Student of the Week

Awards/Honors

Excellence Scholarship recipient, 2006
University Scholar, 2006-present
Dean’s List 2006-present
Senator of the Year, 2008-2009.

Visit the archives to view previous student profiles.

Evan Perez, 22, will graduate from The University of Texas-Pan American with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and minors in chemistry and English this December 2009. He graduated from Edinburg High School in 2006 ranked ninth in his class. Perez came to UTPA with 32 hours that he had completed through concurrent enrollment which he began in the summer of 2004. While at UTPA he has had the honor of sitting on two UTPA committees – Chief of Police Search and Cost Avoidance Task Force – as well as the Student Government Association (SGA) committees on Environmental Awareness, Fiscal Operations and University and Community Affairs. He has served as a senator-at-large in the SGA since 2008 and is currently the chief of staff. During October 2007 to June 2008 he was a volunteer fire fighter for the Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department where he juggled fire fighting and school. Firefighting was an unforgettable experience for him and helped him grow as a person. Perez has researched at UT Southwestern Medical Center working with cardiomyocytes to prevent scar tissue in heart attack victims. He is currently doing research with Dr. Matthew Terry on the evolutional development of hexapods.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to continue my education and go on to medical school. I have a strong interest in cardiology and did research in cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in the summer.

Do you plan to return to the Valley?

After medical school I plan on returning to the Valley to practice medicine and give back to the community in whatever ways I can. Being family oriented, the Valley is the only place I want to be since the majority of my family lives here.

What has your education done for you?

Every day you learn something new; having a good education is a key to understanding what you learn and if possible how to apply it to your future. My education has allowed me to broaden my horizons and see the world from a different perspective than before. Education allows you to look at things differently and to think and understand before making any decisions. Nobody knows everything there is to know. Education is so important that I’ve been told that the day you think you know everything is the day you should quit. It has opened the door for me to become a physician.

How do you feel about your UTPA experience?

It’s been great! When I became involved in student government I began meeting many new people from other organizations and attending many UTPA events. Being a part of the University experience as opposed to just attending class has allowed me to become a more confident person and a much better leader.

What is your best tip for success?

Don’t procrastinate! You may be able to get away with it but you’re going to school to learn, so don’t memorize information; actually learn it because it will come in handy later on.

What advice do you have for college-bound students?

Talk to your professors. Get to know them, ask them questions and show them you really want to learn. They will help you. Remember, they were students once too and understand that you have a life outside of school. Before you know it, you may be needing letters of recommendation from a professor, and if they have no idea who you are you probably won’t get a letter or it won’t be a very good one.