



Avery Escamilla-Wendell, editor-in-chief
Looking back on my childhood, I remember how I never wanted to go to school and how I was so fearful of what life looked like outside of the shell I built. This led to an extreme decline in my mental health and truly took the life out of me until I started college. During my first semester at UTEP, I finally started to feel real, like my life was fully ahead of me. Even though I went through immense heartbreak and lost myself throughout the journey, I still had hope that everything would fall into place.
The Prospector was never a place I thought I would be at, let alone be running the team as editor-in-chief. My seemingly hopeless dream of becoming a journalist finally came true because of The Prospector. I applied back in 2022 and was hired as a contributor. After stepping into my first budget, I let fear get the best of me and quit. After taking my first journalism class with Dr. Pineda, I decided that at the end of the semester I would re-apply to Student Media and finally give myself a chance.
I was re-hired, and I finally stepped into the world of journalism with a newfound confidence that has brought me here today. From being a staff reporter to wearing the hat of various editor positions; multimedia, web & copy, and arts and culture, I finally finished my run as editor-in-chief.
My hard work and dedication would not have existed without the help of my family. I want to thank
my mom for helping me through everything. You saw me go through a lot and stuck with me to succeed.
I am very lucky to call you my mom and even my best friend. To my brother, I hope I am making you proud. Thank you for being my inspiration as to why I went into journalism in the first place. My success sprouts from both of your endless support.
To my mentors Kate Gannon, Alfredo Corchado, Angela Kocherga, Alyson Rodriguez and Aaron Montes, thank you so much for guiding me through the beast of journalism. Because of you, I have a very bright future. I am so
incredibly grateful to have learned from such amazing and talented journalists. I promise I will go on and save the world.
To all my friends: Alyda, Catching, Albert, Sofia, Gael, Ximena, Iziah, Sebastian, Evelyn, Joseph and basically everyone on my team–thank you so much for sticking by me these last few semesters. It’s amazing that I get to call you my friends. Shoutout to my friends Anyer Calderon and Nelson Ortega for also always supporting me and never forgetting about me. Thank you to my roommates Jazmine and Johana for being so supportive and my little sisters. Marco, my best friend since kindergarten, thank you so much for being the reason I felt accepted in the world of journalism. You truly mean the world to me, and I am so glad we found a way back to each other. I love you Marcitos. I also want to thank my amazing partner, Emmanuel Rivas. You have guided me so much throughout my journey as a journalist and in life. I am so happy that we get to tackle the world of journalism side by side. I would not want to be anywhere else unless it is with you. Lastly, to the readers. It has been an amazing experience creating content for you. So, to all of you who are dedicated readers, thank you, and please continue to support local journalism. Thank you to The Prospector for a memorable two and a half years. It was an awesome ride, and I would definitely do it all over again.
Avery Escamilla-Wendell is the editor-in-chief at The Prospector and may be reached at amescamilla@miners. utep.edu
A reflection of my time at The Prospector
As I begin to reflect on my time at UTEP, I can’t say that every day of my journey here has been one filled with smiles and laughter. Realistically, most days were filled with existential dread about my future career, figuring out how to balance more responsibilities than I had ever faced and how to pass my classes all at the same time. During this time, I had to ask
myself why I was doing this more times than I would like to admit.
I was then reminded of my sister, Monica, who works in the UTEP IT department. A couple feet away and one floor down from The Prospector office my sister worked away. She graduated from UTEP with her bachelor’s in 2008 and with her master’s in 2012. Throughout this time, she worked three jobs to pay off her tuition...
see ALBERTO on page 4
“Nothing gold can stay, like love or lemonade,” are some great lyrics shared by Lana Del Rey. All great things must come to an end, and it is now my time to venture onto the next stage in life.
As commencement creeps up on me and my days as a student journalist come to an end, I am left reflecting on how grateful I am to have worked at UTEP Student Media & Publications. Lost during the fall semester of 2022, I knew I wanted to pursue my passion in journalism but found myself in a state of no direction.
I spent so much time worrying about not being involved on campus and getting that engaging experience I craved. All until I took a chance on myself and applied at The Prospector. Come December 2022, I received the news that I was offered the opportunity to be the audience and engagement editor. Since then, I have met so many new friends and colleagues all thanks to my time at UTEP Student Media & Publications. Every single interview I’ve conducted has formed me into a better journalist.
I am forever grateful for my friends and my family for their endless support throughout this journey. All the late nights of working on articles, editing social media posts and homework, I genuinely couldn’t have done it without their encouragement.
I am so extremely thankful for Crystal, Vero, Isa and Amy as they have steered me through all my hardships and lifted my spirits up.
I would like to give a special thanks to Crystal for shaping me into the journalist and human being I am today. Crystal, thank you for believing in me and pushing
me to become a better journalist. I am so grateful for all of the help you’ve provided me, especially when everything seemed bleak, you helped me push through and made me realize my worth as an individual and aspiring journalist. I can’t thank you enough, but I hope you know that I look up to you. Vero, thank you for all of your support when I felt like my world was falling apart. I sincerely appreciate you checking in on me and every single conversation we shared. Isa and Amy, thank you for brightening my day whenever I walked into the office, there was never a dull moment had.
One of the greatest aspects of working for The Prospector has been the shared experiences between my fellow student journalists. I am extremely grateful to have become friends with so many staff members from past and present. Alyda, Salma, Alyson, Avery, Emmanuel, Adam, Gael, Sofia, Iziah, thank you for all of your love and support, it was such an honor to work with such talented journalists like you all. I hate saying goodbye, so I’ll just catch you on the flipside!
Vianah
To whomever it may concern...
Only about four and a half months, that’s the full amount of time that I was at The Prospector. While my time was considerably short, I feel that this job had a significant impact on me.
I still remember when I submitted my application to Student Media and Publications. I received a notification from my student email; applied and had forgotten about it for a while. After my interview for a staff reporter position, I was brought onto the team.
When I first stepped into the office, I remember the feelings of doubt and uncertainty taking over, I’ve always struggled with my self confidence in my work and wasn’t sure if the caliber of my writing could measure up.
But through my time at The Prospector, I felt more confident about the work I produced and believe that this job has given me so much help in that regard. Before the semester had begun, I held doubts about what I wanted to pursue and where I wanted to be after my time at UTEP.
This job though, has given me a new perspective of journalism and opportunities for it, lighting a fire within me, giving me the passion of wanting to be a journalist once again. I even got to travel to another city to attend a journalism workshop with friends, giving me more inspiration and drive to make this type of work my career.
I have loved every second of this job, and I’m now looking toward my future. I am applying for real world positions to continue this line of work that has brought me so much joy. This field has also taught me immensely, not only about myself and my strengths, but about others as well.
While the job has aided me in figuring out what I want from my career and future, I can also say that this job has truly been a blessing for me through the connections and friends who made the workplace something truly special.
A job is only one aspect of student life, and this wasn’t the only job I had during the semester. On top of this I dealt with my final classes, which turned out to be quite the workload, and finally my personal life as well. All students go through juggling these many aspects, but at times everything became incredibly overwhelming for me.
One thing that helped was coming into the office Tuesday and Thursday week after week. Seeing my friends and simply sharing moments together felt special.
PHOTOGRAPHER THE PROSPECTOR
Something as simple or mundane as discussing what homework was due for a class we shared or eating lunch together–each moment at The Prospector office was something to be cherished.
Production days, while long and stressful at times, were some of my favorite days in the office. Having random talks, sharing more with each other or even playing games of poker to pass the time, maybe a random outing to Chili’s as well, made for such great times.
At the time of writing this my life is going through a pretty major change. One that has affected me immensely, but I consider myself very lucky and am extremely grateful for the friends I have made through this job. The support given from these close friends has been an incredible help, the people of The Prospector are some of the nicest, most caring and easiest people to talk to.
That is what I will miss most about this job, the people–the friends I’ve made.
I would like to thank everyone from The Prospector, every editor, staff member and contributor. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this last semester of my university life something truly special, working with all of you has been incredible.
Thank you Avery, Sofia, Catching, Alyda and Ximena for an incredible trip to San Antonio for the IRE workshop. The trip was one of the best parts of my last semester and I am truly grateful to have spent it with you all.
Finally, I want to thank Jes Garcia and Kristian Hernandez. We all came to work for The Prospector at the same time, we were all shy and nervous when we first got to the office, but I believe that starting together is what made our friendship so strong.
You two have been some of my biggest supporters throughout the semester inside the office and out.
Thank you for always reading my articles over, helping me with video production, making everything a three-person job and just being some of the best friends I could ever have. The moral support from you both was always a blessing. You two are some of the most incredible and talented people I have ever met, I love you both.
This job didn’t quite turn out how I expected it would, it has been such a major blessing for me and helped shape me into who I am now at the end of my college life.
Best regards, Joe.
Joseph Montero
Three years ago, when I first picked up a camera for The Prospector, I could not have imagined where the journey would lead. I was a nervous engineering major, hoping to contribute a few photos and gain experience. I never expected a newsroom to become a place I could call home.
Balancing deadlines with engineering coursework tested my limits more times than I could count. There were days when the camera felt too heavy, and the blank cutline box seemed impossible. But even during those moments, the newsroom gave me something to hold onto, a reminder that my work mattered, even when it felt small. None of this would have been possible without the people who stood beside me, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who made this journey unforgettable.
Vero, thank you for bringing me into Student Media and Publications as a work-study student and giving me a chance to grow with little to no experience in journalism. Your trust in me opened the door to opportunities I never imagined.
Isa, thank you for always welcoming me with a smile and being there whenever I needed help or advice. Your kindness and support made the newsroom feel like a second home.
Amy, thank you for being my first friend at Student Media and Publications and showing me how to get by smoothly. Thank you also for always helping me with the camera equipment, even when I sometimes kept it too long. Catching, thank you for bringing so much laughter and light into my life. I cannot tell you how many bad days you turned around just by being yourself. Your positivity made everything better.
Alyda, even though we only had a year together, it feels like we have been friends for much longer. I will miss the endless laughs,
conversations, and spontaneous moments that made every day a little brighter.
Sofia and Gael, my favorite duo, thank you for all the laughs that made even the busiest, most stressful days easier to get through. Your energy and friendship are truly special.
Iziah, thank you for being the best photography partner I could have asked for. Whether we were out on assignment or brainstorming ideas, your creativity and friendship made the work more meaningful.
...without debt. Most of my young life I didn’t see her until around 10 p.m. when she would get back from her afternoon classes. She was the first person who showed me that graduating from college was an actual possibility.
My sister used to mention to me that, as a kid, I was very introverted and would never really want to leave the house. My parents tell stories to my family members about how quiet and still I used to be. In high school I was always afraid of being myself; of drawing too much attention. I lingered to have a voice that not only could be heard but a voice that I felt mattered.
In October of 2020 I joined The Prospector as a contributor. Why in October? Because I was too afraid of applying earlier despite my journalism experience in high school. After my time as a contributor, I was promoted to staff photographer and then photo editor shortly after. As photo editor I worked under Julian Herrera, a tall guy who often dressed as Jason Voorhees, who helped me find a voice. It was through long conversations late at night at The Prospector office about which Monster energy drink flavor was the best, to ‘Does life have meaning?’, that I began gaining a voice that was louder than ever before. In January 2022 I began my role as editor-in-chief, something that I used to tell my parents was ‘Something I was never interested in doing.’
As I sat in my office during my time as editor-in-chief of The Prospector, all I could think of was how many people supported me, vouched for me and encouraged me to reach for the ceiling when I believed I belonged on the floor. It is thanks to those same people who encouraged me to be editor-inchief that I finally accomplished the goal of graduating from college, the same goal my sister implemented in me when I was six.
Thank you to everyone I worked with at The Prospector for your constant support while I worked there and even after I left. To Tracy, Veronica, Isabel and Amy, thank you for always supporting me in whatever way you could even after I left The Prospector. Your professional help is why I have gotten as far as I have. To my girlfriend Jen, thank you for always being the support I needed in my life and encouraging me throughout my time in college. I don’t know if I could’ve stretched my wings as far as I did if it wasn’t for you. To those at the El Paso Times, the Fort Worth Report and Texas Managing Editors thank you for taking a chance on me and providing me with incredible lessons. Y para mi familia gracias por creer en mí, por creer en mi sueño de ser un periodista, espero que puedan sonreír en saber que sus dos niños si pudieron hacer lo que ustedes siempre desearon.
Avery and Emmanuel, thank you for being some of my kindest and most genuine friends. You made me feel welcome from the beginning and were always there for me. Sebastian, thank you for being the coolest coworker and an even better friend. Your presence always made the newsroom a better and more exciting place.
To Diego, Jesie, Ximena, Kristian, Vianah, Joseph, Jazmine, Evelyn, Cameron, Daniela, Sadie, and Yael, thank you for creating a family within The Prospector. Working alongside all of you made every day more inspiring. I cannot wait to see the incredible work you will continue to create.
To my family and boyfriend, thank you for being my most excellent support system throughout this journey. Your encouragement, belief in my potential, and constant help with my photography gave me the confidence and skills I needed to grow. I am forever grateful for everything you have done to help me become who I am today. Graduating with my bachelor’s in engineering innovation and leadership with a concentration in civil engineering, a minor in structural engineering, and an emphasis in computer science while simultaneously working as a photographer at The Prospector and Minero Magazine was an impossible mission without the
generous help I received from my friends and family.
Now, as I say goodbye, there is a sadness I cannot ignore. It is hard to leave a place that gave me a voice and even harder to leave the people who helped me find it. But there is gratitude, too, for every assignment that challenged me, every late night that taught me resilience, and every story that reminded me why journalism matters.
Thank you, Prospector family, for everything. The deadlines, the laughter, the long nights and the memories will always stay with me. Here are the stories we told, and the ones still waiting to be discovered.
SalmaPaola Baca was a staff photographer and may not be reached at sbaca6@miners.utep.edu but may be reached on Instagram @bysalmapaola.
Avery Escamilla-Wendell, editor-in-chief
Patrick Crusius conducted one of the deadliest mass shootings of the past decade when he murdered almost two dozen people in an El Paso Walmart in 2019. Since then, he has faced the possibility of the death penalty as a result of his crimes. Last month, however, district attorney James Montoya announced that his office would no longer pursue the death penalty to give the victims’ families closure. Cruisius’ shooting is said to reflect the uprising of white nationalism and anti-immigration sentiments in the United States. His actions, and those similar, can cause fear among marginalized communities.
The Manifesto
“This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas,” begins an unsigned manifesto, later discovered to be written by Patrick Crusius. The anti-immigration manifesto, titled “The Inconvenient Truth,” was posted online minutes before Crusius opened fire in an El Paso Walmart, on Aug. 3, 2019, killing 23 people.
“In general, I support the Christchurch shooter and his manifesto,” Crusius said, in reference to the mass murderer in New Zealand who killed 51 people in an attack against Muslims five months prior.
In the 2,300 word manifesto, Crusius expressed his antiimmigrant and antisemitic views, which included the political and economic reasons for the attack and the equipment he planned to use. By the time the document was posted online, Crusius had already completed his 10-hour drive from his home in Allen, Texas.
The Shooting
According to his manifesto, Crusius arrived in El Paso, at a Walmart near Cielo Vista Mall
armed with an AK-47 style rifle. Crusius began shooting in the parking lot. Before entering the store, Crusius opened fire on fundraiser participants of a girl’s soccer team. Two of the girls who witnessed Crusius’ rampage later testified at the initial sentencing in 2023, stating they are still fearful to be out in public.
Crusius then entered the store, firing near the entrance, checkout areas and aisles. His victims included high school students as young as 15, elderly citizens, public service workers like teachers and retired bus drivers, and Mexican nationals traveling from Juarez.
“I’m the shooter,” Crusius said when apprehended, telling police he was targeting Mexicans.
The Sentencing
On Februrary 2023, Crusius pleaded guilty to 90 federal charges including, hate crimes and firearm charges related to the shooting. Crusius originally plead not guilty but changed his plea when federal prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty. At the time, Crusius was also facing capital murder charges from the state of Texas, who were initially pursuing the death penalty in their case.
During the sentencing, his family was not present, but the families of the victims were in attendance and expressed their frustrations and grief throughout the trial.
The Defense Crusius is represented by defense attorney Joe Spencer who recognized Crusius’ mental health struggles. Before federal sentencing, Spencer said Crusius was suffering from a “broken brain,” alarmed by his own violent thoughts.
In an interview with El Paso Matters, Spencer stated that Crusius believed he was acting at the direction of President Donald J. Trump.
Spencer’s statement, however, contradicted Crusius’ manifesto which states, “My opinions on automation, immigration, and the rest predate Trump and his campaign for president.”
The Death Penalty
Initially, former District Attorney Yvonne Rosales and her office were pursuing the death penalty in Crusius’ case. However, Rosales resigned in 2022 due to allegations of misconduct within the office.
see TIMELINE on page 6
and oranges from Sinaloa during the first and second quarters,” Fullerton said.
After announcing global reciprocal tariffs on U.S. allies and adversaries, the Trump administration shortly lowered rates down on most of those tariffs to a universal 10% flat rate for 90 days. Notable exclusions are aluminum and steel, and items that don’t fall under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), remained taxed at 25%.
For Chinese imports, they are being met with rates as high as 145%. A tax hike coming after a year which saw $400 billion worth of imports from China, with most of the goods being electronics, machinery, furniture and toys.
The Trump Administration’s economic policies have caused CEOs of large companies, like Walmart and Target, who met with the president in a private meeting, to worry about the possibility of empty shelves, due to said companies cancelling shipments from China due to the tariffs. These companies have also expressed the need to raise prices on consumers.
Tom Fullerton Ph.D., a professor at the Department of Economics & Finance at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), speaks about how tariffs will affect grocery prices.
“Tariffs will affect many food items that are imported during specific times of the year when the U.S. does not produce very much of those goods, like tomatoes
Recently, Trump announced that Chinese tariffs will “come down substantially, but it won’t be zero.” While the waiting period begins for new tariff rates to go up, or down, upcoming graduates have found ways to get around volatile prices.
Sabrina Bustillos, graduating from UTEP this spring with her master’s degree, sees the spike in prices at grocery stores.
“Personally, I buy groceries at Costco, just because it’s easier to shop once a month and get stuff in bulk than it is [to shop]every week,” Bustillos said. “It’s interesting because seeing the price differences, it’s so dramatic.”
Differences in prices range from the type of product being sold.
Fresh produce, food, aluminum and steel from Canada and Mexico that fall under the USMCA are tariff free, but products that don’t, are either taxed at 10% or 25%.
The 25% tariffs are taxed primarily on aluminum and steel outside of Canada and Mexico, and are affecting large products like automobiles, planes and construction.
“Higher steel, aluminum, copper, and lumber import tariffs will probably raise the cost of construction for new units. That will then raise the prices of existing units, as well as the monthly rents for apartments,” Fullerton said.
see TARIFFS on page 6
TARIFFS from page 5
Aluminum and steel tariffs also affect small items, like soda cans or frying pans.
“You really have to spend more time intentionally shopping, which is something that I’m learning, because prices are dramatically different,” Bustillos said.
China responded to U.S. tariffs by implementing their own tax on U.S. goods, currently charging 125%, with China looking to exempt select American imports.
While the globe navigates through trade turmoil, graduating students can be strong financially by learning about key options available to them that avoid items with a high tax.
“Rather [than] purchasing new cars, new graduates should consider buying used fleet cars that are still under warranty. Those fleet cars can be bought from rental car companies like Hertz or National, or from car dealers that sell their demo models after a few months,” Fullerton said.
How economically stable the world in which graduates are walking into is a trait too tough to decipher as of now.
In their time at UTEP, students walking the stage at the Don Haskins Center have been used to facing adversity, and they now get set to carry that attitude into the next chapter of their lives.
Sebastian Perez-Navarro is the multimedia editor for the Prospector and can be reached at spereznavarro@ miners.utep.edu or Instagram and X @sebastianpn8
JESIE GARCIA B Y
REPORTER THE PROSPECTOR
Facing many obstacles throughout her life, 27 year old social work student Angelica Rodriguez has overcome every one of them so that one day she may inspire someone who may be facing obstacles of their own.
During her adolescence, Rodriguez was forced to face unfavorable situations that made her educational finish line feel further. At times, higher education wasn’t even a part of the future she imagined. Growing up in poverty and being placed in foster care at 9 years old left her with the misguided belief that her life purpose didn’t go beyond being a ‘cashier’ or ‘stocker’.
“If you were to ask me at 16 years
TIMELINE from page 5
According to the Texas Tribune, during Rosales’ term, local judges were forced to throw out hundreds of criminal cases due to negligence. Among these cases was that of a murder defendant, for which Rosales’s office pushed a death sentence because they were unprepared for trial.
District Attorney James Montoya stated that the state will no longer be pursuing the death penalty. The decision was announced in a press release on March 25.
old what I was going to do when I grew up, I thought I was either going to work at the supermarket or I was going to be in the military. Those were the two things that I thought would be my life,” Rodriguez said.
It was Rodriguez’s foster parent that first brought this foreign concept, of going to college, to light.
“My foster mom saw an opportunity and said, ‘I think you could go to college,’” Rodriguez said. “At first, I was like, ‘No way!’
When we tested to see my reading levels, I was essentially a junior reading at a third-grade level… but I was the first in my family to graduate high school so at that point I thought, ‘Okay, maybe I could do this college stuff.’”
“This is about allowing the families of the 23 victims who lost their lives on that horrific day–and the 22 wounded–to finally have resolution in our court system. Continual delays due to the handling of this case before I arrived in office have left them in limbo,” Montoya said. “Now, no one in this community will ever have to hear the perpetrator’s name ever again. No more hearings. No more appeals. He will die in prison.”
Having taken office on Jan. 1, Montoya has since met with the families of every victim, most of
Rodriguez was accepted into the University of Texas at El Paso’s (UTEP) college preparatory program. Being surrounded by other future scholars who also grew up in unfavorable circumstances made her feel seen. However, Rodriguez dealt with sudden changes in her life like adoption and new environments. During the first years of her life, she watched the women in her life fit into the role of a stay-at-home mother. Being adopted into wealth by a local judge at 16 years old contributed to a change in attitude.
“This judge, who was now my parent, was telling me, ‘[Going to college] is just what we do in our family. We do school, and you excel, and you have the best tutors and best support.’ I feel like I had
whom would like to see the case finally be resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible.
On April 21, Crusius was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for capital murder, and life in prison for each of 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. During the hearing, Montoya aimed to focus on those affected by the shooting, as he read the names of the 23 victims who were slain, and the 22 who were wounded.
Montoya also criticized his predecessor, Rosales, calling her
culture shock,” Rodriguez said. Unfortunately, Rodriguez was met with failing grades early in her academic career as she was also met with unexpected turns in her romantic relationship at the time. She became pregnant while having fallen into a cycle of abuse and felt stuck in that moment.
“I became the women before me, in a relationship where they treat you however you want and you’re just there,” Rodriguez said. She gave birth to a baby boy and left her situation to protect her and her child, in an effort to show her son that they both could amount to so much more. However, after returning to school following her son’s birth, she was uncertain of herself.
read MORE at theprospectordaily.com
conduct “gross and abominable.”
Following the hearing, victims and family members shared impact statements, to which Crusius listened with little to no reaction. Victim statements continued in the courtroom on April 22, where Cruisius received a hug from Adriana Zandri, whose husband was murdered by Crusius. Shortly after, Crusius began his travel to the state prison system to serve his sentence.
Leah Austin is staff reporter at The Prospector and may be reached at lsaustin@miners.utep.edu
Graduating as a top 10 senior is an accomplishment in and of itself, but for Montwood High School senior Keira Jensen, that’s only a page in her story. This spring, she’ll walk across the stage with something not many other high school students can claim; she’s a published author.
Jensen teamed up with junior Tiffany Gavaldon, a fellow Montwood student, to co-write and illustrate “Not Just a Bow,” a children’s book about a 10-year-old girl named Chloe, a cheerleader with a passion that goes deeper than glitter and pom poms.
“It ‘Not Just a Bow’ tells a story of a young cheerleader, Chloe,” Jensen said. “She does various activities outside of cheer. She loves doing science fair, hanging out with her friends, reading and all that stuff.”
The children’s story highlights the good and bad aspects of Chloe’s life, focusing on the challenges of stereotypes, which Jensen and Gavaldon have both experienced during their time in cheer.
“Besides the great parts of her life, she talks about the negative aspects to cheerleading. It dives into the stereotypes associated with the sport that my coauthor Tiffany (and I) have both experienced because we’ve both been cheerleaders for a really long time,” Jensen said. “It takes Chloe
through a journey of self-love, and she realizes that yes, there might always be people that don’t like what she does, but she’s not going to stop doing what she does because she loves her life.”
Both being longtime cheerleaders and top students of their classes, Jensen and Gavaldon have seen those same stereotypes play out in real life.
“We’re both very academically inclined,” Jensen said. “We’re both top 10. We’re both part of the same Synergi biomedical program. We see the negative stereotypes associated with the sport a lot. Even our teachers, a lot of the time they kind of view us in a negative way.”
The idea of Jensen and Gavaldon creating a book started casually
during a uniform fitting leading up to a cheer season.
“We thought we were going to do a novel at first about our cheer experience,” Gavaldon said. “It was around this time last year that we had our first conversation about it while we were in line to get fitted for our uniforms.”
From there, the coauthors began writing in March 2024, splitting up responsibilities to fit their strengths. Jensen handled the book’s visuals, while Gavaldon handled the book’s marketing.
“Being a coauthor was just easy to do with Keira,” Gavaldon said. “We
were bouncing ideas off of each other and we really just depended on each other. When we were first starting to get it published it was kind of a hectic situation. Knowing I could reach out to her was great.” Despite busy schedules, Jensen and Gavaldon ultimately had “Not Just a Bow” approved and published in October 2024.
“We were really worried that it wouldn’t go through, the anticipation was killing us. We were both out of town and we started promoting it before we knew it was going to be approved. We had no certainty that it was going to
on the gravity of what we really did; high school students normally don’t just publish children’s books on the daily.”
In the months following the release of the book, Jensen and Gavaldon returned to their old middle school, Bill Sybert, to read the book to younger students during National Library Week, including Bill Sybert’s cheer team.
“It was nice to see all the young faces light up when talking about our story and when we mentioned that we wrote the book, because we felt like it inspired kids,” Gavaldon said. “A lot of the teachers were being very supportive.”
As graduation approaches for Jensen, she says this book feels like the perfect way to wrap up her time at Montwood.
“Going into high school, I never really thought this was something I would accomplish,” Jensen said. “This is just bigger than I could have ever imagined, it really means a lot to be graduating as a published author, that’s something I’m most proud of in my high school career.”
With Jensen heading off to Columbia University in the fall, the two coauthors are each going into a new chapter of life. Although their paths may take them in different directions, they’ll always have something special to hold on to; the book they created together.
Iziah Moreno is the photo
The results are in. Amid a busy spring semester, The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) hosts its annual Student Government Association (SGA) elections. SGA listens to students as they serve as the voice for UTEP’s student body. Through its elected executive officers and senators, they ensure student opinions are heard and considered in important university decisions, and work alongside administration to help UTEP’s community grow and succeed.
Ryan Boatright is a sophomore studying political science with a minor in legal reasoning and is the newly elected SGA president.
“Whether it’s policy changes or campus-wide initiatives, my responsibility is to champion student well-being and push for meaningful improvement,”
Boatright said He explains he has always had a passion for community advocacy. Having worked alongside federal, state and local levels of government and joining SGA as a senator-atlarge in September, he felt ready for this role.
“That experience solidified my desire to serve and create change. I loved my experience as a senator and decided to run for president to continue advocating for students,” Boatright said.
His focus this term is to tackle the systemic barriers that may hold
back students from succeeding in their classes.
“I want to focus on ensuring students start their academic journey and are fully supported in finishing it,” Boatright said.
This term, Boatright and the SGA team will target food insecurity and parking, both posing as two common issues amongst students.
“Around 61% of UTEP students face food insecurity, which means they’re unsure where their next meal is coming from. We can’t expect students to thrive academically if they’re struggling with basic needs. I’m working with the UTEP administration to expand access to affordable or free meal programs,” Boatright said.
“The other big issue is parking. As a commuter campus, students shouldn’t face financial or logistical barriers just to attend class. I’ve already begun collaborating with the Parking and Transportation Department to develop more
equitable solutions.”
He hopes to not only bring new options but also expand SGA’s network to non-profits and other resources on and off campus.
“Whether its mental health, housing, legal support, or transportation, there are so many incredible non-profit organizations in El Paso ready to help, but students don’t often know what’s available,” Boatright said.
With excitement stirring for the new term, Boatright explains how joining SGA is deeply rewarding and hopes to leave a lasting impact on campus.
Vianah
On April 25, the Trump administration reinstated thousands of international student visas that had been revoked earlier this month due to minor legal infractions according to Politico. The decision came after a turbulent three-week period in which more than 1,800 international students and graduates from 80 colleges and universities had their legal status changed by the State Department,
Inside Higher Ed reported. Students from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), New Mexico State University (NMSU) and El Paso Community College (EPCC), were among those affected by the visa crackdown.
March 28
When asked about the visa revocations during a press briefing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the State Department was “doing them every day.” “I don’t know actually if it’s primarily student visas. It’s a combination of visas. They’re
visitors to the country. If they’re taking activities that are counter to our foreign – to our national interest, to our foreign policy, we’ll revoke the visa,” Rubio said. Rubio also stated that some of the revocations were related to participation in pro-Palestinian protests, while others were linked to potential criminal activity.
April 7
NMSU’s Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Lakshmi N. Reddi announced that the university was aware of three international students who had
Students interested in using Glean must be
and
AIM
their visas revoked according to The Round Up, NMSU’s student publication.
April 9
KFOX14 reported that 10 students from UTEP had their visas revoked. UTEP officials provided the following statement: “Ten UTEP students had their visas revoked by the federal government this week. We became aware of the visa terminations through status changes in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Student and Exchange Visitor Program database.
UTEP has not received any official notification from DHS about these visa terminations. We are looking at each case individually and we will provide appropriate assistance to students as appropriate,” university officials said.
On the same day, KOAT Action News 7 reported that three additional students at NMSU had their visas revoked.
NMSU officials said the school was creating a task force to handle the revocations.
But the school also noted a handful of visas are revoked each semester for various reasons, including failure to enroll or arrive on campus.
April 11
A spokesperson for EPCC confirmed to KFOX14 that two students from the college had their visas revoked.
“Our international community is important to EPCC, and we remain committed to supporting all students, faculty, and staff,” the spokesperson said to KFOX14.
That same day, UTEP held an informational session for international students. Initially scheduled to take place in the Union Cinema, the event was relocated to a larger classroom in the Undergraduate Learning Center due to higher-thanexpected attendance.
April 17
The Prospector reached out to UTEP officials for further information, university officials confirmed that an additional student had their visa revoked.
“Eleven UTEP students had their visas revoked by the federal government last week,” university officials said. “We are looking at each case individually and we will provide assistance to students as appropriate.”
read MORE at theprospectordaily.com
CAMERON MASON B Y
CONTRIBUTOR THE PROSPECTOR
In some professions more than others, students may find greater success by actively finding ways to stand out from other applicants.
One way college students can do this is by completing additional coursework during college for the purpose of graduating with two majors through a dual degree or double major program.
A dual degree is a college program where students complete the coursework for two different majors, in different colleges, within the same bachelor’s degree.
Gabriela Munoz is a senior who is pursuing a dual degree of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in dance with a concentration in choreographic studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics and bilingualism with a minor in translation and interpretation.
“I have found ways to maybe connect them (her majors), but not necessarily traditional ways to do that,” Munoz said.
Munoz is also the former president and current senior representative of Desert Dance, a student organization, and serves as a peer leader.
“I’ve always been such an overachiever, I like to have stuff on my plate and to just keep going,” Munoz said.
Munoz changed her major early in her college career after seeking
more flexibility in her coursework when discovering that UTEP doesn’t allow education minors for BFA dance students.
Her fear of uncertainty as a dance major at the time inspired her to get another major.
“It was the feeling of not being able to provide for myself, ‘What if I don’t get chosen?’ It’s a competitive industry, and that’s scary. So, I decided to add a major,” Munoz said.
Munoz plans to continue her education by pursuing a Ph.D., where she believes her hard work and diverse studies will come together to shape a stronger future.
Unlike dual degrees that navigate degree programs from two different
colleges, a double major is where students complete the requirements for two different fields of study within the same college.
Senior Israel Garcia is a double major in multimedia journalism and digital media production, both programs fall under the college of liberal arts.
“I’d say the amount of time I have to put in, with work and my career as a photographer, it’s been hard to find downtime for myself. It’s been a lot handling two majors, but staying on top of my work has done wonders,” Garcia said.
While getting a head start in early college, Garcia excelled in the classroom and took his photography to new heights.
He takes pictures for the UTEP athletic teams but is also a local favorite for high school athletes. With journalism being a “rocky” field to start in, he believed the right move was “to stand out” from the common graduate by declaring a double major.
“Even though I’ve found my passion, this just expands my horizon and makes me more of an asset to employers,” Garcia said.
Whether pursuing a dual degree or double major, both students have faced adversity in their path to diplomas, but they couldn’t stress enough how grateful they were for their journey in a unique way.
Cameron Mason is a contributor for The Prospector and can be reached at cmason@miners.utep.edu.
Angel Bosquez
Saralie Buendia
John Wesley Burris III
Victoria Campos
Kenna Danielle Leeann Carranza
Raul Armando Carrillo
Tarah Chafino
Kalyssa Michelle Chavez
Valeria Roxanna Cuellar
Victor Edward Denis
Paola Vivianne Dominguez
Mia Echevarria
Sabella Fierro
Vinella Ramona Fletcher
Jonathan Garcia
Ana P. Gomez Del Campo
Yessman Jamall Green II
Joseph M. Guerra
August C. Gurrola
Michael Hernandez
Steven Jacob Lujan
Nicole Alyssa Martinez
Vivian Nicole Masser
Gabriel A. Mesta
Dafne Valeria Molina
Jair Morales-Gonzalez
Martin A. Moran
Nathaniel Oswaldo Moran
Karyme I. Olivarez
Carlos Alberto Ortega
Kole P. Pellerito
Isaiah Peoples
Angelica Reyes
Fatima Reyes-Bustamant
Jose L. Rios
Yael Hernan Rivera Mendoza
Eduardo Rodriguez
Janet M. Rodriguez
Axel A. Rojero
Denisse Romero
Diego Terrazas
Eric Patrick Ulloa
Ema Uskokovic
Victoria M. Vazquez
Zacarias Velasquez
Nicholas I. Vielma
Victor Manuel Yepez Jr
Kinesiology/
Rehabilitation Sciences
Manuel Eloy Morales Jr
Public Health
Yasmin Abukhurma
Nathan Arreola
Paola Flores
Danni Rae Garcia
Alexa Desiree Magdaleno
Amber Moffatt
Danika Tiana Washington
Rehabilitation Sciences
Esther Dominic Afangideh
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Andre Cabral
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Samantha Garcia
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Alani Renee Herrera
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Saul Shaid Ibarguen
Madeline Alysse Mendoza
Alejandra Mirazo
Yoselin Montoya
Alejandra Ochoa Alvarado
Arely Paola Trujillo
Maleah Shane Tueckmantel
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Diana Alejandra Acosta
Jordan Iris Alvarado
Karla Araujo
Angela Soledad Berumen
Christina Hays Busuladzic
Nayzeth Carbajal
Kaylee Carranco
Allyson Desiree Colunga
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Martin Anthony Grau
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Xinyao Liang
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Fabian V. Sanchez
Gwenyth L. Simonds
Laura Isabe Soto-Feliciano
Art History/Anthropology
Angelli Alexandra Lopez
Art History/
Communication Studies
Sebastian Martinez Herrera
Ashley M. Mendoza
Kitzia K. Pena
Alejandra Ivette Seanez
Creative Writing
Zeira Altuzar
Cristina Flores
Caroline Janis Garcia Rivera
Jesus M. Morales Jr
Sophia Ortega-Carlos
Morgan E. Tinsman
Creative Writing/English & American Literature
Jocelyn Yared Ramirez Gutierrez Jr
Creative Writing/Psychology
Sophia Villalobos
Criminal Justice
Stephanie Alejandre
Mary-Lou Alvarez
Melinda Badillo
Katelyn Barrientos
Jasmine Vanessa Caez
Chayden J. Cepeda
Jason Andrew Choi
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Tay Cunningham
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Juan David Diaz Olmos
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Gala F. Duarte
Luz Natali Duran
Sheila Janeth Estrada
Daniela Flores Perales
Katherine E. Fuentes
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Kenneth Georg Gardea
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Alexa Gonzalez
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Justin Grado
Deandre Eldridge Grady
Robert Guerra
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Paloma Herrera
Axl Jesus Herrera Pelaez
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Karla I. Huerta
Jesse A. Ibarra
Vianca S. Iturralde Duran
Shuang-Ni Jiang
Anakaren Jimenez
Hunter K. Johnson
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Victor Emmanuel Lozano Jr
Anna Mitch Lucero-Zamora
Juan Pablo Luis
Ruben Andre Luna
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Anahi Rubio
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Emilia V. Salazar
Jasmin America Salcido
Marcos Ivan Salinas
Paris Sanchez
Isaac Sandoval
Vianney Aridai Sandoval
Dayla Assenett Solis
Kimberly Solorzano
Karime Lizeth Talamantes
Jose Alfredo Tellez Falliner
Jesus Torres Jr
Bianca Troncoso
Sergio Alexander Valenzuela Juarez
Stephanie Alejandra Vasquez
Luis Angel Vidal Dozal
Michael Zane Woodward
Saidah Zuberi Allen
Criminal Justice/
Psychology
Anahi Mendoza
Arisa S. Morales
Dance Briana Carranco
Digital Media Production
Xitllali Iratze Aguirre
Oscar A. Amaya
Fernando Avila
Paola Bermudez
Joel Alejandro Carrasco
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Jeffrey Allen Crossman
Jafet Sebastian Cruz
Jesus Alberto Escobedo
Omar I. Herrera
Aaron D. Matlock
Annabella A. Mireles
Gwen Stefani Palomares
Pedro Puentes-Amaya
Estephany E. Rodriguez
Adrian Salas
Jordan Sanchez
Yaritza Sifuentes
Anastasia Sigala
Gabriel Marco Spalloni
Ethan Terrazas
Joel J. Torres Jr Mauricio Ulloa Lerma
Aaron Aiden Zamora
Digital Media Production/Theatre Arts
Carlos Perez Rodriguez
English
Christopher Julian Anaya
Virginia Sky Cervantes
History
History/Philosophy
Linguistics
Silva Christian Enrique Valencia
Kinesiology
Luis A. Aguilar
Ricardo Alvarez
Juanpablo Antuna
Steven Aranda
Bianca Michelle Avalos
Carolina Josefina Barron
Fernanda Bejarano Cassandra Blancas
Celeste Alexis Ortega
Alessia Pineda
Dalila Rosalinda Ponce
Celeste Marie Portillo
Rachel M. Powers
Jose Luis Rivera III
Lauro Josue Roman
Ashley Guadalupe Ruiz Lara
Antonio Saenz Jr
Erin Marie Shelley
Gisell America Solis
Joshua Alexander Solorzano
Guadalupe Lucero
Art History/History
Joshua Jahred Munoz
Communication Studies
Daniela Chipchase
Frida Marcela Contreras
Natalie Briana Esparza
Agustin Jimenez
Daniella Louise La Bier
Emily Breanna Miranda
Itzel Alessandra Miranda
Kevin Enriq Molina
Aliyah Celeste Moreno
Fhallon Neifert
Raquel Ocon
Erica Jocelynn Olivo
Stephany Oviedo
Jaime Alejandro Palacios Jr
Jocelyn D. Ponce
Nailea Puentes
Tania Quinones
Teresa Contreras
Robert Henry Crews
Marisol Lujan
Eliana Patricia Perez
English &
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Michael Angelo Basave
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Alexis Marcel Carney
Jesus B. Enriquez Ania Odette Fierro
Luz Stephany Guerra
Annica R. Henry
Vanely Hinojos
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Daniel Alejandro Napoles
Sofia Ortega Vazquez
Sebastian Rivero Acosta
Roberto Karlo Saucedo
Oriana Torrealba
Political Science/ Criminal Justice
Linda Azani
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Satinka Acosta
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Juan J. Ruvalcaba Jr
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Ryan Andrew Santana
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Esly Sepulveda
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Mya Leslie Silva
Lorenzo Roberto Solis
Marietta Espillardo Stout
Ivane Tensaie
Dyanna Torres Erick Torres
Lauren J. Torres
Ariana Trujillo
Anahi Suzette Urrieta
Megan Hannah Valenzuela
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Pamela Vega
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Damaris Velazquez
Natalia C. Villanueva Fernanda Villa-Ortiz
Carol Yanez
Rosa Emma Yanez - Garcia
Kimberly Celine Zamora
Diamond Zuniga
Psychology/Sociology
Esmeralda Jones
Alan Alejandro Valles Villanueva
Security Studies
Jose Manuel Corral
Kelly I. Figueroa
Jocelyn Mikaela Kelly
Boniface Mogeni Manyanya
Higinio Enrique Ortiz
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Paulina Iran Galindo
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Paul Jongs Kim
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Ryan Beckett
Michael Joseph Bibo
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Alex Damion Brown Sr
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Corey Camper Jr
Christopher Kortez Carter
Jayline Celis
Marco Antonio Chacon
Danielle Curtis
Kayne Robert Daudt
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Raul Enriquez Jr
Emma Grace Erickson
Julian Espinoza
Adrian Gabriel Estrada
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Jaime Herrera Jr
Madison Ann Holderman
Alfred Hollenbeck Jr
Adriana Alcala Ibarra
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Laura Y. Martinez
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Cristina Araceli Oliva
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Jacqueline Renae Paredes
Jesus David Portillo
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Destiny Rose Quintero
Maria De Los Remedios Ramirez
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Anayancy Roldan Jr
Ignacio Jaziel Romero
Jacob R. Rubert
Isabel Rubio
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Jesus David Salgado
Robert Dominic Savusa
Laura Ann Serna
Emmanuel Dayton Shaw
Jaylon Shelton
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Amari Arie Thompson
Sione Fakava Tongauiha
Lizette Vasquez
Sandy Ventura
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Alexandra Jasmi Vigil
Hector Villanueva
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Esperanza Zamarripa
Andrea Ivana Zazueta
Delma Estevao Zita
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Jesus Salvador Del Campo
Jesus Isaiah Diaz
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Jesus O. Escobar
Angel Galvez
Joseph Oliver Gage Gonzalez
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David Ezequiel Martinez-Saraoz
Alejandro I. Montes
Amelia Rose Navarro
Kevin Alexis Nino
Luis Miguel Olivas
Rebecca Esperanza Pedroza
Millennia Michelle Perez
Shelby Nicole Rodriguez
Anthony Angel Zavala
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Alondra Rubi Alamillo
Matthew Esteban Barron
Sierra Marissa-Taylor Bernal
Priscilla Cervantes
April M. Chansky
Valeria Chavez
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Aaron Julian Ochoa
Kenia Michelle Pena
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Joselynn Reyes
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Edward Arriaga Jr
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Andrea Estrada
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Alyssa Lynn Gentry
Every individual is confronted with the overwhelming question of what they intend to do for the rest of their life—for many, the outlet to that decision is attending university and exploring different fields to find a path that aligns with their passions, strengths, and longterm goals. Yet attending higher education—the place intended to help achieve those dreams—can also become the space where those ambitions start to feel more malleable than set in stone.
On average, 80% of students will change their major at least once, with the likelihood of it occurring within the first three years of enrollment, according to research conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics.
UTEP graduate Robert Perez changed his major once within his academic career. He wanted to pursue a degree in music to become a choir teacher. However, he settled on psychology after taking an intro to psychology course at El Paso Community College.
“What influenced my decision the most was noticing how excited I was about psychology and how much I struggled with certain music classes. I realized that although I enjoyed singing, I didn’t particularly enjoy all the history and advanced aspects of music theory,” Perez said.
Perez’s decision to shift his focus came not as a spur–of–the-moment choice but as a gradual realization sparked by the fulfillment he found in his elective courses. In the process of exploring these subjects, he began to reconsider his major, ultimately realigning his path with a passion that better suited his interests and aspirations. After much contemplation, Perez
fixated on existential questions such as the purpose of his life, who he is, where he intends to go in life and how he plans to get there. Such introspective questions led him to transition from a major that gave him a sense of security to one that left him excited but intimidated by this newfound educational venture.
“I knew what a music teacher looked like and had a good idea of what they did. I even had experience in leading a [music] lesson,” Perez said. “I didn’t know what a psychologist did or what the job entailed. I did not even know the difference between a therapist and a psychologist.”
Passion is an essential ingredient when devising one’s future that can easily be changed from the individual‘s original recipe for their life. But sometimes, it’s not just passion that stirs the pot—financial factors can become powerful motivators, prompting students to reconsider their majors in pursuit of stability and job security.
Trevor Vigil, a student at Central New Mexico Community College, majored in business and was inspired by the dream of owning a café. However, after taking introductory business courses, they began feeling discouraged and reconsidered their path.
“I love my job in the coffee industry, but I need an industry that has a higher pay cap. I think the political situation in the U.S. has got me looking for the next few years. The way things are moving, the cost of living might go up substantially, and I want to live a comfortable life,” Vigil said.
To transition to cybersecurity, Vigil deliberated and discussed with a handful of friends who already worked in cybersecurity, noting positive praise for the occupation and the sense of
financial security Vigil was searching for.
Changing their major was seamless, as it didn’t delay their initial graduation timeline—they still had a year left at community college. Yet, the decision came with lingering uncertainty, leaving them to wonder if they might one day regret the shift.
“Change it! Life is short; if you would rather learn something else, learn that. I’m hopeful it will save my life. I’m feeling motivated about it, and if all goes well, I envision myself happier with my career,” Vigil said.
While the notion of college is often framed as the blueprint for one’s future, the reality is more fluid. There will be divots and detours in that outline—moments of uncertainty, change and redirection that ultimately shape the parameters of what you decide your future will be. By embracing college as a nonlinear avenue toward their future and leaning into those shifts, students can rest assured that they aren’t losing their direction; they’re refining it.
Jazmine Gracia is a writing contributor for The Prospect and can be reached at jigracia@miners.utep.edu
Alyda Muela, editor
Over three years or more of classes, late night studying and juggling many other responsibilities–this is what makes up a university student’s life. Years of hard work and perseverance are commemorated in one major ceremony at the end of each student’s academic career.
But has the idea of graduating lost its importance? Are the countless nights of unmeasurable amounts of effort represented well in a twohour ceremony?
Steven Terrazas is an upcoming graduate at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) majoring in engineering innovation and leadership with a concentration in civil engineering. Terrazas believes that college graduations do honor graduates properly, especially since his high school graduation was halted due to the pandemic.
“I graduated in 2020 [from high school] at the start of Covid,” Terrazas said. “Even though I was proud to graduate top 10% and even be recognized with an award, it still felt anticlimactic because we didn’t have a proper ceremony and we couldn’t celebrate with our loved ones.”
A graduation ceremony is an important milestone in a student‘s life that should be shared with those closest to them.
Plans may change for students, and doubt may occur, but racing towards the finish line is part of the journey. That finish line represents the commitment, dedication and determination of a student.
Health science student Victoria Campos is a graduating senior seeking a degree in kinesiology. She feels that graduating and being up on stage represents each student’s
journey and every piece of work they have put in, good or bad.
“I do think it does commemorate all the hard work we put in,”
Campos said. “Because all of those classes, that homework, every hard test that I may have failed or passed, it all comes together. I finally did it you know, I’m done.”
The road to graduation isn’t an easy one, but the journey is not only represented well by a ceremony, but also helps students find their next stage in life.
Terrazas plans on obtaining his professional engineering license to work as a structural engineer for Nucor. He believes that because of UTEP, his goal will become a reality after graduation.
“UTEP was my first choice because of its affordability and high-quality education. I get the same education and great college experience without worrying about student loan debt,” Terrazas said.
For other students, the graduation ceremony will be another steppingstone that furthers their journey in education. Once concluding her bachelor’s degree at
therapy clinic, and then I want to be able to go into the UTEP PT [physical therapy] program,” Campos said.
of time and effort, but it does represent the students’ journeys well, displaying their hard work for friends and family to see and setting them on a new path for life.
The Prospector and may be reached at jemontero@miners.utep.edu
When looking upon a sea of graduates, one could find all sorts of colors sitting at the top of their heads. What once started as a political movement is now a way for students to use their creativity to send different messages. The origins of decorating graduation caps haven’t been officially pinpointed, but the tradition had been used by student protestors in the counter-culture movement of the 1960s. Today, the tradition has kept evolving and is now used as a form of expression for many different reasons.
University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) graduates use their creativity for a variety of reasons whether it’s making their caps “cute” or having a piece of graduation that they hold close to their hearts.
UTEP student Isaiah Regalado, 25, graduates with his degree in education in May. His graduation cap is filled from corner to corner with messages and signatures from people he was supported by including his family, mentors and his first group of students.
“I’ll receive my degree alone, but I never felt like I did it alone,” Regalado said. “Because of these people... I’m going to be walking that stage so I want them to be a
At the end of each semester, ten graduating students receive an honor from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). This award illustrates their academic fortitude, community service and leadership efforts. The selected Top Ten Seniors are known to “embody the spirit, values, and traditions of a UTEP Miner,” according to the UTEP Alumni Association.
Many former Top Ten seniors have gone on to fulfill successful careers. Two examples include UTEP alumnae Adriana Gomez Licon and Anahy Diaz. Licon is a national politics reporter for the Associated Press, while Diaz is a social media associate producer for NBC Universal.
Both women come from different backgrounds, but are connected through their regard for education.
Licon was born and raised in Sonora, Mexico to academic parents. Her mother studied
computer science and graduated from UTEP. Her father, a pediatric surgeon, was the one who pushed Gomez to pursue journalism.
“Growing up in my house was constantly ‘What are you reading? What are you learning? Tell me all about it. Give me the summary of how the day went.’ We were always very focused on school. [My dad] always wanted me to be doing something and learning about the world,” Licon said.
Diaz’s parents immigrated from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico when she was just one-year-old. Her mother held a degree in business administration from Mexico, and her father worked as a truck driver. After moving to the U.S., her mother was inspired by a Head Start center to pursue a degree in early childhood education.
Her mother advanced within the Head Start from teacher’s assistant, to teacher, to assistant director, and became the director of one of the centers two years ago.
“I grew up watching my mom
start from zero and make her way up. It’s a reflection of something that’s been taught to my sisters and I our whole life,” Diaz said. Both alumni stressed the importance of getting involved on campus. Licon and Diaz both served at UTEP for The Prospector in various roles and participated in
other organizations on campus.
“The Prospector was great at teaching you how fast paced [journalism] is. I eventually did a year as editor in chief, and so it was also about how to manage and inspire other journalists to write what they wanted to write or pitch stories,” Licon said. “The Prospector [teaches you about] writing about the university as a town with a student government, performances, sports and teaches you how to cover the real world.”
Diaz, who also spent time as The Prospector’s editor in chief, shares the values of journalism that she discovered at the publication.
“It taught me that great journalism can come from anywhere. It’s important to value the journalism that students or student journalists create because often times, we’re very much at the center of a lot of the stories happening around our community,” Diaz said.
The two journalists represent different generations of Top Ten
Seniors. Licon graduated in 2009 with a degree in print media, while Diaz graduated in 2022 with a multimedia journalism degree.
As UTEP alumni, both women share a sense of border life that influences their work today.
Licon has covered border politics for much of her career, including her very first story for The Prospector, which highlighted the Border Security Expo previously held at the university.
“You learn a lot about the border dynamics and how people go back and forth,” Licon said.
Diaz adds on to this sentiment, as she says her background plays a key role today.
“Having that sort of background and experience and knowledge of how a border city works, how a community speaks, and how a community thinks have been extremely valuable. I’m reminded every day of El Paso and UTEP and how much potential and great work comes out of the city and out of the
Regalado uses his creative freedom on his graduation cap as a final expression of the love and support he received throughout college. The decorating of graduation caps doesn’t always have to carry a significant sentimental value, but it could be a simple way to express style and interests through the simple black, blue and orange graduation attire.
Denisse Romero, 22, is graduating with a bachelor’s in kinesiology. She plans to decorate her graduation cap with Hello Kitty stickers and decals. She calls herself a Hello Kitty girl at heart and says this is a fun way to show it off.
“Hello Kitty just fits my vibe,” Romero said. “I think it adds a lot of personality to just a basic black gown, and I just wanted to add personality to mine and make it more individualized.”
Romero and Regalado both believe their grad caps are a physical memento from their graduation that they can cherish for years, even with different meanings.
“I can look back at it a few years from now and be like, ‘Oh, look how cute my grad cap was!’,” Romero said.
These graduates, amongst many others, will walk the stage next month and while carrying personal mementos of themselves as their caps represent the things they love and cherish.
Jesie Garcia is a staff reporter and may be reached at jlgarcia36@miners.utep.edu or on Instagram at @ empanaditawrites.
PHOTOGRAPHER THE PROSPECTOR SALMAPAOLA BACA B Y
Visitors walking through the University of Texas at El Paso are often in awe at the distinct Bhutanese-style buildings that settled in naturally at the foothills of the Franklin Mountains. For many students and staff, however, the extraordinary story behind this Himalayan-inspired campus often goes unnoticed.
In 1916, the wife of UTEP’s first dean, Kathleen Worrell, discovered a National Geographic article published in 1914 from featuring Bhutanese dzongs, fortress-like structures with massive sloping walls, intricate woodwork, and tiered golden roofs. Captivated by their beauty and harmony with
School of Mines and Metallurgy, now UTEP, adopt this style for its campus buildings. Completed in 1917, the original five structures introduced a style that would later define the university’s identity for over a century.
From the beginning, UTEP administrators committed themselves to building in the Bhutanese style. UTEP associate professor of art history, Max Grossman, states, “UTEP has adhered to the style because, number one, it is beautiful, unique, and aesthetically pleasing. The buildings harmonize with the
BHUTAN on page 22
university and I’m so proud to be a Miner,” Diaz said.
The last thing Licon and Diaz share is their encouragement for top ten hopefuls to not only be active students and participants in their communities, but to be courageous, ambitious and determined to find opportunities.
“Don’t think that because you didn’t go to one of the Ivy Leagues or one of the top state schools that you don’t have it. What you have at UTEP is very important and it’s crucial. Put yourself out there, be confident, and be vocal,” Licon said.
According to Diaz, the first step for upcoming graduates is simply to get involved.
“It’s an award that can be handed to anyone at UTEP as long as you’re willing to just get involved and take that first step. I think anyone’s name can be up there. Be inspired by that and realize that you can do it too,” Diaz said. Leah
from page 21
campus and community.”
Unlike many American universities that favor neoclassical, Gothic, or modernist styles, UTEP remains one of the few institutions globally to replicate an Asian architectural style across its campus.
From the earliest buildings, such as Old Main, Quinn Hall and Graham Hall, UTEP has sustained a visual unity inspired by Bhutanese fortresses, even as new buildings blend modern construction with traditional elements.
Recent projects like the Interdisciplinary Research Building, and the Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace Center continue this tradition, adapting Bhutanese motifs such as sloping battered walls and intricate woodwork into modern facilities.
Yet, as the campus expands, many students and faculty remain unaware of the history stitched into the buildings around them.
“I have noticed that when you go inside the buildings, there is a lot of Asian cultural influence, and I think that is neat,” Jessica De Leon, a UTEP student said. “Every time I pass by UTEP, I always think, ‘Wow, the buildings are so nice but also different from our culture.’
Some buildings have caught my attention because of how much they reflect that cultural style.”
One of the campus’ most significant recent additions is the Lhakhang Cultural Center, also known as the Lhakhang Temple. Initially built for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., the Lhakhang was a gift from the Kingdom of Bhutan to the people of the United States. It was
carefully disassembled, transported, and reconstructed in 2015.
The Lhakhang is a masterpiece of Bhutanese craftsmanship constructed by artisans using traditional techniques. Every detail, from the hand-carved cedar wood to the brightly painted murals depicting Buddhist deities and myths, were executed with precision and deep respect for Bhutanese traditions. The temple symbolizes friendship between Bhutan and the United States and is an educational and cultural space for the El Paso community.
“Everybody who visits the campus is struck by the uniqueness and beauty of the architecture, which brings a sense of peace because, is that not what Buddhism is about? It is about inner peace, balance and harmony,” Grossman said.
Despite the cultural significance
embedded into every structure, many passersby remain unaware of the unique history shaping UTEP’s visual identity. Unlike campuses where architecture fades into the background, UTEP’s design offers a chance to connect with its history for those who stop to notice.
As UTEP grows, the Bhutanese style remains a lasting symbol of its identity. It is a standing tradition. New facilities are expected to carry forward the distinctive features that have made UTEP a unique blend of cultures in the desert Southwest. In doing so, the campus is a rare American tribute to Bhutanese art, spirit and architecture worth pausing to admire.
Sofia Sierra, editor
to share my passion with someone else and help them. It really does make me happier,” Enriquez said.
A sea of red bandanas filled the crowd, bearing one fighter’s name – “Poision” Ivy Enriquez.
The 18-year-old stepped into the ring at Memorial Gym in February to begin her professional boxing career. Years worth of training and motivation led her to be co-main event of the night.
In four furious bouts, Enriquez’s hand was raised declaring her a winner, and inscribing Enriquez’s first professional win onto her book. Following her win earlier this year, Enriquez was bound to be the star of another main event, her high school graduation.
Currently a senior at Bel Air High School, the Lady Highlander carved a strong path both in her boxing and academic career.
“I would say I’ve just gotten used to it, because I grew up boxing and going to tournaments, (while) still in school. I’ve always had my priorities, which is school and then boxing,” Enriquez said. “But it’s definitely a lot more different now that I turned professional because the trainings are more intense and longer. So, it’s a lot more discipline; it’s a handful, but it’s nothing that I can’t do.”
Even with graduation nearing, Enriquez recently tallied her second professional win in Odessa, Texas. Enriquez said being able to balance both aspects of her life stemmed from her family’s support.
“My family is my motivation, my dad always tells me, ‘I know one day, you’re going to be a world champion,’” Enriquez said. “This pushes me and keeps me on that path to where I want to be.”
Soon walking the stage to her high school graduation, Enriquez said she aspires to be a dental hygienist. Beginning her education at El Paso Community College (EPCC), Enriquez hopes to build her way up to an orthodontist.
Looking far into the future, Enriquez would like to open a gym with her dad in El Paso to train others. Several friends of Enriquez have begun to box as well; she said garnering attention for the sport brings her joy.
“I’m glad I can share (boxing) with (my friends) because boxing is not for a lot of people, so we need
A passion for boxing is also rooted in Moises Rodriguez’s livelihood. Boxing since he was 8 years old, the amateur with over 200 fights on his record, said going to school while juggling boxing was not an easy feat.
“When I would go to nationals, I would miss a week or two weeks. I’ll come back, and have a bunch of work,” Moises Rodriguez said. “So, on top of the work, I still have to work out, and I have to make sure I’m eating good. I wake up before school and train and when I get home, I have to train as well.
It’s definitely hard, but you have to sacrifice if you want to be good at the sport.”
Dedicated to boxing, Moises Rodriguez said he is training for bigger opportunities.
“I can’t wait to get out of school and see because I feel like I have a lot of opportunity in boxing, and also other job careers,” Moises Rodriguez said. “I’m hoping to go into the 2028 Olympics with Team USA, it’s a goal of mine. I want to also go professional making it as far as I can because I’ve been doing this for 10 years, and I can’t stop now.”
Once he graduates El Dorado High School, Moises Rodriguez would like to continue his education with the U.S. Military under the World Class Athlete Program – where soldiers abide by their military careers while also training for Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Moises Rodriguez said he has been boxing for so long, it’s now instilled into his blood.
“I’ve been in boxing so long, that I can’t even remember what I would do without it,” Moises Rodriguez said. “Boxing has made me who I am, it’s kept me doing good things, and I’m not out doing bad things.”
Discipline and strength are skills all boxers echo, including Dominic Rodriguez. The Montwood High School senior has been boxing since he was 7 years old, yet as he grew older, he shifted to other sports.
Yet, the spark for boxing reignited thanks to Warrior’s Edge Gym. “(Boxing) made me more focused and more disciplined with myself,” Dominic Rodriguez said. “My family says, ‘No boxing if you do
bad in school,’ so I got to get good grades. There were times where I felt like giving up, but you know any boxer goes through that, even pros, so I kept discipline and kept going and made it to the next level.”
Throughout high school, Dominic Rodriguez kept quiet about his boxing career but hopes to soon build his name amongst the others in the Borderland.
“I’m really humble, so I don’t really talk about it, I’m like a quiet kid,” Dominic Rodriguez said. “So, if people do ask, (I’ll say), ‘Oh, yeah, I do some boxing,’ but I’m not really like (bragging about it) – I want to be humble all the time.”
The Montwood High School senior said he would like to continue his education at EPCC as well.
Grit, discipline, and strength are common themes amongst high school boxers. Having a slew of things to handle, including hours of training mixed with hours’ worth of homework, these boxers have shown dedication to their craft.
And as the tassel shifts from right to left, these soon-to-be graduated high schoolers will continue to persevere with their sport, despite all the obstacles.
Sofia Sierra is the sports editor and may be reached at sdsierra2@miners.utep.edu.
(Top to bottom) Moises Rodriguez, a x9 USA Boxing national champion, Dominic Rodriguez, who started boxing at age 7, and Ivy Rodriguez, a rising professional with two pro wins, are all seniors in high school preparing to take their boxing careers to the next level as they go into college. Each of them have dedicated years to perfecting their boxing skills inside the ring. Now, as they close one chapter and open another, they aim to make an even greater impact in both boxing and their academic pursuits. Photos by Diego CruzCastruita/The Prospector
Senter said this decision was not taken lightly and was in fact made with a heavy heart.
female student-athletes in UTEP’s other women’s sports programs,” Senter said.
An announcement made on Friday, April 18 by UTEP Athletics that shocked the campus community – the tennis program was to be discontinued which was effective immediately.
The UTEP tennis team’s 2025 season ended two days before the announcement was made. On April 16, the Miners fell short to the New Mexico State University Aggies 4-0 in the first round of the Conference USA Spring Tournament.
The announcement was given by Vice President and Director of Athletics Jim Senter stating that the decision ultimately came because of the unprecedented changes occurring in college athletics.
Senter said these decisions will “enable UTEP to allocate additional resources to its remaining 16 sports programs, ensuring their long-term viability.”
While the announcement was made by Senter, the decision was reached by the executive team of UTEP Athletics and was then proposed to UTEP President, Dr. Heather Wilson.
“Our women’s tennis studentathletes have represented the university in a first-class manner for over 40 years and have often set the standard for academic achievement among all our sports programs,”
Senter said. “We are so grateful to Head Coach Ivan Fernandez and Associate Head Coach Joanna Furdyna for all the hard work that they have put in leading this program and mentoring our student-athletes.”
Senter went on to add that the decision also came from the influx in prices on common necessities for the program.
Resources such as scholarships, facility rental fees, travel expenses and overall operating budget continued to rise making the allocation of funds and resources more complex and strategic.
With this heavy loss, other sports at the university would now have the chance to open more doors for female student-athletes according to Senter.
“This strategic reallocation will create more opportunities for
While a surprise to many, this decision is not too uncommon for racket sports at the college of mines. The last time UTEP discontinued one of their student athletic programs was in May of 1999, in which the men’s tennis team was discontinued.
Another major reason for the discontinuation of the sport was that the university did not have an onsite facility for the team. The UTEP women’s tennis team practiced and hosted its games at the El Paso Tennis & Swim Club on St. Vrain Street, near UTEP.
For a tennis facility to be built, a more extensive donor base would have been required to raise sufficient funding.
As for the players from the UTEP women’s tennis team, the university will honor the scholarships given to the students prior to the announcement so long as the student remains at UTEP to complete their degree.
In addition, UTEP athletics will support the transfer over to a different university if that is the
decision made by the athlete. UTEP does not plan on cutting other programs at the moment and will continue to sponsor the NCAAmandated FBS minimum of 16 sports.
After 40 years with an inaugural season in 1983-1984, UTEP will hang its rackets for good, moving on from racket sports and putting its focus onto other programs.
The women’s tennis program has been running for 40 years and on April 18, UTEP announced the discontinuation of the program.
LEAH AUSTIN B Y
REPORTER THE PROSPECTOR
For the past two years, senior Angelina Amparano has played for UTEP soccer as a goalkeeper. This year, Amparano will retire from the field and walk the stage with a degree in biomedical sciences.
The Tuscon native began playing soccer at just four years old, and her determination to continue the soccer path stemmed from her parents’ encouragement.
“I really wanted to try other sports, but they were like, ‘No, soccer is the good sport. You need to stick with it.’ Ever since then, I just stuck with soccer. I did want to stop playing at one point in my life. But again, my parents were just there [saying], ‘You should continue. You don’t know where it’ll take you,’” Amparano said.
After winning three state championships for Salpointe Catholic High School, Amparano went on to Pima Community College. Unsure of what she wanted to study, Amparano chose Pima CC where she gained valuable experience that influenced her game during her time at UTEP.
“That was one of the best decisions that I think I could have made. One thing that was special
about Pima is everybody [on the team] is from Tucson. I played with people who I knew of and who I grew up with, and that was really fun. That just really made me love the sport again. When that was all over, I thought, ‘I really do want to keep playing,’” Amparano said.
Almost by chance, Pima CC scrimmaged UTEP soon after.
UTEP soccer coach Gibbs Keeton noticed Amparano’s skill and brought her on as a Miner.
“He gave me the opportunity to come and play here. I went on my visit a week after [the scrimmage] and I just fell in love with UTEP,” Amparano said.
During her time with UTEP, Amparano started in 16 games, played 1,402 minutes, and only allowed 13 goals in total. Amparano also excelled academically as a CUSA Academic Medalist and Honor Roll recipient for two consecutive years.
Balancing athletic and academic success can be difficult, but Amparano asserts that discipline is the key.
“I think that time management is a big thing, and I really learned that and got the hang of it throughout college. Even at Pima, it was time consuming and stressful, but it is
rewarding. [When you] have to stay busy, you don’t really have time to get distracted. Everyone likes to go out to party, but I won’t do that unless all my stuff is done,” Amparano said.
Amparano takes inspiration from many aspects of her life, the first being her coaches, who she credits for her mental strength on the field.
“I’ve had really good coaches who have taught me good habits. During the game when I feel like I am alone, I’m honestly just looking at the ball, thinking about what I need to do to block this shot. Am I in a good position? Am I reading the opponent? Am I communicating with my team the right way so that if I do block this shot, they’re there to get the rebound and clear it?” Amparano said. “I could give that to my coaches. That’s how I learned how to do that.”
She is also inspired by the future of El Paso soccer and the growth of the sport within the city.
“In the UTEP community, soccer is growing. I really like having the ID camps here because they really want high school girls to come out and play,” Amparano said.
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Ivane Tensaie is a senior guard for the UTEP women’s basketball team. This semester, she will exchange the jersey for a stole as she walks the stage to receive a degree in psychology. Before beginning her career with UTEP in her junior year, the Minnesota native played for Pennsylvania State University. Since her transfer, Tensaie has racked up accolades such as earning All-Conference USA (CUSA) Second Team Honors.
“That was a goal I had to be able to accomplish. Just knowing everything that I had gone through, basketball-wise and just personally in the past few years, and what I had to overcome, that meant a lot to me. It also made me want to push forward and become a better leader for this group, and have more success as a team as
well,” Tensaie said.
Tensaie led on the court on multiple occasions, she’s first in the team for minutes played, minutes per game, points per game, and earned her spot as the top scorer in over a dozen games. Tensaie also strives for success off the court, as she was named on CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll for two years in a row.
Maintaining both the “student” and “athlete” aspects of the title is difficult, but Tensaie says that conserving a sense of structure is the key.
“It can be difficult at times. We have busy schedules, and [we’re] always running around or having something to do. But I feel like I’ve definitely developed good time management skills. Just make sure you have a routine and stick to it,” Tensaie said.
Though Tensaie has been with UTEP for a fairly short time, she’s not only gained some high statistics, but has also gained some close bonds with her teammates and coaches.
“The most rewarding part is the relationship that I’ve built with the coaching staff, but also with my teammates. Just being able to hang out with them off the court, develop close bonds, and have friends that I can carry with me for a lifetime after this,” Tensaie said.
Tensaie will have the chance to
develop these bonds even further, as she returns to the team for another year following graduation. The guard says her return will allow her to develop her skills as well.
“I’m excited to have another shot at another season with these girls and coaching staff. [I’ll be] continuing to develop, so that when I do end up leaving, I can be ready for a pro career,” Tensaie said.
Tensaie has already created some notable moments as part of the UTEP team, including two game winning shots against Sam Houston and Florida Internation University, within a span of two weeks. However, she hopes that people will remember her for her attitude and drive on the court.
“I definitely want be known as someone who had a great work ethic. I just want to be known for how I was always in the gym, working on my game and on the mental side. I want to be known for being a good teammate and being a good, positive person to the people around me,” Tensaie said.
UTEP fans will continue to experience Tensaie’s game following graduation, and she hopes the support will continue as well.
“I’m really amazed by the support we get and how encouraging people are in this community. It definitely motivates me and my teammates,” Tensaie said.
nuevamente tuvimos un ‘sold out.’”
La magia de la lucha libre iluminó el Segundo Barrio la noche del 15 de abril en el “Boys and Girls Club” de El Paso, cuando Cinta de Oro celebró su segunda función benéfica para recaudar fondos a favor del club, reunio a talentos de varias partes del mundo en un esfuerzo por apoyar a la juventud local. Cinta de Oro, también conocido como Sin Cara en la WWE y luchador originario de El Paso, encabezó el evento junto a la superestrella de Triple AAA y nativo de Ciudad Juárez, Pagano, con el objetivo de darle mayor visibilidad a la cultura de la lucha libre y reforzar su compromiso con la comunidad.
“Muy contento la respuesta del público ha sido espectacular estoy muy feliz como luchador, promotor, y amante de la lucha libre”, Cinta de Oro dijo. “Me motiva muchísimo a seguir dando espectáculos de lucha libre que la gente ame lo que haces y
El “Boys and Girls Club” vibró con la energía de las familias que se dieron cita para presenciar una cartelera llena de emoción, vuelos espectaculares y mucha pasión sobre el cuadrilátero.
Luchadores de México, Estados
Unidos y otros países como Alemania se unieron para ofrecer un espectáculo inolvidable, todo con el objectivo para ayudar a la juventud local.
“Estoy muy emocionado por traer más luchadores no solo locales sino también internacionales que
quieran poner su granito de arena y ayudar a esta fundación”, Cinta De Oro dijo.
En el evento principal de la noche, Cinta de Oro y Pagano unieron fuerzas en un combate que hizo vibrar a los presentes. La combinación del estilo extremo de Pagano con la técnica y experiencia de Cinta de Oro logró conectar con la afición fronteriza.
“Es una emoción que no te puedes imaginar es la adrenalina que se te conecta y estar al lado de Cinta de Oro luchando”, Pagano dijo.
“El evento fue muy bonito, y no se
destacaron la importancia de inspirar a las nuevas generaciones, utilizando la lucha libre como un medio de conexión cultural y social.
“Que no tapen la memoria de los otros luchadores, que recuerden que es muy bonito reconocer a los luchadores que ya están grandes”, Pagano dijo. “Y la gente y sigan amando la lucha libre porque hace que cosas como estas pasen y recaudar fondos como hoy.”
La función fue parte de un esfuerzo continuo de Cinta de Oro para utilizar su plataforma en favor del desarrollo juvenil y para
IN BRIEF:
Segundo Barrio welcomed Cinta de Oro’s second fundraising event April 15. Cinta de Oro partnered up with Mexican lucha libre company, “Triple AAA” superstar and Ciudad Juárez native, Pagano to not only raise funds but to bring awareness to the sport of wrestling.
“I’m excited to bring more wrestlers not only locally, but internationally who want contribute to the local youth,” Cinta de Oro said.
Families from the Boys and Girls Club of El Paso enjoyed the thrill of wrestling that night. Wrestlers from Mexico, U.S. and Germany stepped onto the stage to provide a unique showing experience.
“It’s an emotion that you can’t imagine, the adrenaline that connects, wrestling beside Cinta de Oro,” Pagano said. “The event was really beautiful, and it’s an experience that won’t happen again because each event is unique.”
All fighters agreed of the importance to inspire the new generation of fighters, using lucha libre as a way to connect to the community culturally and socially.
“We shouldn’t overlook the history of other fighters, it’s beautiful to remember the wrestlers who are already retired,” Pagano said. “And people should continue to love lucha libre, because it allows for events like this to happen and collect funds like we did today.”
Lucha Libre magic will continue on May 24, with a collection of new international wrestlers, fighting face to face, all in efforts to fundraise for the Boy and Girls Club of El Paso.
reserved for junior Iliana Munoz.
Game One:
Kennesaw State (11-39, 2-22 Conference USA) came into their penultimate CUSA series of the season with only one win.
As for the Miners, after starting 2-10 in CUSA, a six-game win streak now had them opening the series versus the Owls in search of their ninth conference win.
Despite momentum favoring UTEP, it was KSU who had a strong start at the plate, driving in runs at the top of the first inning courtesy of runs-batted-in (RBI) single from sophomore Ava Guzoswki, and a sacrifice fly from freshman Ana Gore.
The Miners, who are second in CUSA in batting average, failed to drive in any runs for the first two innings. At the top of the third, the Owls extended their lead four to nothing after a two-RBI double from Guzowski.
Sophomore pitcher Leah Jannakos had only allowed one hit from UTEP until their third batting appearance. With a runner on first, senior Ashlynn Griffith singled down to right field for a base hit. In came redshirt junior Paige Lassiter, who was starting in a spot typically
With only one out on the board Lassiter blasted Jannakos’ pitch out of the Helen of Troy Softball Complex fence and launched UTEP right back into the ball with a three-run homer, to cut KSU’s lead down to a run.
The Owls would respond with two RBI singles from sophomore shortstop Jojo Johnson in the fourth inning, and junior catcher Macie Howes in the fifth inning to extend their lead six to three.
Only one out remained for UTEP as senior Ajia Richard, who leads CUSA in batting, and is ranked top five in the nation, took the plate.
With a runner on first, Richard would blast her pitch down the left field line, sending freshman Brantley Lavas home, while she reached second base.
In came CUSA freshman of the week Marissa Burchard, who after a controversial foul ball ruling from the home plate umpire took away an RBI double from Burchard, succeeded in hitting a single up the middle to still get a run on the board for UTEP. The Miners, with two innings to go, had cut KSU’s lead to one.
Freshman pitcher Serenity Jacoway was only pitching her second inning of the day after
relieving graduate student Taja Felder, yet she was able to get outs on three out of four Owl batters in the sixth inning.
As the Owls clung to a one run lead, Head Coach Tripp MacKay decided to relieve Jannakos of her duties and inserted junior pitcher Kenley Hilleary into the circle.
Hilleary’s would have to deal with the fiery sophomore shortstop Madi Mendoza, who on a one two count would hit a single to get on base. She would later go to second after junior Bri Garcia walked.
In came senior Amaya Lee as a pinch hitter for Lavas, she would load up the bases for UTEP setting up Ashlynn Griffith, who would connect on a single that sent two runners’ home, giving the Miners their first lead of the night.
Maria Aguirre-Macias
Heidi Alvarado
Frida Bernal
Jacqueline Berry
Brittney Bourn
Nina Bustamante
Luis Carbajal
Jacqueline Carzoli
Chloe Clifton
Aaron Contreras
Cesar Cuellar
Joana De Avila
Erin-Ann Nicole Delisle
Ana Dueñez
Alexis Fabela
Raul Franco
Andrew Garcia
Alondra Gonzalez
Jennifer Guillen
Stephanie Ibaven
Ilana Johnston
Alexa Juarez
Kennedy King
Diana Lazare
Ruben Lucero
Aaron Luna
Breanna Mcdonald
Claudia Mcfarlane
Alfredo Medrano
Rocio Mireles
Deanna Mora
Lilyana Muñoz
Valeria Nava
Erin Ornelas
Alondra Orozco
Priscila Padilla
Andrea Perez
Joseph Quintana
Leslie Robles
Kassandra Rodriguez
Margarita Romero
Luis Salazar
Amanda Santillan
Sofia Segura
Jasmeen Silvestre
Lynzie Smith
Christopher Soto
Stephanie St. Pierre
Pebbles Urban
Jaylynn Valdez
Alexander Velasquez
Marlene Velazquez
Evan Villalva
Luis Villegas
Valeria Zubiate Saldivar