey had to say. “My work ethic, just continuing to try to bring my best, and not let anyone outwork me,” Cathey said. “People can count on me, on my
attitude, and my effort.” In the four years Cathey has been here, she has enjoyed her time at UTEP, and has overcome challenges and setbacks especially through the COVID-19 pandemic. “I have definitely enjoyed living in El Paso. It has become a second home to me and I can definitely see myself staying here,” Cathey said. Cathey discussed the struggles she faced during quarantine and how it changed the plan she originally had. “I wouldn’t change it for anything because those road blocks and setbacks or challenges that do happen,” Cathey said. “You know responding with those to positive outlooks and knowing all of those things are beneficial not just for the team.” With a consistent high percentage in batting and base running, Cathey explains how she puts in the work to have those kinds of stats and makes herself a better overall player. “I think just over the years I have found more the importance of like intentional hard work, rather than just going spending hours kind of without having your mind involved. For softball specifically, there’s a lot of preparation as far as the pitchers you’re going to face, the team you’re going to face, the strengths and weaknesses there are,” Cathey said. Daniel Alec Lopez is a staff reporter and may be reached at dalopez23@utep.miners.edu.
basketball career at Northwestern College where he will play for the Wildcats, as he Tweeted April 28. Wide receiver Jacob Cowing led the receivers in yards and was a major component in the success of the football program due to his ability to make big plays. “I just want to thank you for all the love and the support of my three seasons here at UTEP,” Cowing said in an Instagram post Dec. 21 announcing his decision. Cowing received multiple offers from different schools such as Louisiana State University, Oregon, and Arizona State University, but announced Jan. 3 that he would be playing for the University of Arizona after playing his first three
seasons with the Miners. Junior guard Destiny Thurman was the leading scorer for the women’s basketball team with 13 points per game and was named their “most valuable player.” “I want to thank UTEP & the coaches for giving me an opportunity to play in a place that allowed me to grow not only as a player, but as a person too,” Thurman said in a tweet March 28, where she announced her decision to enter the transfer portal. Thurman will be taking her talents to Colorado State where she will play for the Rams after she played for the Miners for two years. Junior guard Souley Boum has played with the men’s basketball
team for four years and was named team MVP and athlete of the year at The Golden Pick Awards. “All the memories UTEP has brought me will be cherished in my heart forever, and I am forever blessed to wear UTEP across my chest,” Boum said in an Instagram post April 6 where he announced his decision to leave UTEP. Boum decided to continue his basketball career at Xavier University as a graduate transfer student, he announced on Instagram May 2. Emily Autumn Velasquez is the sports editor and may be reached at eavelasquez@miners.utep.edu; @ emilyautumn20 on Twitter.
UTEP TE ready to leave a legacy BY KATRINA VILLARREAL The Prospector
UTEP tight end Trent Thompson is from Houston, Texas and has been playing football since he was 8 years old and has fallen in love with the sport since. Thompson is a senior accounting major set to graduate in the summer of 2022. He plans to get his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) as well as his master’s. “My plans after I graduate with my bachelor’s degree is to continue with my master’s and I’ll probably do an internship this summer and just go from there,” Thompson said. Thompson explained that at the age of five, he would go out to the street and play football with his neighbors and his favorite thing about playing football is the memories that he has made. “I just wanted my parents to sign me up and they did,” Thompson said. “I look back at my childhood, and I’m like, ‘wow, I really came a long way.’ I’m a lot healthier now and I remember watching college football with my mom, dad, and my brother, and we would watch it all day.” Thompson has not always played tight end, when first starting at UTEP, he was a defensive lineman. Thompson explains that coach Dana Dimel made the decision to move him to tight end. Being at tight end has allowed Thompson to score his favorite touchdown as a Miner at the PUBG New Mexico Bowl against Fresno State where he
Senior accounting major and UTEP tight end Trent Thompson has been playing football since he was eight years old and was UTEP’s primary tight end target in the 2021 season. Photo courtesy of UTEP Athletics.
scored a 51-yard touchdown on a 4th down trick play. “We got a signal from Isaiah Bravo on the sideline, and I looked at Calvin (Brownholtz), we made eye contact and we just knew it was going to be a great play, and that was actually my second touchdown of the game,” Thompson said. When Thompson takes the field, he is inspired by his future and the people around him. He explains that it can be hard to get up sometimes in the early hours of the morning to practice, but he looks up to his parents because they always told him to never quit. “First off its God, my parents, and then myself,” Thompson said. “I really wanted to (quit) when I was younger because I had asthma and it was hard to run. Now, I’m a lot better.” When asked about what it meant to him to be a member of the team,
Thompson said that it has meant a lot. Once he graduates, Thompson explains that he is going to miss the friendships made here. “I just can’t wait to see where we’re about to go,” Thompson said. Thompson explains that the legacy that he wants to leave behind when he graduates is he wants to be remembered as someone who went out there and did his job. “I’m a quiet player. I don’t get much attention, and that’s just fine. But I just want people to know that I was a nice Christian athlete who was quiet and just did his job,” Thompson said. Thompson was UTEP’s primary tight end target in the 2021 season and recorded nine receptions for 133 yards, along with four touchdowns. All stats for Trent Thompson are courtesy of UTEP Athletics. Katrina Villarreal is a staff reporter and my be reached at kvillarreal1@miners.utep.edu.
THE PROSPECTOR · MAY 3, 2022
SPORTS Page 27
A L O O K B A C K AT S P O R T S , S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 TOP LEFT: The UTEP Women’s basketball team gathers before playing against LA Tech at the Don Haskins center Feb. 17. The team went on and ended its season with a winning percentage of 14-15 and scored a total of 1891 points, with and an average of 65.2 points per game. Other stats for the season include a total of 220 steals, 55 blocks, 1052 rebounds for the whole season. BOTTOM LEFT: Jamari Sibley yells towards the court as teammate scores points against The University of North Texas at the Don Haskins Center March 5. The UTEP Men’s Basketball team went on to finish its season in the quarter finals against Middle Tennessee, 74-64. The team ended with a winning percentage of 20-14, scored a total of 2352 points throughout the season and scored an average of 69.2 points per game with new coach Joe Golding. RIGHT SIDE: Krishna Jayasankar Menon, freshman kinesiology major and field thrower, gets interviewed by The Prospector at the REC Center in late March. Jayasankar is the first female thrower from India to receive a division one scholarship. Jayasankar was originially intrigued by the idea of playing tennis when she was in fifth grade before a teacher mentioned her height would be good for shot put. Now, after 10 years, Jayasankar hopes to one day represent India at the 2024 Olympics. Photos by Annabella Mireles/ The Prospector
Erick P. Alvarado Jasmin A. Amaya Marie J. Angayen Daniel A. Antunez Melissa E. Aragon Darcy C. Aranda Raul Banuelos Heidi N. Barron Alexis N. Betancourt Daniel A. Betancourt Ascencio William Campillo Terrazas Brisa J. Chacon Leticia Cortez Amanda A. De La Cruz Bianca A. Duran Andre M. Frigyes Abigail Gallegos
Tsige N. Gebremedhin Emily T. Hibbert Erik C. Holland Lilian J. Koech Susana Y. Lopez Raymundo J. Luna Fernando Martinez Johanna Y. Martinez Briana V. Mason Samantha L. Montoya Christian M. Monzon Maite Moyers Elie Naddour Alejandro Olmos Orelon Osei Vianca M. Padilla Abril Ramirez
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
David V. Ramos Mrudula Raparla Miguel Rivera Sarah R. Salazar Gerardo Sanchez Salma L. Sandoval Javier Sarinana Clarissa A. Soto Christopher A. Styles Luis B. Tinoco Samuel Urenda Priscilla Valle Eduardo C. Vazquez Jasmine Y. Velarde Ashleigh B. Williams Fernando D. Zambrana Valenzuela Ashlynn M. Zeiger