2006 Top Ten Seniors
The Top Ten Seniors Awards are presented by the UTEP Alumni Association each spring to students who have achieved academic success and a proven commitment to the community.

They represent the best and brightest graduates of the university and are measured not by class ranking, but by what they’ve accomplished and what awaits them in their careers and personal lives.

Cecilio Alvarez
Cecilio had many choices when it came time to pick a college. Most weren’t in his own backyard. He chose the University of Texas at El Paso, a decision he says he’s never regretted. “Learning and participating in the UTEP community is an experience whose value we often overlook,” Alvarez says. “Our university is far more unique than we realize.”
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Amy Bejarano
For Amy, college came down to one big question: Did she want to work with things or with people? Certain that her future was in a forensic science lab surrounded by machines and chemicals, Bejarano chose UTEP for its strong science programs. But soon she was second guessing her plan. "I thought about jobs I had done and realized that all my work experience had dealt with people," she explains. "Ultimately, I knew I would not be happy unless I was dealing directly with people – and preferably helping them." LEARN MORE

Aarti Bhaga
For more than 10 years, Aarti lived in two worlds – the United States and South Africa. The 22-year-old El Paso native, whose parents came from South Africa, spent her childhood traveling between the countries, having polar-opposite educational experiences and learning the true meaning of opportunity. During her time in South Africa, she saw first hand an incredible lack of opportunity. In this country, she saw unmatched opportunities.
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Hettie Houghton
As a 51-year-old mother of five married for more than 30 years, Hettie has devoted most of her life to family. But she will be forever grateful that she decided to do something for herself: go back to college. “Long ago I made a list of things I wanted to do and completing a college degree was always at the top.” LEARN MORE

Beatriz Leyba
Beatriz is living proof that education is the key to success. Six years ago, Leyba was divorced with two children, struggling to make ends meet and to learn English. Her tutor encouraged her to apply to the University of Texas at El Paso. “I was scared. I kept thinking UTEP is for smart people, not for me.” To her surprise and delight, she was accepted. Leyba made the dean’s list four times, was accepted into the honors program, and received two scholarships. LEARN MORE

Nathaniel Ng
As a freshman, Nathaniel knew he wanted to be a doctor, but the ambitious 22-year-old wasn’t sure how to achieve his goal. With the help of professors and mentors at the University of Texas at El Paso, Ng’s future in medicine looks bright. "Before coming to UTEP, I didn’t have a clear picture of what the university had to offer,” says Ng, but I found out about programs and research opportunities that I might not have been able to experience elsewhere.” LEARN MORE

Jessica Quinteros
Jessica knew attending college was a necessity. But when no one in your family has ever earned a college degree, she says, you have doubts about your own abilities. “When I first arrived at UTEP, it was overwhelming for me,” Quinteros says. “But as I got to know professors, the experience became enjoyable.” LEARN MORE

Tiffany Tajiri
For Tiffany, graduating from UTEP is part of a family tradition. But it’s also been a place to be challenged, a place to excel, and a place to call home. “UTEP was home, literally, because I lived at Miner Village,” says Tajiri, whose mother is a UTEP grad. “But I’ve been here almost every day since I was 7 attending ballet classes or playing viola in the El Paso Philharmonics summer clinic.” LEARN MORE

Henry Vallejo
Just a year ago, Henry watched his father, Henry Sr., walk across the stage to receive an MBA from UTEP. That moment made Henry more determined than ever to work hard and accomplish his own goals. And he did, this year earning a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from UTEP’s College of Engineering. “My years at UTEP have been valuable and memorable,” says the Americas High grad. Everyone at UTEP has helped make my experience a success.” LEARN MORE

Ruben Vogt
When he was a child, Ruben dreamed of having superpowers. As he graduates from the University of Texas at El Paso, Vogt says UTEP helped him develop an even greater power – his intellectual ability. That’s why he’s dedicating himself to public service. “UTEP taught me dedication, self-discipline and determination. My professors helped shape me into a critical thinker, innovator and socially engaged citizen. I carry the Miner spirit within me.”
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