UTRGV welcomes third cohort of Luminary Scholars

By Amanda Alaniz

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS– UTRGV recently welcomed a new cohort of 24 incoming freshmen to its prestigious UTRGV Luminary Scholars program, further highlighting the university’s commitment to academic excellence.

The merit-based scholarship allows selected students to complete their education debt free, removing financial barriers to higher education by covering all expenses associated with undergraduate, graduate, or professional degrees, and includes the UTRGV School of Medicine and the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine.

Selected from more than 600 applicants, students in the new cohort, as with the first two cohorts, signed a Luminary Scholar Vow pledging to work in the Rio Grande Valley post-education.

Students selected as Luminary Scholars will reside on campus for the first two academic years. Second-year students will serve as mentors to first-year recipients.

The scholarship program is made possible thanks to philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, HEB, the Serafy Foundation, and the Robert J. Kleberg Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation.

Each of the gifts is meant to enhance the university’s mission of improving student success and expanding educational opportunities.

The new cohort and their families were welcomed to UTRGV at a banquet Monday, Aug. 19, at the Performing Arts Complex on the Edinburg Campus.

Students met with college deans and university leadership that included Dr. Maggie Hinojosa, UTRGV senior vice president for Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs, Dr. Griselda Castilla, associate VP for Strategic Enrollment, and Dara Newton, associate VP for Strategic Enrollment.

MEET THE THIRD COHORT OF LUMINARY SCHOLARS

• Abigail Montalvo, Corpus Christi, College of Health Professions.
• Abril Leon, South Houston, College of Sciences.
• Adhira Tippur, McAllen, College of Sciences.
• Adrian Yanez, Mission, College of Engineering and Computer Science.
• Adriana Gonzalez, Mercedes, College of Sciences, Vaquero MD.
• Allysa Ashley Torio, Edinburg, College of Health Professions.
• Anthony Puente Tovar, Brownsville, College of Health Professions, Vaquero MD.
• Brizeida Ramos, Roma, Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
• Danielle Barber, Brownsville, College of Sciences.
• Diego Lopez, Mission, College of Sciences, Vaquero MD.
• Dyani Martinez, Brownsville, College of Sciences.
• Ethan De Leon, Edinburg, College of Engineering and Computer Science.
• Horacio Gutierrez, McAllen, College of Sciences, Vaquero MD.
• Isabella Garcia, Mission, College of Sciences.
• Jayeth Lopez, Edinburg, College of Sciences.
• Joseph Montoya, Harlingen, College of Health Professions, PACT.
• Leah Adame, Mercedes, College of Health Professions.
• Nicolas Rios, Edinburg, College of Sciences, Vaquero MD.
• Samantha Lara, Progreso, College of Sciences, Vaquero MD.
• Sebastian Flores, Brownsville, College of Health Professsions.
• Sebastian Ruizsoriano, Mission, College of Sciences, Vaquero MD.
• Srinidhi Sompalli, McAllen, College of Sciences.
• Vanesa Calvillo-Fernan, Hidalgo, College of Sciences, PACT.
• Victoria Saenz, Alamo, College of Liberal Arts.

Hinojosa addressed the scholars and their families, underscoring how impactful and important the program is to them as UTRGV students.

“It is such a great opportunity to meet such wonderful students, the future of who we are not just as an institution, but in the state and the nation,” she said. “To the parents, the grandparents, to the entire support system of these students – we appreciate you, and we thank you for entrusting us your student with us. We will not let you down.”

‘HE’S SET, HE’S ON HIS RIGHT PATH’

New Luminary Scholar Sebastian Ruizsoriano, of Mission, a recent graduate of Mission Collegiate High School, is majoring in biomedical sciences and will be enrolled in the BMED program.

He also is enrolled in the Vaqueros MD program, a prestigious program for a selected number of students who begin their undergraduate career and receive conditional admission to the incoming class at the UTRGV School of Medicine upon graduation from high school.

Being chosen as a Luminary Scholar helped lift a massive financial burden off his parents, not only for his undergraduate years, but also for his postgraduate work. He is looking forward to beginning the path to becoming a doctor and giving back to his community.

“I was really happy when I found out about the Luminary Scholarship. About two or three weeks later, I found out that I got into the Vaqueros MD program. So that was even more over-the-moon happiness that I had this great opportunity,” he said. “My parents are able to not be super worried about me and what my future is going to be. They can just think, ‘He’s set, he’s on his right path. He’s doing the right thing.’”

‘ONE STEP CLOSER’

Another new Luminary Scholar, Brownsville native Danielle Barber, a graduate of Brownsville Early College High School, says she knows just how meaningful the scholarship will be for her and for her future as she begins her college journey. She will be majoring in Biology and wants to be a pediatrician. She knows UTRGV is helping her follow that career path, she said.

“I have such a goal for my future. I want to become a pediatrician, and I think this scholarship will help me achieve that goal, one step closer,” she said. “I always wanted to help others. My mom is a nurse and she works with delivery at the hospital. So, that has always been in my blood … I feel like there’s a lot of kids suffering right now, and one thing I could do is to help them.”

Her mother, Rebecca Barber, said she was excited to learn her daughter had been chosen as a Luminary Scholar. Most of all, she is proud that Danielle wants to pursue medicine.

“It makes me feel really happy that she’s following those footsteps,” Rebecca Barber said. “It’s a very good career, a very rewarding career, being able to help people. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s totally worth it at the end of the day.”

Her advice as Danielle begins her college career is to stay focused, to learn, and to take advantage of every opportunity along the way.

‘IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT’

New Scholar Adrian Yanez’s mother, Alma, gave him similar advice. Education can be transformative, she told him, and he would serve as a role model for his siblings.

“I kept telling him, I have a feeling you’re going to be one of the finalists to be able to go, and get the interview done and everything,” she said. “It was very exciting for us, especially because he’s our first generation to go to college.”

Adrian, a Mission native, graduated from IDEA North Mission College Prep and is a computer science major. He said it felt surreal to be named a Scholar, but that he is eager to get started with college.

“I want to show my siblings that university is achievable. If I can do it, you can do it,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the rigorous classes. I want to be challenged and pushed as far as I can go. As well as the extracurriculars – I’m very excited for that, so I can make new friends, meet new people and make new connections.”

His mother said she is proud of her son and everything he is working toward as a first-generation college student.

“I tell him to keep doing his best. That it will be a challenging process, but I know that if he puts all his dedication into it, he will make it work,” she said.

He told his mom to keep trusting in him.

“It will be possible,” he told her. “I’ll try my very hardest and you’ll be proud of me, I’ll make sure of that.”

UTRGV’s Luminary Scholars moved into their dorm rooms on Friday, Aug. 23, and will kick-off their first semester as college students on Aug. 26.

Visit UTRGV Luminary Scholars to learn more about the prestigious program.