OPINION Page 2
Hey Siri, play ‘Piano Man’
NEWS Page 7
UTEP prepares for graduation weekend
ARTS & CULTURE Page 19
Heidi Baca’s journey into bioarcheology: breathing life into the past
SPORTS Page 21
UTEP Dance team becomes NDA College National Champions
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THE PROSPECTOR
Editor’s Note: The Prospector is identifying the student by “G” only due to the sensitive nature of her family’s immigration status.
As commencement approaches, thousands of students at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) prepare to walk on the stage. Many will get to look out into the Don Haskins Center audience and see seats filled with loved ones cheering them along. But for some students, the milestone comes with a quieter reality, empty seats where loved ones should be.
For G, a 23-year-old senior at UTEP, commencement represents years of sacrifice, not only her own, but her family’s. Yet as she prepares to walk the stage, the people she most wants in the crowd will not be there.
“I’ve looked forward to this day since I was a kid,” G said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, finally everything that we went through was worth something, and now I have something to show for it.’ And [now] the people that matter the most, I can’t go up to them and I can’t hug them and I can’t show them.”
G grew up in El Paso as the daughter of immigrant parents from Chihuahua and Jalisco, Mexico. Her parents moved to the United States before she was
born, believing she would have opportunities they did not.
From an early age, she understood the weight of that decision.
Her childhood was shaped by moments of uncertainty, including encounters with immigration enforcement where she had to hide in her own home. There was fear during routine traffic stops and the realization that her family lived under constant risk. Those experiences, she said, pushed her to
grow up quickly and shaped her sense of purpose.
“I got into politics very young, because everything around me in my life has been politics. I’ve felt politics affect me firsthand,” G said. “I made a commitment as a kid. I was like, ‘I want to be an immigration lawyer.’”
Central to her journey was her mother, who gave up her own educational aspirations to build a life for her daughter.
“She sacrificed her being able to
After a hiatus of nearly four years, BTS finally came back in full throttle, announcing their new album, “ARIRANG,” and their awaited world tour. One of the stops being our very own borderland city, El Paso.
As a fan of BTS for almost 10
years, I cannot begin to describe the shock I felt. I was 9 years old when I first discovered the K-Pop band. At my grandmother’s house, in a separate room, my cousin asked my sister to pick between a “happy song,” and a “sad song.” She chose “Not Today” as the happy song, their most recent song at the time. After my sister played the song for
me a few days later, I immediately fell in love with it, and I can truly say that song changed my life in the best way possible. It meant so much to me because my sister, who loved it as well, made it a point to share it with me.
see PICANTE on page 2
have an education, she sacrificed being close to her family for me to be able to have what she never had,” G said.
Her mother emphasized academics from a young age, pushing her to excel in school despite financial hardship. G said that dedication is the reason she is graduating today.
see SEATS on page 5
For the first time in 2026, graduation season is upon us.
Seniors at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) are preparing to walk the stage and receive their long-awaited degrees during commencement weekend on May 16. After years of hard work, many graduates are reflecting on whether college matched the expectations they once had before arriving on campus.
Students from a wide range of backgrounds, colleges and graduate programs will cross the stage this spring. Many scholars vary in experience despite the glamorized college life mindset. As the nation’s leading Hispanicserving institution and a Research 1 open-access university with a largely commuter-based student population, UTEP offers a college experience shaped heavily by culture, community and resilience. Senior Jairo Hernandez of the UTEP nursing program is among the students graduating this semester. A Guatemalan and Dominican American from Los Angeles, Calif., Hernandez is also a member of the Texas Nursing Students Association. “Being at UTEP helped me build community with people from diverse backgrounds,” Hernandez said.
see MYTHS on page 7
Ximena Cordero, editor-in-chief
Weirdly enough, I currently have the crown for “Student Media and Publications student veteran.”
A title given to me because I’ve been with the department since summer 2023.
With an accolade like “office unc,” I’ve read my fair share of farewell pieces. My name often makes an appearance for my contributions in a graduate’s journey. Of course, these soppy pieces weren’t just about me, but about the reflections said graduate had in their journey with student media.
But now, being the writer of my own farewell piece, I’ve got only one thing in mind: to not make it corny.
Sure, I can proliferate this piece with how much student media has shaped me, and type in between sobs thanking the people I’ve met here. But instead, I’ll share an anecdote on how I resurrected the dab within the walls of the student media office.
For context, I didn’t really dab much in the height of its popularity
in 2016-ish. So, you can say I’ve definitely had a pent-up amount of “dab” in my system, just begging to be let out.
It was circa 2024, and I was with The Prospector’s multimedia editor at the time, Adam Regalado. Adam annd I found out we had Professor Kate Gannon’s data class together, which led us to mingle in and out of the classroom. Both of us were stuck on an assignment, in which we had to follow a complicated series of excel commands. For whatever reason, Professor Gannon’s instructions were as indecipherable as hieroglyphics because it truly took us hours to find out how many hot dogs Joey Chestnut ate that year (the data we were scrubbing).
Until it finally clicked. Truly, I don’t remember what string of commands led us to find out how many hotdogs Joey Chestnut ate, but we had cracked the complicated code. And I felt it was appropriate to dab as a celebration (An action I didn’t know would turn into an office fad.)
I am slightly exaggerating by
calling it an office fad – my friends at the office were truly the only ones that caught onto it, even today.
A dab is a symbol of celebration, accomplishment. It’s used amongst the staff for something as simple as a video file downloading to something as grand as an internship acceptance. Though dabbing may be marked as cringy, it’s still an action special to the office.
With about three years of seeing people dab as a celebration, I do have to give flowers to photo editor Iziah Moreno for the best dab.
See, I’d rather make a cringey than corny post.
But, reflecting on how many people I have seen come and go since I introduced dabbing into the office, I admit I got a bit emotional.
People like previous editor-inchief, Avery Escamilla-Wendel and Emmanuel Rivas were friends who caught onto the dab yet have long since graduated. However, that still doesn’t change the impact these people had on my life.
Now, enter the corny part of my farewell piece. Though I said
FRED KEPFIELD B Y
CONTRIBUTOR THE PROSPECTOR
At The Prospector, I learned that most stories begin before the interview and end long after publication. Sometimes in the silence of a car ride home. Sometimes in the Student Union, half-working with friends while conversations drifted from deadlines to whatever scared us most about the future.
For a long time, I treated every newsroom like I had wandered into the wrong apartment by mistake. Everybody else seemed fluent in something I was still translating in my head. People spoke with certainty. I spoke with drafts. Even after joining The Prospector, there were days I waited for someone to realize I was improvising my way through all of this.
Nobody tells you imposter syndrome is physical. It settles into your shoulders during meetings. It follows you into interviews. It turns small assignments into private interrogations. You start measuring yourself against
people who only seem composed because you cannot hear their internal monologue.
Then something strange happens. You keep showing up anyway.
One story becomes another. Deadlines stop feeling like verdicts. Your voice, which once sounded too quiet in your own head, starts appearing online. Not perfect. Not transformed into confidence overnight. Just steady enough to survive being read by strangers.
Every time I play Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” while working on something, I begin to understand rooms like that. Not glamorous rooms. Temporary ones. Places where people sit beside each other, carrying unfinished versions of read MORE at theprospectordaily.com
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only a few hundred words ago I wouldn’t be getting cheesy, but it’s time to churn some thank you’s out to those who helped me on this journey.
To my mother and family supporting my wild dreams of becoming a journalist, I appreciate you times a million for every Facebook post.
To front office staff Isa and Amy, who welcomed me with such open arms from my first day up until my last, I thank you a bunch too.
Vero and Crystal, I appreciate you guys allowing me to loiter in your offices when I wanted someone to chat with.
And of course, thank you to the many faces I’ve met at student media and publications. I’ve built many life-long friendships in the office, that I could spend hours giving each person reasons why they’ve helped me.
I’d also like to give a special shout out to my Minero Magazine Spring 2026 team; it’s been a pleasure to lead each and everyone of you.
Finally, thank you to the famed sisters, Minero Magazine and
I spent the next nine years listening to new K-Pop artists, but none of them compared to the connection I had with BTS because their music resonated with me the most.
They are always the first artist I go to if I ever need a pick-me-up or if I ever want to listen to something nostalgic. They were also the reason I made so many friendships I still have to this day, so getting the chance to see them live was truly a blessing.
I don’t think any of us expected to see El Paso on the lineup of their tour, most people even going as far as bashing the city online for BTS not having picked a larger Texas city. However, it was now our turn to shine. According to RM, we were “hotter than this goddamn desert.”
I got the chance to attend the concert at their second stop at El Paso on May 3 and it was an
The Prospector. I don’t necessarily want to say goodbye for the final paragraph of my farewell piece because then it’ll solidify my piece as corny. This is my swan song as well as my thank you song to everyone, so I have to make the last sentence count. You guys need to keep dabbing even when I leave.
experience I truly will never be able to forget. I fought very hard for those tickets and Ticketmaster was my biggest hater that day. Even with getting in the line early and having our mom and brother get into queue as well, it took almost 40 minutes for us to get onto the screen to buy the tickets.
With thousands of fans getting onto one page of the site, it was slow, and we almost lost the four tickets we were holding because of the delay. I even had the chance to get two more tickets, but I was kicked out of the site, leaving us with just the four we got.
Despite the drama that came with BTS arriving in El Paso and their hotel getting leaked through social media, the weekend seemed to be a success for concertgoers. Some fans and my friends even got to attend both days and I am so jealous of that.
read MORE at theprospectordaily.com
Ximena Cordero, editor-in-chief
ADRIAN GONZALEZ B Y
STAFF REPORTER THE PROSPECTOR
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Alumni Association officially announced its 2026 Top Ten Seniors, recognizing a group of graduating students who embody the institution’s core values of academic excellence, campus leadership, and community service.
Now in its 76th year, the award remains the highest honor bestowed upon undergraduates by the association, celebrating those who have made a lasting impact on the Miner community.
While the honorees represent a wide array of disciplines, their journeys are unified by a distinct borderland resilience. For many of this year’s recipients, the path to graduation involved navigating the unique challenges of the El Paso-Juárez region, from long international commutes to the weight of being first-generation college students.
Sophia Borrego
For Sophia Borrego, a biomedical science major, the path to success began with a difficult decision to transfer. Feeling intimidated and
lacking resources at her previous university, she arrived at UTEP and decided to “flip the switch,” transforming from a shy student in the back of the room to a leader who wasn’t afraid to ask, “not smart questions.”
As a peer leader in the College of Science, Borrego spearheaded a collaboration with the University of Chicago and the University of Rochester to implement a peerled learning program for organic chemistry at UTEP, a subject many find daunting. “It’s honestly just curiosity,” Borrego said, “Once you keep asking questions, you get your ‘aha’ moments.”
Beyond the lab, she served for two years as a senator-at-large in the Student Government Association (SGA). Borrego, who is now heading toward a career in dentistry, hopes her journey inspires others: “You can do a lot of things within your time if you really want to... reach beyond what you think you can do.”
Eduardo Hiram Ceballos Faour
The theme of bridging borders is central to Eduardo Hiram Ceballos Faour’s story. A computer science
major who began his journey commuting from Ciudad Juárez, he represents the global reach of UTEP’s technical programs.
After participating in the Google Tech Exchange and interning as a cloud engineer at Goldman Sachs, he proved borderland students can compete at the highest levels.
“The first impression that I had from UTEP was [that] it was really, really huge,” he recalled. Moving to Dallas this spring, he remains motivated by his roots: “I’m most excited because... I can help my family with that money.”
Giselle Ophir Giménez Gayosso
A linguistics major and Miners Abroad ambassador, Giselle Ophir
Giménez Gayosso credits UTEP faculty for expanding her horizons.
Originally from Mexico City, she found her footing after an instructor encouraged her to pursue research. Navigating her studies while managing a health diagnosis, she found strength in the community.
“I definitely feel more confident in my skills,” Giménez Gayosso said. Her advice to freshmen is rooted in the empathy she found on
campus: “Just enjoy the process... if you’re kind, it just makes a difference.”
Gabriela Idaly Macias
Gabriela Idaly Macias, a forensic biology major, is recognized for her dual impact on campus academics and community outreach. Her time at UTEP has been defined by a consistent effort to bridge the gap between student life and local service initiatives.
Her work underscores the university’s mission of engagement, proving that a Miner’s education extends far beyond the campus walls and into the heart of the El Paso region.
Jose Gael Muñoz
For finance major Jose Gael Muñoz, the UTEP experience was about reclaiming the narrative of the border student. Despite offers from other prestigious institutions, he chose to stay in El Paso to lead the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA).
Reflecting on interviews alongside Ivy League students, Muñoz noted: “I’m here because I go to UTEP. That should say a lot about you as
a person and how much hard work you’re putting in.”
Andrea Victoria Nuñez
Andrea Victoria Nuñez, a bilingual education major, stands out for her leadership within student organizations, where she helped foster a more inclusive campus environment.
Balancing a demanding academic schedule with significant extracurricular responsibilities, she has often served as the „glue“ for student initiatives, ensuring that campus life remains vibrant and welcoming for all.
Darek Samuel Perez
Darek Samuel Perez, a psychology major, saw his leadership forged in settings ranging from a study abroad trip to Costa Rica to an internship for Congresswoman Veronica Escobar.
As a first-generation student and former president of the Texas Leadership Scholars Organization, he focused on building foundations for others.
“I learned to be sensitive to different cultures... to apply equal and equitable leadership,” Perez said.
SENIORS on page 4
He applied for the Top Ten honor to inspire his niece, Zaily:
“I wanted her to see that people in our family can go to college and can achieve their dreams [too].”
Enrique Pineda Sanchez
For Enrique Pineda Sanchez, a philosophy and psychology double major, UTEP was a “second chance” after nearly failing out of high school.
Sparked by a moment of powerlessness during a 2020 protest, he pursued law through mock trial and an Archer Fellowship in D.C.
Now heading to the University of Chicago for his Juris Doctor (J.D.), he credits those who believed in him.
“My experience at UTEP was really about... you’ve got to believe in people before they give you a reason to,” Pieneda Sanchez said.
“I‘ve had a lot of people who have loved me into the current moment... I owe them everything.”
Iliana Jacqueline Ramirez
Iliana Jacqueline Ramirez, a biomedical sciences major, her road to graduation was paved by a daily commute from Juárez that was both physically and mentally exhausting.
“The biggest gap I had to bridge was language, belonging, and the daily reality of commuting across the border,” Ramirez said.
Initially unsure if she belonged in a pre-med environment, she eventually found her voice as the Collegiate Senator of
Science, where she advocated for improvements in lab equipment and worked with Borrego to launch the first Peer-Led Learning program for organic chemistry.
Ruben Adrian Romero
Ruben Adrian Romero, a rehabilitation sciences student in the College of Health Sciences, spent his time at UTEP ensuring that future students felt a sense of belonging through the orientation program.
Working with incoming Miners, he addressed the unique pressure felt by those who are the first in their families to attend university.
“We have so many firstgen students,” Romero said, emphasizing that his success is a shared victory for those who supported him along the way. “It’s a humbling experience because you remember all the sacrifices...[that] family members have also done to help you guys’ [get] here.”
Together, these ten seniors represent the peak of student achievement. As they prepare for graduation, they leave behind a legacy of perseverance that will inspire the next generation of Miners to look at the world and realize, as the famous Dr. Seuss quote suggests, “Oh, the places you’ll go.”
agonzalez255@ miners.utep.edu
“The most important person that I wanted to be there was my mom,” G said. “Because if it wasn’t for my mom, I don’t think I’d be as intelligent as I am, as dedicated, everything I’ve done, I credit to her.”
Now living in Chicago with her uncle, her mother and extended family will not be able to attend the ceremony due to immigration-related barriers and the risks associated with travel. G said shifting enforcement policies and uncertainty have made it difficult for her mother to safely make the trip, even for a milestone event.
G said she also hoped to have extended family from Mexico present, but the process of obtaining visas proved too difficult and costly.
“The process to get a visa is insane, it’s very expensive, it’s not accessible for everyone,” G said.
Her experience reflects a broader reality for many students in the Borderland, where immigration policies, financial barriers and geographic distance often prevent families from being physically present at milestone events. At universities like UTEP, where about 50% of students are firstgeneration, graduations can carry a mix of pride and grief. It is a
celebration shaped as much by absence as it is by achievement.
For G, that emotional weight has been difficult to navigate.
“I’ve broken down crying a lot,” G said. “It may seem trivial, because at least I have them… but I really wanted them for that special day.”
Still, she finds comfort in
be proud of me no matter what.”
Even so, she said the moment remains meaningful, not just as a personal accomplishment, but as a shared victory for her family.
For students facing similar circumstances, G shared some words of advice:
“You did it. The achievement is there, no one can take it away from you,” G said. “You can go and celebrate with them later; they will always be proud of you.”
After graduation, G plans to move to Chicago to reunite with her mother and pursue law school, continuing her goal of becoming an immigration attorney.
As she prepares to cross the stage, diploma in hand, she carries her family’s sacrifices with her even if they are not seated in the stands.
knowing her family will be with her from afar.
“I know they’ll be watching from the livestream,” G said. “They don’t need to be here physically, I carry them with me wherever [I go,] they are watching, and they will always
“At the end of the day, that piece of paper is definitely for my mom,” G said. “Everything I do genuinely is for her. I’m just so grateful.”
In a stadium filled with applause, her story reflects a quiet truth, that for many graduates, the journey to that moment is shared across distances, even when the celebration is not.
JEWEL OCAMPO B Y
In October 2020, a surge in asylum seekers and the reality that nearly a quarter of El Paso County‘s residents were foreign born sparked the formation of the “Office of New Americans.” This division of the El Paso Community Services Department aimed to make local government more accessible and the El Paso region a more welcoming community.
The Office of New Americans serves a broad cross section of El Paso County residents, from immigrant and refugee communities to veterans and the homeless, connecting them with civil services, resources and initiatives designed to meet people where they are.
For Lorey Flores, program manager for the Office of New Americans says
their mission is more personal.
“‘Welcome,’ to me, means making county and local government resources more easily accessible, not just to our immigrant and refugee community, but also to our homeless community, also veterans,” Flores said. “One of my goals is to make sure that through some of these initiatives, we‘re making people feel like they belong.”
That sense of belonging is something the Office of New Americans hopes to build through their collaborative works with local and federal partners, as well as their own initiatives.
Catching up to government offices across the nation, one of the office’s newer programs is ‘I Speak 915.’ With 12 current locations
languages the growing translation service aims to eliminate language barriers for civil services like marriage license and business registrations.
Through the ‘I Speak 915’ cards and reference sheets, anyone can identify the language they need an interpreter for and be connected with one instantly. Claudia Jimenez, the office’s community outreach coordinator said this tool is even used by the department’s staff to help ensure that their own messages are made clear, and questions can be answered.
“We also have a card that we carry and I can use my personal device. If I do have somebody in the audience that is Chinese, and she has questions, I don’t want her to walk out the door not being able to get those services or understand what I just went over. I can call translation services using ‘I speak 915.’
An interpreter, within seconds will jump on the line, and then she can translate our conversation. I don’t want them to leave without knowing,” Jimenez said.
Non-profit groups, city departments and schools like the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have become key partners in expanding the office’s reach. Through the Social Work department and Center for Civic Engagement, UTEP students regularly support and participate in outreach and program development. In a marketing class collaboration, specifically for the ‘I Speak 915’ program, students reviewed materials and developed social media campaigns and awareness strategies.
I have experienced a lot of stuff that I never thought I was going to do, like working on ‘I speak 915,’ creating graphics and creative videos and just now with this program 915 Belong,” Roman said. Yet reaching those who need help most remains an ongoing challenge. Many residents, especially new arrivals, are often unaware or unsure how to navigate the services that the county offers and whether or not they even qualify.
“I know people struggle and sometimes they don’t know where to go because they don’t know these types of resources,” Roman said.
For some students like Joanna Roman, a sophomore at UTEP majoring in biomedical sciences, the partnership goes further as she works on programs like ‘I Speak 915; and in the beginning stages of other anticipated programs.
Geography adds another layer. El Paso County extends well beyond city limits into colonias, small towns, and unincorporated areas where residents are often more vulnerable and less mobile.
Genio is an app for students with notetaking accommodations that records and transcribes lectures, lets users customize notes, build study skills, and access tools that support academic success.
Students interested in using Genio must be registered with CASS and approved for this accommodation.
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“Through the work study program and through the community, I’m here at UTEP, they gave me the opportunity to get an internship, a paid internship, so that’s why I’m here.
“There’s a lot of smaller cities and unincorporated areas and we know there’s even more marginalized groups there,” Blakeman said. “A lot of our work is going out to the colonias, the more rural parts of the county outside of the city, and making sure they get the same access to services as city residents.”
While their work is far from finished, the Office of New Americans continues their goal of making El Paso County’s resources visible, accessible and approachable for every resident regardless of language, location or legal status.
Jewel Ocampo is a staff reporter and may be reached at Jnocampo@miners.utep.edu
XIMENA CORDERO B Y
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THE PROSPECTOR
The sound celebration will soon fill the Don Haskins Center as thousands of graduates in decorated regalia cross the stage and families will flood the arena during Spring commencement ceremonies at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
The following information provided by UTEP’s Commencement page and the UTEP Office of Special Events is as follows:
Saturday, May 16
1 p.m. - College of Liberal Arts
6 p.m. - College of Education and College of Engineering
Sunday, May 17
1 p.m. - College of Health Sciences and College of Nursing
6 p.m. - College of Science, Woody L. Hunt College of Business and School of Pharmacy
Graduates will be directed to the GR2 lot, while guests will be guided to surrounding parking areas, including SB7 and the Glory Road Parking Garage, where paid parking will be in effect.
For families traveling with relatives who have mobility impairments, accessible parking will be available in the ME1 lot along Mesa Street. Those guests must enter through the east entrance of the Don Haskins Center. As attendees move toward the
entrances, security measures will be in place. Bags will be checked, and only a limited number of items will be allowed inside. UTEP’s clear bag policy permits:
Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags within size limits.
One-gallon clear plastic bag, small clutch bags, medical bags which are subject to inspection.
Beyond the checkpoints, some familiar graduation traditions will have to stay outside. Balloons, airhorns, noise confetti, large signs, professional camera equipment, tripods, drones and outside food or drinks, except in cases of medical necessity, are all prohibited.
Other restricted items include strollers, umbrellas, selfie sticks and any object that could obstruct views or pose a safety concern. One sealed plastic water bottle per guest will be allowed.
For many, the walk across the stage will mark the end of years of coursework, jobs, sacrifices and long nights. For families, it is a moment of pride.
For more information contact the University Events by calling 915-747-8244 or emailing commencement@utep.edu.
Ximena Cordero is the editor-in-chief for The Prospector and may be reached at xcordero@miners.utep. edu and on LinkedIn @ximenacordero
MYTHS on cover
“UTEP has allowed me to learn a lot about the borderland community from an educational and cultural standpoint.”
Hernandez said his experience challenged many of the stereotypes commonly associated with college life.
“Movies and social media made college seem like the only fun thing to do was party and drink alcohol,” Hernandez said. “I learned that college has so much more to offer for people with diverse sets of interests.”
For many UTEP students, staying close to home while pursuing higher education also provides a strong sense of support during challenging academic years.
Hernandez said that connections can make balancing college life and adulthood more manageable.
“Many of us are able to live at home and have the support of our parents throughout the college journey,” Hernandez said. “This, for many, makes going through rigorous courses and young adulthood a bit easier.”
Despite the challenges that can come with earning a degree, many Miners take pride in the relationships, experiences and lessons they gained throughout their time at UTEP.
“My biggest takeaway from my college experience is the acquired ability to form relationships with people of diverse backgrounds,” Hernandez said. “College has taught me a lot about the
importance of opening myself up to different perspectives, cultures and ideas.”
As commencement approaches, graduates like Hernandez leave UTEP with more than a degree.
Graduates will embark on postgraduation life with the experience of academia, relationships and community curated through a school like no other.
The University of Texas El Paso (UTEP)’s Student Government Association (SGA) has launched The Free Meal Pass Program. This initiative was designed to address food insecurity on campus and
provide students with the resources for them to concentrate on achieving their professional goals.
The program was launched this spring 2026 semester, in collaboration with the Green Fund Committee and the Division of Student Affairs. Any student will
be able to go to the Food Pantry and pick up a free meal pass, which they will then take to the Pick and Shovel, a buffet style restaurant located on the second floor of Union East and redeem it.
Although the program is now fully operational, it began as an idea led by SGA President Ryan Boatright.
“It was something that I had wanted to do and is why I ran for President. I‘ve been working on this [program] since the summer. My first meeting that I had with President Wilson in July I told her ‘Hey, I want to do this.’ She gave me the blessing and said ‘Okay, yeah, make it happen.’ So I’ve been trying to work on that since then, and the reason why is because it‘s about 61% of students at UTEP experience food insecurity, and that, to me, is just a crazy number that I can‘t help but feel compelled to do something about and this, to me, this was one of the best ways possible to try and bring that 61% to zero,” Boatright said.
Recent studies done by UTEP’s College of Health Sciences show that the majority of UTEP students experience food insecurity at some point in their four years of college.
Charlie Gibbens Ed. D, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students emphasizes the urgency of acting on this issue.
“We know from research that
when you are hungry, you can’t focus on anything else. We have a fairly robust food pantry where we can provide food to students, but it’s food that you have to take home and cook. So, in working with SGA and Dr. Jaime Mendez, our assistant dean for student support, we identified that it would be helpful to be able to provide a meal to students. So, we identified some funds and worked with Sodexo. [For] students that are going to the food pantry, we offer a pass where they can get into the Pick and Shovel and they can have a meal to eat.”
Through collaboration across departments, program leaders secured $80,000 in funding, ensuring at least two years of free meal passes. The program is currently serving about 100 students per week, and following its announcement on SGA’s social media, more than 200 students showed up, leading Boatright to believe that the more people spread the word, the less people will suffer food insecurity.
“I think also continuing to voice support to people in higher up positions that this is something
that they care about. So, if we have a bunch of students that are saying that they care about food insecurity, the university is going to listen,” Boatright said.
Mendez was happy to collaborate and believes programs like this are essential to find ways to give back to their communities and turn ideas into impactful realities.
“Great ideas don’t become greater by just keeping them with yourself. You got to expand your network. Knocking on doors and trying it out [with] no shame. Maybe it’s not a great idea, but until someone tells you otherwise, I think you just keep going with it and that’s what you need to do.” Mendez said.
By expanding access to prepared meals, meal pass program builds on existing campus resources and represents a collaborative effort to better support student well-being and success.
Master of Fine Arts
Ariella Berkowitz
Randy Cabrera Diaz
Jennifer Charlotte Camplair
Jade Rachelle Carrasco
Lorena Cristina Castillo Berrones
Holly Cesario
Jeanette Perez Colby
Jesse Scott Epps
Candice Marlene Gibbs
Heather J. Lathers
Dana Eileen Lynch
Nia McCray
Michael Sean Moore Jr
Rogelio Orizondo
April Marie Palomino
Mariana Riestra Ahumada
Thomas Riggs
Savannah Rae Sarabia
Kristen Marie Scheaffer
David Maximus Scoular
Carlos Fernando Tapia Vaca
Paolo Velazquez Angeles
Master of Music
Steven Edward Cheatham
Jeffrey Dokken
Nicholas Aidan Gallegos
Javier Miguel Garcia-Rivera
Augusto Vinicius Juarez Vieira
Master in Public Administration
Jessica Leann Kendrick
Crista Mack
Bruce Sebern Mcdowell Jr
Clara McMullen
Angelica Aimee Miranda Vianney Miranda
Juan Jose Morales
Natalie Jovita Murillo
Sylvia Perez
Arantxa Rangel
Timothy Reinker
Ashley Rincon
Valorie Camille Rivera
Colton Ronway Ryals
Isaac Javier Sanchez
Alejandra Sandoval
Elizabeth Mae Tornabene
Denisse Villavicencio
Master of Arts
Francisco Jose Aguilar Gonzalez
Vanessa Maria Almada
Sylvia D. Altizer
Dalton Seth Ascone
Jessica Baidoe-Ansah
Jeralyn Dee Barbie
Anahy Barragan Diaz
Sugat Borthakur
Travis Dylan Burgos
Gregorio Cardona
Kenna Carranza
Erin Nicole Cox
Juan Davila II
Marissa Eliana Delgado
Alejandra Flores
Christina Fowler
Alexander Clifton Gantt
Valeria Vianey Granillo
Grisel Anel Harrison
Aldo Herrera
Ricardo Manuel Hinojosa
Genevieve Marie Jessen
Shannon Lawson
Michael Dana Lopez
Felipe Israel Martinez
Gloria Guadalupe Martinez
Diana Carolina Martinez-Griffiths
Sarah Naomi Mickelson
Oscar Ivan Montes Ojeda Jr Alana Nevarez
Aylani Cecilia Faith Ottley
Julianna Victoria Pluma
Gabriel Ponce De Leon
Marian Sophia Reyes
Isabella Sanchez Pranta Sikder
Javier Silerio
Nancy Alejandra Silerio Villagrana
Jose Soto
Elida Joselyn Stroup
Ivane Tensaie
Joshua Isaiah Torres Daryon Triche
Ashley Gale Vaughan Stercula
Diane Vega
Austin Ray Vernon
Sydney Aurora Wayne
Shayna Whieldon
Master of Defense & Strategic Studies
Anthony Biakpara
Anabel Burciaga
Patricia Amarantha Covarrubias
Lizbeth Fierro
Charles William Gregory
Azizi Henry
Roberto Alejandro Montano
Marc Robert Simon
Vivian Claudia Torres
Miguel Angel Varela Espinoza
Randall Lamar Walker
Josephine Kyei-Mensah Yamoah
Hualin Zhang
College of Education
Doctor of Education
Melissa Ann Aguilera
Maria Erika Avalos-Fernandez
Heriberto Jose Garcia Jr
Claudia Haley
Carmen Imai
Brianna Ashley Licerio
Francisco Javier Maldonado
Marco Antonio Ortigoza
Oscar Robles
Alejandra Salgado-Hernandez
Marta Bronislawa Santiago
Harat Rodrigo Saucedo
Ruby Ivette Shivery
Claudia Angelica Ureno-Olivas
Ramon Ernesto Varela
Rosa Isela Vega-Barrio
Doctor of Philosophy
Laura Alvarado
Karen A. Del Rio Guzman
Patricia Lares Ocana
Berenice Peralta Matus
Chad Morgan Lott
Christopher Richard Lowe
Billy Joel Martinez
Kevin Omar Navarro Ruiz
Maile Kay Palmer
Beatrice Soderberg-Yibirin
Coleman Kent Spears
Carly Therese Spina
Zachary Allen Squibb
Dendre Wright
Master of Science
Chase Michael Bibler
Hannia Casillas
Maria De Los Angeles Coronado
Abigail Galaviz
Vanessa Garcia
Jesus H. Vasquez Jr
Ruben A. Villarreal
College of Science
Doctor of Philosophy
Vanessa Beatriz Aitken Silva
Dirk Wade Beck
Pablo Bustamante-Murguia Jr
Sayantani Chakraborty
Rui Dong
Andrea Teresa Garcia
Lissette Garcia Enriquez
Atanu Giri
Lucia Fernanda Gonzalez Rodriguez
Chitra Bahadur Karki Mr
Vanessa Inez Navarro
Isaiah Thompson Ocansey
Diana Isuiss Olivas
Breanna Chantal Pence
Jose A. Rosales
Nathaniel Asiedu Sakyi
Parikrama Sapkota
Marina Alicia Smoak
Geronimo Puma Tapia
Andrew John Uccello
Anju Yadav
Master of Arts in Teaching
Jacob Aaron Brown
Master of Science
Abdul Rahman Adam
Wendy Paola Alvarez Leal
Raymundo Aragonez
James Boyette Barker Jr
Jose Josue Cabral
Angie Lynette Cano
Cesar Ivan Cardona
Daniel Alejandro Castano Madrigal
Luis David Davila
Ricardo Diaz
Alexandro Valencia Dominguez
Nicholas Austin Enriquez
Samuel Dela Gadah
Luisa Veronica Gracia Mazuca
Roy Noe Herrera Navarro
Brent Samuel Hogue
Maria Guadalupe Jimenez Velasco
Yesenia Juarez-Vargas
Sri Harsha Kathi
Harshini Reddy Kodiganti
Michael David Laase
Mbah Bake Maraf
Nathanael McNair
Sarafina A. Middaugh
Alan Murguia
Vergie Miranda Musni
Foster Nkansah
Berlinda Nyantakyi
Bismark Nyarko
Raymond Obeng
Francis Opoku
Andrick Brian Perez
Jose Armando Perez Becerra
Mustafizur Rahman
Randhal Smith Ramirez Orozco
Alexia Breanna Reyes
Gustavo Rivera Torres
Mauricio Ivan Rodriguez Rodriguez
Joy Saha
Muriel Michelle Sandoval Vazquez
Robert Mawunyo Semiheva
Maya Solis
Patrick Tabiri
Master of Rehabilitation Counseling
Elizabeth A. Chavira Margarita Contreras
Shahbaa Zaidan
Master of Arts
Ana Alejandra Baeza
Diana Dominguez
Myrna America Fraire
Jimena Patricia Mendez Saenz
Elizabeth Paz Navarro Silva
Nathalia Margarita Prada Uribe
Rennee Reid
Ana Jaquelin Sanchez Medina
Heily Torres
Alejandra Velez
Master of Education
Luis Adrian Anchondo
Ruth Maria Arzola-Muniz
Aubrey Elizabeth Blevins
Karla Lizeth Borjon Flores
Karen Paola Buenrostro
Flora Burciaga
Brianna Monique Camposano
Saira Rebeca Ceja
Sylvia Angel Chase
Melissa V. Chavez
Diana Gabriela Contreras Escalante
Maria Antonieta Daw
Jasmine Del Rio
Cristina Dominguez
Bianca Alyssa DuBois
Marta Cecilia Echavarria
Viviana Ivet Favela
Brian Flores
Loraine Yvette Fresquez
Bettina Louise Gladden
Alma Leticia Gonzalez
Anna Maria Gonzalez
Brenda Elyse Gonzalez
Gloria Carrillo Gonzalez
Jordan Marie Gonzalez
Melissa Gonzalez
Omar Gonzalez
Maribel Granados
April Jasmine Guardado
Rose Eileen Guerrero
Jesus Armando Herrera Jr
Nelly Jimenez
Teisha A. King
Andrea Liano
Abigail Ajo Lomeli
Mariana Alexandra Luna
Jacquelyn Renee Marenco I
Homero Noe Martinez
Sean Michael Mcginnis
Lisa Martinez Medina
Benjamin John Morales
Annel Nunez
Judith Olivas
Priscilla Francis Padilla
Melissa Perez
Mariana Guadalupe Pichu
Alexandria Renee Pina
Lorena Ponce
Laura Helen Quevedo
Bonnie Quintana
Ana Luz Ramirez
Susana Ramirez
Zayra Ramirez
Mark Terrance Ramos
Ruben Ramos Ramirez
Daniel Isaiah Rangel
Laura Reyes
Charlene Sukie Rodriguez
Maria Esthela Rodriguez
Karla Ronquillo
Araceli Rosas
Daisy Salinas
Salma Sapien Saldana
Brian Anthony Schwantner
Deanna Nicole Sepulveda
Manuel Yamil Tovar
Leslie Valenzuela
Elizabeth Vasquez
Ana Alicia Vazquez
Daniela Alejandra Vazquez
Jezel Eduardo Vega
Stephanie Vega
Dennise Villalobos
Lizette Ibarra-Barrientos
Marce Mia Kato
Daniel Armando Larios April M. Lopez
Jemily Zoe Lopez Mayra Y. Lopez
Natalia Amor Lopez
Annette Lopez Flores
Ontiveros Lucero
Skyla Danielle Maddox Jessica Patricia Magallanes
Christobal Marquez
Andrea Maria Martinez
Jireh Martinez
Denisse Medrano
Cristina Andrea Mendoza
Atala Meraz
Larissa Molina Legorreta
Claudia A. Molinar
Nubia Marie Moncayo
Jasmine Montes
Isabelle Donna-Marie Morales
Judith Aleny Moreno
America Moreno Perez
Cristal Idali Ortega
Mayra Ailin Ortiz Zarate
Karina Pages
Nathan Gilbert Payan
Jordan Alexander Perez Apollo Apolinar Santiago Perono
Paulina Pichardo
Rebecca Plascencia
Joachim Lucas Rafinan
Alondra Denisse Ramirez
Hazel Lynette Ramirez
Samantha Lizeth Ramirez
Brianna Alejandra Rios
Claudia-Ivette Rivera
Isabel Rivera
Jocelyn Adriana Robles
Jenny Rodriguez
Katlyn Nicole Rodriguez
Paulina Rodriguez
Sandra Paola Rojas
Leslie Roman
Nicholas Jimmy Ruedas
Laura Salcido
Andrea Jacqueline Sanchez
Andres Santillana
Cynthia Saucedo
Ashley Leane Silva
Analise Kaitlyn Stevens
Stephany Valdez
Lauren Tiena Vanderzwan
Angelina Jacin Vasquez
Andrea Graciela Vega De La Fuente
Mariapaula Vega Gomez
Denise Zaragua
Hennessey Michelle Zuniga
MIGUEL A. LOYA
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Bachelor of Science
Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering
Ramiro Ivan Alcoverde
Valeree Gesely Diaz
Roen Victoria Douthit
Alyssa Denise Farina
Genesis Flores
Yahiza Renee Flores Jose David Frausto Jr
Josiah Hiram Frayre
Evelyn P. Gallegos
Azul Ruby Garcia
Cinthia D. Garcia
Lucia Cecilia Garcia
Sandra Yveth Garcia
Kiara Elizabeth Garcia Villalon
Brianna Garnica
Layla Ximena Gomez Gallegos
Annaly Gonzalez
Prisilla Gonzalez
Andrea Antonia Gonzalez Aguirre
Abril Esmeralda Gutierrez Jennifer Gutierrez
Victoria Maria Hernandez
Yuriko Andrea Hernandez
Diana G. Holguin
Priscilla Ibarra
Kimberly Aglae Beltran
Victor Bonilla Cardozo
Jorge Alejandro Caraveo
Jesus Castillo
Thomas Eduardo Del Palacio Torres
Ryan O. Flores
Luis Flores-Trejo
Isaac Garcia Kelly Isela Gomez
Alonso Holguin
Christopher Martinez
Vania Montero
Aldo Montoya
Hernan Javier Morin
Alfonso Murguia
Giselle Ortega
Luis J. Salinas-Gallardo
Civil Engineering
Adrian Alvarez
Daniel E. Arias
Julio Alejandro Arroyo
John Paul Avalos
Emilio Barraza
Javier E. Barraza
Nathan Brisby Jr
Ruben Yael Campos
Alfredo Diaz III
Ernesto Esparza
Pablo Gamillo
Adrian Hiram Gandara
Julio Cesar Garcia
Joshua Gonzalez Leslie Fabiola Gonzalez
Edmundo Guerrero Jr
Jose Adrian Gueta Jr Valeria Herrera Raeanne E. Khoury
Julian R. Leyva
Gray Tarin Luna
Jorge Joaquin Melendez Prieto
Gabriel Blake Miranda
Mario Alberto Moreno Jr
Fernando Alan Muela
Ethan Ortega
Gavin Alexander Patino
Daren Valeria Perez
Luisa Mariana Ramirez
Valeria Denisse Reyes
Eduardo Humberto Rivera
Pedro Rodriguez Jr
Stephanie Rodriguez
Katia Salinas
Carlos Ruiz Sandoval
Pablo Sandoval
Paulina Sandoval-Montanez
Eduardo Roosevelt Sims
Mariana Terrazas Mendoza
Caitlyn Thomas Jaziel Trejo
Sergio A. Valles
Paulina Valeria Viramontes
Mariajose Zaragoza
Computer Engineering
Matthew Anthony Amezaga
Dylan Bryan Davis
H. Meraz
Federico Morado Galaviz
Baby Isaac Perez Orion Corey Wood
Computer Science
Diego Iram Acosta
David Allen Akers Jr
Alcharrak
Kimberly Alicea Fernando Arturo Alvarado
Dylan Andrade
Veronica Aragon Diego
Ian Daniel Estrada Paredes
Javier E. Falliner
Marco Antonio Ferrel
Aaren Joel Flores Brianna Flores Joshua Flores
Juan Jose Gallardo Jr
Alejandro Garcia Michael Eduardo Gaytan
Jorge A. Gonzalez Victor Gael Gonzalez Gutierrez Thomas Guerra Jonathan Rene Gutierrez Randal Guzman
Aiden Daniel Hernandez
Alexa Lynette Hernandez
Alfonso Hernandez
Oscar Ryan Hernandez
Pablo Ernesto Hernandez
Angel Holguin
Martin Holguin
George Anthony Jimenez
Matthew Merrill Knowlton
Marcos Alberto Lievano
Macias
Mariscal Almada
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Bachelor
Science
Clinical Laboratory Science
Hanna Valery Aldana
Andrea Astrid Anzaldua
Miriam Avalos-Renovato
Abril Patricia Castrejon
Carla N. Egan
Brisa Fletes
Amanda Garcia Lesly Garcia
Adelina C. Geers
Karen Vianey Guillen
Rebecca Jaimes-Lazcano
Irene John Tomy
Valeria Lopez
Angeline Nicole McFarlane
Cindy Ibeth Mei de Bailon
Elisa Alejandra Mena
Joselyn Moreno Mauricio Moreno Jr
Zariha N. Rueda
Yaritza Sanchez Escobar
Mia Nicolette Silva-Rios
Melanie Asia Wingo
Kinesiology
Yakoob Ibrahim Abu Raddaha
Daniela Alcantar
Adam Darnell Allen
Katelyn Arredondo
Celeste Ayala
Jasmine Alaine Balfour
Leah Lizeth Bararata-Lopez
Isaiah Ray Bautista
Krystal Blue Brito
Kaitlyn Juliet Bustamante
Clara Calixtro
Vivian Ivonne Cazares
Sierra Chantel Champlin
Anthony Manuel Chavez
Carolina Clarke
Alondra Lizbe Contreras
Claudia Arantza Contreras-Muro
Ulises Francisco Corado-Arana
Delilah Delgado
Lyla Diaz
Fabian Adrian Diego
Krystal Dominguez
Liliana Alejandra Dupee
Nathan I. Esparza
Isaac Espino
Jasmin G. Espinoza
Myriam Estrada
Mattie Christine Gantt
Anai Isabel Gomez
Isaiah Anthony Gomez
Alan Alexis Grajeda
Juan Pablo Hernandez
Michael R. Herrera Jr
Halle Mikelle Hogan
Hannah Lauren Macias
Litzy Manriquez Salazar
Elysha Irais Martinez
Joshua Martinez
Gilberto Alejandro Montelongo
Alan Montemayor Mayorga
Jenivy Anne Morales
Monique Alejandra Moya
Nicole Orona-Zarogoza
Rafael Issia Propeck
Eduardo Ramirez
Samuel Ramirez
Selena O. Renteria
Alyssa Diane Rodriguez
Ezra Ivan Ruiz
Miguel A. Ruiz
Cassandra Sanchez
Erik Sandate
Melina Irais Saucedo
Andrea P. Soto Figueroa
Jacob James Staggs
Samantha Morgan Valencia
Jerson Brandon Valle
Karen Valeria Velazquez
Giovanni Isaiah Vielma
Christian A. Wachel
Kaya Olivia Weaver
Liberty Dawn Westenbarger
Jordani Giovanni Woodley
Vivianne Ivonne Yzaguirre
Desiree Zaragua
Public Health
Stephany Echeverria
Anyssa R. Gomez
Adriana Gonzalez-Reyes
Ana Lidia Majano Morales
Ruby Morales De La Torre
Madeline Marie Ontiveros
Victoria Ximena Prieto
Emmanuel D. Strasser
Josemely Valenzuela
Rehabilitation Sciences
Emilia Clinch
Isaac Daniel Contreras
Edward Cordova
Kathya Jedith Cota Liam
Yazbel Delgado
Vito Elijah DiChristina
Nayeli Esparza
Britney Alexis Garcia
Esteban Aaron Garcia
Anna Camile Hainey Itzel Hernandez
Kimberly Ariana Hernandez
Melanie Nicole Ibarra
Samantha Michelle Licerio
Sophia Livas
Jesus Gerardo Lupercio Jr
Desiree Marie Meza
Yeizlyn Linneth Morales
Robert Antonio Moreno II
Kayla Nunez
Ariana Giselle Rios
Monserrath Ruvalcaba
Eleanor Iviana Solis
Carolina Trejo
Bachelor of Social Work
Angie Acosta
Ashley N. Alcala
Brittany Gissell Alvarado
Emily Apodaca
Melanie Arana
Emily Aranda
Francisco Javier Delgado
Josue Emmanuel Diaz Guillen
Philomina N. Duru
Olga
Saul
Anthropology
Anthropology/History
Heidi Jepusey Baca
Art
Fernanda Orozco
Sofia Palacio Kassidy Marie Powers
Ana Sofia Sanchez
Gabriel Heile Valadez
Art History
Andres Amado Bailey
Valenzuela
Chicano Studies
Hector P. Sanchez Perez
Chicano Studies/English & American Literature
Kate Alejandra Aguilera
Maureen Helen Irene Benko
Communication Studies
Daniela Arballo
Mara Lourdes Fernandez Murillo
Alan K. Ferrera
Nicole Fernanda Flores Cruz Natalia Frausto
Melanie Garcia
Jonathan Israel Gardea Genevieve A. Gomez Chevar Tarik Gordon Samantha N. Groover
Noah M. Gutierrez
Nicholas Noel Guzman
Joseph Haynes
Brenda Lizeth Hernandez
Maydaly Hernandez Natividad Seini Herrera Andres E. Hinojos
Priscilla Hinojoza Eber A. Holguin
Hynson Kaley Ashlynn
Ashley Vallecillo
Alondra Saralee Vasquez Gonzalez
Ivanna Lizette Villela
College of Liberal Arts
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences
Heather L. Dorado
Miracle Ann Flores
Ginalyn David Gallegos
Yulissa P. Garcia
Acuna Trent Aguilera
Carlos Andres Alfaro Rivera Jr
Michelle Rebecca Alvarado
Maria Jaqueline Amaya
Alberto Issac Andrade
Naila S. Arismendi
Jose Luis Avila Jr
Luis Demetrio Avila
Daniel Manuel Balandran
Roberto Andress Barajas
Renee Delu Barber
Messi Alek Berdeja
Enrique Antonio Campos Jr
Sebastian Patrick Carr
Brian Vincent Cashin III
Eric Rudy Castaneda
Gabriel A. Castaneda
Daisy Castillo
Luis Fernando Castillo
Emmanuel Corral
Celeste Janel Cueto
Luis Alejandro Davila Jr
Wendy Michelle Delgado
Viridiana Diaz
Perla I. Dominguez
Saralhi Dominguez
Liliana Duran
Denise Enriquez
Crystal Estrada
M. Uranga
Celeste Anaid Vargas
Raquel Walker
Kathryn G. Warring
Psychology/Chicano Studies
Luna S. Palacios
Sociology Rosa J. Chavez
Kate Quintero Carlos Alejandro Rodarte
Noemi Vega
Security Studies
Nicole
Norman
Spanish
Theatre Arts
Rebecca
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Dance
Crystal
Studio
Theatre
Theatre
Luis
Abner Astudillo
Genesis Joann Tiscareno
Alessandro Vento
College of Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Ayzah Alana Acevedo
Gretel Aldana
Bryan Michael Allen
Nandi Marbella Anderson
Fernando Dimitri Anoveros
Alyssa Arreola
William Lee Baker
Berenice Ballin
Galilea N. Barajas
Jimena I. Barboza
Ailene Barraza
Amaris Barraza
Zuylene Barron
Nancy Carolina Blanco Castaneda
Claudette Marie Bolden
Brianna Belle Burton
Santiago Carrasco
Shawn M. Carrillo
Stephania Castaneda
Angel Oracio Castillo
Sabra S. Castillo
Carla Castro Erika P. Cazarez
Alan F. Cepeda
Anissa Belen Chairez
Marinieves Chavez
Chavez Mariangela Cobian Eduardo A. Cortes Oliver Alberto Day
Marie Del Pino
Jocelyn R. Aguilar Armenta Adrian Anaya Diana Karolina Andrade
Khendra Barton
Brissa Marie Cervantes
Andrea Cortinas
Raquel Cuellar
Berenice
Daphne A. Duenas
Mia Abigail Escalante
Silvia Beatriz Fuentes Nathan Alfonso Garcia
Juan M. Garcia Ugarte
Cassandrea Garza
Krystal Guzman
Nicolas Ivan Kraynick
Gabrielle Allis Lara
Kenadee Lehew
Perla P. Lopez
Megan Maiella
Jade Mares
Ailin Montero
Ana Lucia Morales Ortiz
Bianka Navarrette
Kaitlyn Jade Ramirez
Oscar Alonso Reyes
Emiliano Rubio
David O. Sanchez
Donna Paola Pliego
Alexia Victoria Segoviano
Jamie Elizabeth Shelley
Daniela Silva Sadeen Tarkhan
Aylin Tepezano
Hoan Khang Tran
Lindsey Anne Tyce
Cellular & Molecular Biochemistry
Roberto Angel Garza Chaparro
Yezenia A. Marquez
Shreeya Dipak Patel
Allison M. Skinner
Jessica Paige Walters
Chemistry
Andrik Yael Lujan-Tellez
Guillermo Urquidi
Amy J. Vidal
Alexis Villarreal
Maria F. Zarate
Tobias Zion Zavala-Torres
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Lariza Itzel Avila
Eliana A. Britton
Kylee Shea Casto
Brian Corralejo
Sara Fierro
Saidee M. Francik
Leticia Yasmi Giron
Mayra Gabriela Ibarra
Clarissa Genevieve Lerma
Jovan Micael Lopez
Roselen Mendoza
Isaiah George Monzon
Andres Rene Perales
Adilene V. Rodarte
Julez Mykala Saucedo
Simon Lawrence Terrazas
Fabricio Dario Uribe
Miranda Zacarias
Environmental Science
Julio Cesar Aguilar Jr
Andrea Arciba Garcia
Skye Gomez-Ciaccio
Samantha Eileen Gutierrez
Valeria Martinez
Adam Ricardo Ramirez
Luis Pablo Salmeron-Covarrubias
Brianna Itzel Valdez
Autumn Williams
Forensic Science
Natalia Isabell Acevedo
Iris R. Acosta
Berenice Alexa Alvarado
Gabriela Maria Canales
Ivanna Lorenza Carrillo
Ciara Raine Chavez
Angela Judith De Anda
Gabriela I. Macias
Jasset K. Mora
Gianna A. Newberry
Michael H. Rueda
Jordan Michael Sanchez
Oliviannah I. Spivey
Juan Javier Velazquez
Ashley Nichole White
Brenda P. Zapata
Geological Sciences
Paulina Leah Alvarado
Rebekah Antoinette January
Kathleen Kalixta Olivas
Elihu Ramirez Miranda S. Smith-Polette
Mathematics
Ana K. Almeida Rodriguez
Mariana Alvarez
Raul F. Camacho
Jonathan Andrew Cortez
Robert Isaiah De Anda
Jonathan Gaytan
Raul Alonzo Gaytan
Nailea Ortega
Oscar A. Reyes
Ricardo V. Sambrano
Nahomi Soto
Raul Antonio Trevizo
Bryan Van Slyke
Microbiology
Sebastian Alarcon
Emily Garay
Danna Maria Garcia Millan
Naomi Gonzalez
Nayeli Rut Martinez
Victoria Eliana Palacio
Neuroscience
Luis Eduardo Acosta Salcido
Alexis Manuel Aguirre
Denise Angelica Bretado Aguirre
Tyrone Cameron
Nadya L. Chavez
Andrea Paola Hernandez
Naomi Noelia Juarez
Zoe Mckissick
Sydney Menchaca
Abraham Zachary Mendoza
Mariana Meza
Jocelyn Morales Perez
Paola Palacios
Jacob J. Sanchez
Physics
Naomi D. Carbajal
Christian Linds Dietert
Carlos Teran Rodriguez
Physics/Mathematics
Richard Barry Anderson
Woody L. Hunt
College Of Business
Bachelor of Business
Administration
Accounting
Salvador Aguirre
Veronica Aguirre
Perla Yuritzi Alanis
Eve Albert
Gustavo Amaya Jr
Sebastian Daniel Arce
Jonathan Ryan Arrieta
Raymundo Banuelos
Pamela Maria Barrera Weckmann
Raul Alberto Bustillos
Daniela Guadalupe Campos Vega
Alejandro Cristoforo
Isai G. De La Rosa
Luis Angel Dominguez
Esteban Lino Elizondo
Violeta P. Esquivel
Jacob Farfan
Ashley Gabriela Flores
Evelyn Glacken
Danna Paola Hernandez
Adrian Elvis Herrera
Elisse Eugenia Herrera
Tiffany Hudson
David Jimenez
Ryan Thomas Kirkwood
Garrett Scott Larson
Ashley V. Lopez
Jacob J. Lopez
Leah Nicole Lozano
Jessica Macias
Diana Madrid
Renato Emiliano Martinez Armendariz
Allie YeVonne McWilliams
Mario A. Monroy Jr
Michelle Marie Montoya
Michael Anthony Munoz
Matthew Pargas
Itzel Pena
David Andree Quintana
Andrea Ramirez
Cristina M. Reyes
Alexis Adan Rivas
David Francisco Robles
Marcus Antonio Rodarte
Angela N. Rodriguez
Ryan A. Rubio
Paulina Ruiz
Haley Jaye Salas
Yehira Sanchez II
Nabila Andre Saucedo Rodriguez
Adrienne R. Solorzano
Alexis Torres
William R. Torres
Luz Arely Vazquez
Andrew R. Vega
Victor Manuel Villegas
Accounting/Finance
Cristina Isabel Gardea
Economics
Michael Del Hierro
Vanessa Gonzalez Sanchez
Joshua Eugene Nida
Sebastian Ortega
Jacqueline Vazquez
Finance
Valeria Itzel Aragon Villaescusa
Valeria Acosta
Fernando E. Aranda
Sebastian Arturo Baray Garcia
Alberto Bautista
Jacob Sebas Benckwitz
Carolina Benitez-Grajeda
Polette Michelle Caballero Bonifaz
Javier Bladimir Carranza Edgar
Ceniceros
Andre D. De La Rosa Jacqueline De Santiago
Cindy Colette Dominguez
Ana Lucia Esparza
Jaremi Estaco
Jose Estif Estrada Jr
Armando Flores Porras Hanna Pauli Gallegos Mia Nicole Garcia
Guillermo Hernandez
Miguel Hidalgo Leos
Juan Eduardo Gutierrez
Noah Hernandez
Edith Lara John Lopez
Valeria Lorente Zarate
Melodie Jaden Maynes
Xavier Justin Alexander Mcconney-Henderson
Alfredo Moreno Hayek
Shawn Oleary
Gloria Michelle Paiz
Javy Pedroza
Yvette Perales
Jenaive Nicole Quinonez
Johanna N. Rascon
Evelyn Rico
Abril Ronquillo
Allison Sofia Salas
Stephanie Salcido
Isaac J. Sattelmeier
Teona M. Smiley
Idaly Solis
Joshua J. Tonche
Jaquan D. Toney
Amber Capri Vacio
Veronica Valverde Briana Danyelly Villalobos Reynoso
Matthew Villalpando
Information Systems and Business Analytics
Jorge Adrian Apodaca
Brandon Bigler
Frank Arthur Escobar Jr Haley Briane Fierro
Diego Alejandro Garay
Emiliano Gonzalez-Chong
Jose Guillen
Edwin A. Guzman Ameera Hassan
Lopez Michelle Morales Yolanda Iliana Padilla Manuel Alejandro Palacios Rafael Roman III
Christian Zachariah Perez Mario Alberto Quijano
Samara Elise Reynaga Alan Gerardo Rodrigues
Claudia Elizabeth Rodriguez John Michael Rodriguez
Tania Alexandra Rodriguez Herrera Karla Denise Sanchez
Victor A. Sanchez Jessika Elisa Santiago
Moncerrath Saravia Pineda Mirka Amor Seanez Hernandez
Silvana Terrazas Gomez
Cassandra Angelica Vazquez
Aman Singh Verma
Ian Eduardo Villagomez
Faheem Zahir
Wendolee Zarate Ramos
Finance/Accounting
Jose Gael Munoz
General Business
Truman Longacre Anderson
Manuel I. Avila
Salvador Alonso Camarena
Erica Cervantes
Jacob Cruz
Marisol Enriquez
Jaslyn Escapite
Rebecca Alyssa Esparza
Joseph Esquivel
William Earl Galvan III
Yazmin P. Gonzalez
Marisol Gonzalez Acosta
Wendy Guerra
Michelle Loya Gabriela Loya
James Merino
Raul A. Moreno Irving J. Ontiveros Ana Paola Quezada Espinosa Alejandra Rodriguez Yamileth Rosales
Sara D. Sandoval Mina Aryanna Tavakoli-Nejad
Esmeralda Trujillo
Sincerely,
Abby Pedroza, editor
Heidi Baca, a University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) student, double majoring in anthropology and history, has been accepted into the Sansera Archaeological Institute field school in Spain, where she will conduct research after graduation.
In Spain, Baca will study bioarchaeology, the field of archaeology that focuses on understanding past human life through the analysis of bones and other biological remains. Even though Baca always had a passion for history, her path into archaeology was traced by resilience and life changing moments of her own.
tragically took Jackie’s life. Jackie had always encouraged Baca to pursue a career as a professor, and after the accident, Baca committed to achieving that goal in honor of her friend.
“She told me that I should go to school for it [History] and tell the story of people that lived before me. I didn’t think that was possible for me because I wasn’t exactly a star student. I have dyslexia and dyscalculia,” Baca said. “But after she passed away, it took me some years to grieve and go through the trauma. I moved to California to get away, but while I was out there, I finally decided to go to school and do what she thought I could do.”
degrees, Baca found purpose in uncovering untold stories, it was her way of breathing life into the dead.
“We hear the stories of kings, queens, heroes and villains, but never about somebody’s mom, sister, brother or friend, and those were the stories I particularly really wanted to try and help preserve. So, I had to figure out a way to do that. That’s where bioarchaeology comes into play,” Baca said.
Once she regained her health, she knew it was time to continue her academic journey.
“It took about two years for it [COVID-19] to finally go away. When it finally stopped, I decided to go back to school, but I couldn’t really go back to California anymore. So, I decided to apply to UTEP,” Baca said. “Originally, I had thought that it might be a bad idea, but it ended up being the best decision I ever made, because the school does so much for their students, especially the professors here.”
because there’s a lot of studying that goes along with it, but I would say that because I’m so passionate about it, learning about it is fun, which makes it easier,” Baca said.
“The more I started studying and doing that, the more I realized how bones can tell the story of a person, and when you learn how to read everything that’s on somebody’s bones, you can kind of breathe life back into somebody.”
“I never planned on doing academia. I thought it wasn’t in the cards for me,” Baca said.
Baca was working as a server at a restaurant when she and her best friend, Jackie Hager, were involved in a car accident that
After graduating with honors from Diablo Valley College in Concord, California, Baca continued her academic journey at San Francisco State University (SFSU), where she enrolled in history and anthropology. Beyond her achievements and earning
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Baca was only able to complete one semester at SFSU. As she battled longterm complications, including migraines and seizures, she made the decision to return to El Paso.
At UTEP, Baca was able to dive into classes of different branches of archeology and receive support from faculty members who guided her through their own experiences.
“I started going into archeology more, I took some classes with Dr. Carmichael and Dr. Gillion Wong, and I found out that I thrive in it. I really understand it. It’s something that comes, I wouldn’t say easily,
For Baca, graduating with four degrees is not only an academic milestone, but a way of honoring her friends and all those who came before her. Whether she’s studying bones or creating art of her own and uploading it to her pottery account, or enjoying time with friends and family, she makes sure to pour life into everything
B Y
ASHLEY ALVARADO
CONTRIBUTOR THE PROSPECTOR
Bhutan, a small nation in the Himalayas between India and China, known for its culture in tradition and spirituality was influenced by Vajrayana Buddhism. Its culture shapes daily life, including its art, architecture and community values miles away and here at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
Throughout the week of April 13 through 17, UTEP celebrated Bhutan’s culture by hosting events, such as tours, crafts, festivals and more.
When people explore UTEP’s campus, they are graced with Bhutanese architecture and culture on the buildings, along with artifacts from Bhutan itself. UTEP is also the only university in the United States with architecture derived from the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan.
The architecture on campus was inspired by Kathleen L. Worrell, the wife of UTEP’s first dean of the School of Mines and Metallurgy, after discovering images of the Kingdom of Bhutan in “Castles in the Air,” a National Geographic magazine article published in 1914, and pitched the idea to architect Henry C. Trost.
According to UTEP’s Special Collections Department, The Texas State of Mines and Metallurgy,
now known as UTEP, first opened on Sept. 23, 1914, with buildings located on present day Ft. Bliss.
After a fire destroyed the campus in 1916, the university relocated to its current location, where Worrell’s vision of Bhutanese-style buildings in the Franklin Mountains was brought to life in 1917.
The first three buildings that were constructed in the style of Bhutanese monasteries in 1917 were Main (now Old Main), Burges Hall (now Graham Hall) and Chemistry Hall (now Quinn Hall).
Many gifts were gifted to the campus from the people of Bhutan, such as the Lhakhang; a crafted Bhutanese temple that serves as the spiritual and social heart of a community.
“We offer it as a symbol of our hopes for a future relationship, as stable, as durable and as sweet as the Himalayan pine that it is made of. We are very happy that this [lhakhang] will have a home in the beautiful and, I dare say, Bhutanese campus of UTEP,” said Royal Highness Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.
Before being built, Greg McNicol, retired Associate Vice President for Facility Management, worked with others and asked Mother Earth, which is ceremonial and respectful expression, to borrow her land to build the Lhakhang.
building is a spiritual practice in Bhutan, known as Salang Choga. The people of Bhutan believe in owners of the soil (Sadak) and they respect the owners by asking for permission to build.
“I worked with this minister of cultural affairs, and I was working with an astrologer who was telling us, [that] in El Paso on this date at this time is when we needed to do the ceremony asking [Mother Earth],” McNicol said. “We were fortunate to find a monk from Bhutan that was in New York, that came to do the ceremony for us. And that was important to me.”
Bhutanese students led tours of the Lhakhang during Bhutan Days, explaining the story of Buddha and the journey of Guru Rinpoche, the second Buddha. Buddhist student, Karma Lhaki expressed her happiness to be a UTEP student, where Bhutanese culture and traditions are kept alive.
traditions also continue to grow in the Centennial Chihuahuan Desert Garden on campus with the Bhutanese prayer wheel.
“The garden started off as an experimental plot by the Vice President for Business Affairs, Wayne Anderson. Anderson’s hobby was collecting plant material from the Chihuahuan Desert and seeing what would adapt and grow here in El Paso,” McNicol said.
The prayer wheel that was gifted from the people of Bhutan is meant to spread spiritual blessings and good will. Turning a prayer wheel clockwise mirrors the sun’s movement and is believed to release prayers, spread compassion, peace and good karma.
Asking Mother Earth to “borrow her land” before constructing a
“Coming to UTEP, it was very surprising to see that all of our culture was being repeated over here. It made me very happy and comfortable,” Lhaki said. “We have a small community of Buddhist students here [at UTEP] and we get to celebrate, that’s very important to us.”
While Bhutanese students get to marvel in their customs on UTEP’s campus miles away from home, their culture and
Across the wheel you can spot colored Bhutanese flags (Darcho or Lungta) that spreads blessings through the wind. On each flag there is a “wind horse” that carries prayers and positive energy into the heavens. The emphasis on symbolism and cultural meaning goes beyond the flags and into Bhutanese inspired elements seen in the architecture.
As with the prayer wheel, the buildings are designed a specific way to stay true and respect Bhutan and their culture, incorporating traditional features and styles.
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Kristian Hernandez, editor
It has been three years since the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Dance team shined under the spotlight when they won their first national championship title. On April 11, 2026, the team did it again becoming national champions for the second time in the history of the program at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) Collegiate Championship.
It all began in the summer of 2025, when the program found itself with no head coach. Yet, the three captains, Evelyn Amaya, Mia Arras and Ciria Perez, began preparing the rookies and the rest of the members by building a strong bond as a team, technique and workshopping their way to the beginning of the fall semester, when Crytal Ortiz officially became the head coach of the program. This being her first year as the UTEP dance head coach, Ortiz came in with a completely new perspective, doubling their practice schedule five days a week, some weekends included, and bringing the “King of Pro” Oscar Ortega-Hernandez, pro action choreographer for the NBA and NFL, to create an energized high-level hip-hop jazz funk routine.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I remember watching NDA with my dad on TV and saying to myself ‘it would be so fun if one day I get to go’, thanks to becoming the head coach I was able to fulfill that dream,” Ortiz said. “My goal
for Spirit Rally was to separate UTEP’s choreography by keeping it original, elements like a hitch-kick death drop kip up or ending with a jump-split would add surprising moments that I knew no other schools were going to bring to the dance floor.”
After months of preparation, at the beginning of April the team flew to Orlando, where they drove to Daytona, Florida. The competition consisted of two parts, semi-finals and finals; in the semi-finals round they announced the 13 schools competing, and
out of those, 60% were selected to compete at the final competition.
On April 10, the UTEP dance team scored 94 points, securing a spot for the finals. The next day, they performed at the finals, earning the top contender title with a score of 96.15 points in the Dance
Spirit Rally Division IA category. “When I was on stage and heard that we won, it was electrifying. I just started crying and thanking God for giving us the title because it felt insane,” Amaya said. “It felt so different this year, our bond was so strong, and the energy was so much calmer compared to other years. We trusted in our timing and how much we practiced, and the way that the outcome came out, it made this win so much sweeter.”
The team returned to El Paso on April 12, being greeted at the El Paso International Airport by family, friends, the UTEP cheer team and multiple media outlets and supporters, marking the end of the 2025-2026 season.
“This year taught me to trust the process, adapt to change, and trust the people around me, which is what ultimately gave us a win that we are very proud of,” senior dancer Lauren Anaya said. “As a senior, this team is so special, I love them so much and I can say that in four years, this season NDA is the most fun I’ve ever had on stage, and I hope that the next team will keep growing and improving so they can achieve even bigger things.”
The UTEP dance team is now in the process of selecting and prepping the 2026-2027 team, in hopes to take the team to even greater heights.
For Tatyana Vega, the transition from Tucson to the Sun City hasn’t just been about changing area codes. It’s about bringing a specific brand of intensity to the dirt, one she calls a “bulldog mentality.”
As a freshman pitcher for the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) softball team, Vega has quickly became the Miners’ workhorse. Transitioning to Division I athletics can be intimidating, but Vega has stepped into the circle with a poise that is beyond her years.
She has already emerged as a primary force for the Miners, appearing in nearly half of the team‘s total innings this season.
“I try to just compose myself and [use] the skills I had in high school and bring them here,” Vega said. “I’ve always played with girls older [than me], so I’ve always had that mentality that I’m here to earn a spot just as well as anybody else.”
That competitive fire was forged in a household where sports weren’t just a hobby; they were the family business.
Her father served as an assistant coach during her standout career at Sunnyside High School and her siblings grew up on the diamond.
The family’s reach even extends
to the professional ranks; her cousin, Nick Gonzales, currently plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball (MLB).
While Vega admits she’s a New York Yankees fan at heart, she’s quick to support her family.
“It’s nice to watch my cousin be on TV in the MLB,” Vega said. “I suck it up and put on the [Pirates] cap.”
The decision to attend UTEP was driven by a sense of familiarity.
Despite being across state lines, El Paso felt like home the moment she arrived.
“It reminds me a lot of home,”
Vega said. “That’s what really set my heart on coming here, because it’s not far [from my family].”
Proximity has its perks. Vega’s parents make the four-hour drive from Tucson for every home weekend game. Their presence in the stands serves as a reminder of her “why.” They’re her reason she puts in the hours at the facility and the long travel days on the road.
At the center of that inspiration is her late grandfather, whom she calls “Tata.”
Vega pitched for Sunnyside hours after his funeral during her prep years, a performance fueled by grief and grit. Today, he remains her driving force.
“My parents definitely [are my why], and my Tata definitely,” Vega said. “If he was here, he would
definitely be here every game. I just think about when I told him I was committing here… he was so happy.”
While the physical game came naturally, the mental toll of being a primary starter as a freshman is something Vega manages carefully. When she isn’t in the circle, she focuses on “keeping her mind straight” through schoolwork
and occasional trips to Top Golf with friends.
She has also leaned on veteran teammates to help navigate the pressures of college life.
“I’ve talked to a lot of upperclassmen [Halle Hogan],”
Vega said, specifically noting her connection with fifth year catcher Kenna Carranza. “They’ve kind of helped me when I‘m going through
a hard time, telling me what to expect and what not to expect. Coming in as a freshman, it’s a little scary, but I’ve learned and adapted.”
As the Miners end the season, most recently battling in tough series against opponents like Missouri State, the expectations for Vega are only growing.
celebration, effectively handing the keys of the “Blue Blaze” offense to the fans.
Forget the clipboard and the headset for a moment. On April 18, the most vital play-caller at the Sun Bowl wasn‘t wearing a whistle, they were sitting in the crowd.
In a high-energy display of what Head Coach Scotty Walden calls a “United El Paso front,” the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Football program transformed its annual Spring Game into a community
“We wanted to celebrate [the] community and celebrate a united El Paso front,” Walden said.
“That’s what we need going to the Mountain West [Conference]. Let’s look at the things that we do have... instead of what could go wrong, let’s look at what could go right.”
The 2026 squad, balancing 59 returning letterwinners with 32 newcomers, utilized
the 97-87 victory for the “Orange Swarm” defense to showcase a roster undergoing a significant transformation.
All eyes were on the evolution of the quarterback room. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Raymond Moore III provided the highlight of the morning with a 50-plus yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Nik Henry.
“Ray [Moore] is a 6-foot-5 guy that can absolutely gallop,” Walden noted. “This guy hit 22 miles per
hour the other day in practice. He’s a weapon.”
The offensive momentum continued late in the game when redshirt sophomore quarterback EJ Colson found junior wide receiver Jeremiah Nash for a red zone score on a fourth-down play called by a fan.
For Colson, this game was about more than just the stat sheet.
“It kind of got emotional when I walked out,” Colson said. “I’m so blessed to be here and just be able to put on [the uniform] for the 915.
Christopher M. Allen
Cynthia Alvarez
Clarissa Andrade
Monique Ariel Arellano
Claudia Isabel Becerra Quezada
Roseanne Candelaria
Christina Carbajal
Ricardo Carrasco
Jessica Carrera
Esequiel B. Contreras, Jr.
Amelia Unione Contreras
Athena Belle Elias
Olivia “Liv” Erickson
Maria Jochelline Feliz Anaya
Sabrina Flores
Jesse Darian Gallardo
Adrian Garcia
Stephanie J. Garcia
Georgina Garcia
Kamrin Guzman
Daniel Hernandez
Mauricio Magdaleno
Yaritza Marentes
Nathalie Nicole Marquez
Ashley Nicole Martinez
Nataly Montoya
Mark Olivas
Diamond Itzel Pardo
Briana Reed
Mary Elizabeth Russell
Luisa Fernanda Sánchez
Yazmin Sandoval
Vanessa Valles
Juan Kirk Vasquez
Grace Yi
Martha Yoshida Field
Jacqueline Zuloaga
Yiretzy Yamir Zuñiga
