{"id":439933,"date":"2025-12-11T11:02:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T11:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/439933\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T11:02:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T11:02:13","slug":"prepared-to-make-an-impact-170-honors-college-students-are-graduating-from-ut-san-antonio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/439933\/","title":{"rendered":"Prepared to make an impact: 170 Honors College students are graduating from UT San Antonio"},"content":{"rendered":"

First-generation college student Evelyn Aguirre<\/strong><\/a> graduates from UT San Antonio this fall with university honors from the College of Liberal and Fine Arts with a bachelor\u2019s degree in politics and law.<\/p>\n

A transfer student, Aguirre completed her associate\u2019s degree in psychology from San Antonio College before enrolling at UT San Antonio.<\/p>\n

In the two years since, she completed nine Honors College Experiences and a capstone thesis titled, \u201cExamining the Association Between Facets of Trait Rumination and Cardiovascular Responses to Reoccurring Acute Stress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"EvelynGraduating Honors College student Evelyn Aguirre.<\/p>\n

Aguirre is one of nearly 170 students in the Honors College who are graduating from UT San Antonio on Dec. 15, each prepared to take the next step toward meaningful careers, advanced education and service to their communities.<\/p>\n

Home to more than 2,800 high-achieving and deeply engaged scholars, the UT San Antonio Honors College prepares students to take on big challenges through experiential learning, interdisciplinary exploration and a commitment to community impact.<\/p>\n

This semester\u2019s Honors College graduates represent nearly 30 majors across almost every academic college. Their paths after commencement are equally diverse.<\/p>\n

Twenty-two Honors College students are affiliated with UTSA Athletics<\/a>, including 16 student-athletes, a former student-athlete, three members of the cheer program, one student athletic trainer and one student manager.<\/p>\n

Careers and grad school<\/p>\n

Many Honors College grads will pursue graduate degrees. Others are transitioning into full-time roles with employers such as the professional services firm KPMG, GM Financial, Union Pacific, CPS Energy and pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.<\/p>\n

Several December graduates plan to spend the coming months preparing for entrance exams for law, medicine and other health professions programs.<\/p>\n

Nineteen students in the cohort will graduate with distinction, the highest level of recognition in the Honors College.<\/p>\n

This designation is awarded to students who complete at least nine signature experiences \u2014 such as honors courses, research, service, internships and other experiential learning activities \u2014 and at least one capstone project.<\/p>\n

Leadership roles<\/p>\n

Aguirre\u2019s Honors College capstone thesis examined how rumination, or the tendency to dwell on negative thoughts or repeatedly think about problems, and heart-related responses are affected when a person repeatedly encounters short, stressful situations.<\/p>\n

Her thesis grew out of research she contributed to in the College for Health, Community and Policy under the direction of Adam O\u2019Riordan<\/strong>, assistant professor of psychology.<\/p>\n

Using the dataset and participant statistics she helped collect, Aguirre applied her own focus on rumination to the lab\u2019s broader study on the psychological and physiological effects of stress on college students and exploration of healthy interventions to support mental health.<\/p>\n

In addition to serving in leadership roles for student organizations such as PERIOD and the Professional Businesswomen Society, Aguirre gained experience as a teaching assistant for multiple legal studies courses.<\/p>\n

She was selected to serve as a judicial intern at the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals, an opportunity typically reserved for law students.<\/p>\n

\u2018Biggest dreamer\u2019<\/p>\n

As the featured student speaker at the recent Honors College graduation celebration where students received their honors stoles, Aguirre said the Honors College gives students opportunities to learn and grow in ways they never imagined.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnybody who knows me will agree; I am the biggest dreamer \u2026 maybe too big,\u201d she said. \u201cBut the Honors College taught me that dreaming is only the start. It\u2019s what we do with that curiosity and ambition that really matters.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a member of the Honors College at UT San Antonio means more than recognition or a transcript line. It\u2019s about embracing challenge, curiosity and community. This stole represents our perseverance, goals and aspirations. It represents not just what we\u2019ve achieved individually, but also how we\u2019ve grown together as a community of scholars, dreamers and most importantly, doers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aguirre plans begin the UT San Antonio MBA program in the spring while continuing at the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals as a graduate intern and preparing for law school next year.<\/p>\n

Other Honors College graduates this fall are preparing for impressive next steps:<\/p>\n