Student of the Week

Awards/Honors

Outstanding Box Office Manager Award, spring 2007
CineSol 36 Hour Film Race, Second Place, 2007
James and Alice Hawley Scholarship recipient, spring and summer, 2009 and spring, summer and fall, 2008
Edward James Olmos Scholarship recipient, summer 2007 and fall 2006
Sally Thompson Scholarship recipient , spring and summer 2007
Ruth Owings Blalock Scholarship recipient , spring 2006 and fall 2005
Drama Scholarship recipient, spring 2009, spring and fall 2008, and spring 2005
Marian Monta Scholarship recipient, fall 2008
International Women’s Board Scholarship recipient, spring 2008

Visit the archives to view previous student profiles.

Emily Ruby Fierros, 26, is a graduate student at The University of Texas-Pan American and plans to graduate in fall 2009 with a master’s degree in theatre. Fierros graduated in May 2001 from Homer Hanna High School in Brownsville. Fierros is a member of the Alpha Psi Omega Honor Society here at UTPA. She worked as an assistant director last summer alongside actor Valente Rodriguez. She has acted in two UTPA main stage shows, one of which was on tour in the Rio Grande Valley for two months. Fierros has also helped her community by serving as a UIL judge for elementary students. While attending UTPA, she has worked as both a student and teacher assistant. Fierros currently continues to stay active in UTPA’s theatre program by working in the Theatre Box Office as the student box office manager. This summer she directed the first theatre show of the season at the university. In addition, she is currently employed as a teacher assistant in the communication theatre department.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I plan to apply at UTPA or South Texas College in hopes of teaching other students the art of theatre. Eventually, I would like to pursue a Ph.D. in TV/film or in theatre outside of Texas. In addition, one day I’d like to direct a huge motion picture.

Do you plan to return to the Valley?

I do plan to return to the Rio Grande Valley and share everything I have learned with the community where I find great potential for growth. I love the Valley and plan to follow in my family’s footsteps by raising my own family here. The Valley is my home and I believe family values are the most important thing to our future.

What has your education done for you?

The education that I have acquired here at UTPA has helped me learn leadership skills, the ability to work with others, multitasking, and to appreciate the art of teaching.

How do you feel about your UTPA experience?

The professors here at UTPA have given me so many opportunities that I am extremely grateful for. The relationships that I have gained throughout my college career have created lifelong bonds with those I have worked with and learned from. Thank you to Dr. Monta, Dr. Stanley, Mr. Tom, and Mrs. Elva for giving me the most memorable years of my educational career.

What is your best tip for success?

My biggest tip for success is to keep your head up, even when times appear to be at their toughest. At times, it may seem as if there is no way out of a problem, but patience, hard work, and determination will show you that everything will fall into place in life, as long as you don’t give up.

What advice do you have for college-bound students?

The best advice I could give to any college-bound student is to keep an open mind about learning. You don’t just go to college to learn in a classroom. You become an adult and learn more about yourself that you really didn’t even know before.