Student of the Week

Awards/Honors

QPR Gatekeeper Certificate, November 2007
Dean’s List Second Honors, 2007-2008
Dean’s List First Honors, Fall 2008-present
Selden Leavell Scholarship recipient, 2009-2010
HACU Scholarship recipient - Bridging the GAP for Hispanic Success Award, 2009-2010.

Visit the archives to view previous student profiles.

Laura Soria, 20, a junior at The University of Texas-Pan American, plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts – Studio with a specialization in graphic design and a minor in marketing in December 2011. Her parents, Ricardo Soria and Laura Guajardo, have always been very supportive and constantly encouraged her to follow her dreams. While attending UTPA, Soria has been active within the University community maintaining a 3.9 GPA, earning her a position on the Dean’s List. She has done several non-paid internships within the University at departments such as University Relations, Print Shop and ESS Design. In addition, she worked as a University Ambassador where she was a mentor and a camp counselor. She has also helped to plan several events sponsored by the University Program Board. Since fall 2008, she has been working on campus in the UT Research Consortium with Dr. Baltazar Arispe y Acevedo Jr., who became her mentor. Furthermore, Soria is a Certified CPE Peer Educator, a Leadershape Institute Graduate, a mentor for the SAM Program, and an officer for the Design Collective student organization.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduating from UTPA I would love to start working for a marketing agency where I can use and improve my graphic design skills by working with a group of people in a collaborative and creative environment. I consider teamwork to be extremely helpful in this type of field. Furthermore, I would also enjoy being able to help out nonprofit organizations with advertising campaigns that will benefit our community.

Do you plan to stay in the Valley?

I would like to have the experience of working somewhere far away from the Valley so that I can get a view of how graphic designers work in other places. Unfortunately, the Valley is not the best place for graphic designers, so I would like to get a scope of what it is that they are doing somewhere else and then bring it to the Valley.

What has your education done for you?

My education is probably one of the best things that my parents have given to me. The education I am getting is helping me develop into the person I want to become. All of my accomplishments are due to the education that I have gotten from professors, mentors and, most importantly, from my family.

How do you feel about your UTPA experience?

Without a doubt it has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. UTPA is a place that helps you expand your horizons. You have an infinite number of resources and a wide range of opportunities. The student environment is nice and welcoming. I have met a lot of interesting people who inspire me to become a better student.

What is your best tip for success?

You have to do what you love. The best way of succeeding in life is doing something you feel passionate about, something you enjoy greatly. It might not be the best-paid job but the feeling of fulfillment at the end of the day will be beyond compare. After all, why would you spend the rest of your life doing something you are not fond of?

What advice do you have for college-bound students?

I would advise them to get the whole college experience by being active and involved in all the activities going on at the University. Also, building good relationships with the professors is really helpful because one can get excellent mentorship from them.