Student of the Week

Awards/Honors

Who’s Who Among College Students Honor recipient, spring 2009
Dean’s List, fall 2007-present
University Scholar, fall 2007-present
Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society inductee, spring 2008
Jones Endowed Scholarship recipient, fall 2007-spring 2008.

Visit the archives to view previous student profiles.

Shaney Flores, 20, is a senior at The University of Texas-Pan American who plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in both English and psychology in May 2011. The Harlingen native graduated from the Science Academy of South Texas in the top 25 percent of his class and has since become involved in many campus activities at UTPA. He is currently employed by the Office of Residence Life as a resident assistant at Unity Hall and serves as a senator for the College of Arts and Humanities in the Student Government Association. Flores also mentors incoming freshmen on adjusting to university life through both the Ambassador Program and the University Scholars BRIDGE Program. In addition, he has been actively involved with the community through such events as United to Serve and Make a Difference Day.

What are your plans after graduation?

Following graduation, I intend to enroll in a graduate program where I can continue to pursue opportunities in the field of psychology and eventually earn a Ph.D. in either counseling or experimental psychology.

Do you plan to return to the Valley?

I actually plan on leaving the Valley for graduate school; however, since I was born and raised in the Valley my entire life, I see it as home and will always be open to the possibility of returning following graduate school.

What has your education done for you?

Having been raised in a family employed in and devoted to education, attaining a degree has been of paramount importance. It has given me a sense of fulfillment, but beyond that, it has also shown me my strengths and my weaknesses. From this, I have learned how not only to develop myself intellectually but personally as well and to improve myself as a person by becoming more aware of my relations with the external world and vice versa.

How do you feel about your UTPA experience?

My experience at UTPA has been enlightening both inside and outside the classroom. Through the different organizations I have been a part of, I have gained new friends and new experiences that I might not have gotten at other universities, and through my work as a resident assistant, I have gained new skills and abilities that will no doubt help me with my career in the long run.

What is your best tip for success?

Although this sounds cliché – don’t procrastinate. It is highly likely you will do it, but it will make things harder in retrospect and you might miss out on a great opportunity if you do. I’m not perfect and have done it many times myself, but I’m slowly working on avoiding it. Also, like my favorite quote says, “The only thing you take with you when you’re gone is what you leave behind,” so always try to get involved in some way on campus. Whether you make some major change or just make new friends, you will definitely be able to say that you made a difference to something or someone.

What advice do you have for college-bound students?

The best advice I could give is to always be open-minded and explorative. Be confident in what you do and don’t berate yourself for failure. Always try to intrinsically motivate yourself. Be calm. Be patient, and be sure to look up from your textbook once in a while to see what is going on around you.