Ricardo Ayala, a cybersecurity major with a minor in political science, is pictured with Sidury Christansen, associate professor of applied linguistics and faculty sponsor of Ballet Folklórico de UTSA.
MAY 18, 2025 — More than 350 seniors in the UTSA Honors College are expected to graduate today, marking the largest graduating class in the college’s history.
Throughout their time at UTSA, these students embraced meaningful relationships, learning experiences and opportunities that extended well beyond the classroom. Many graduates already have exciting futures lined up — from beginning full-time roles in industry to entering some of the nation’s most competitive graduate and professional schools.
Forty students in this cohort will graduate with distinction, the highest level of Honors College recognition. This designation is awarded to students who complete more than nine signature experiences — including honors courses, research, service, internships and other experiential learning — along with at least one capstone project.
One such student is Ricardo Ayala, a cybersecurity major with a minor in political science. A first-generation college student and first-generation American, Ayala came to UTSA through the Bold Promise program and has made a lasting impact through academic excellence, leadership and public service.
In fall 2024, he was selected as a UT System Archer Fellow and completed an internship at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. Closer to home, he took part in the Honors College’s Citymester program, through which he volunteered at San Antonio’s Center for Refugee Services, assisting refugee families with employment opportunities and access to essential resources.
On campus, Ayala led voter education and registration initiatives and served as president of Ballet Folklórico de UTSA. He was actively involved in University Technology Solutions’ Bold Careers program as both an intern and ambassador, and he gained real-world experience in cybersecurity through an internship at UTSA’s Cyber Operations Center. His campus engagement also includes participation in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business Emerging Leader Series, UTSA’s San Antonio Language Academy, and supporting fellow students as a resident assistant with UTSA Housing and Residence Life.
Ayala is a semifinalist for a Fulbright award to travel to Colombia after graduation. Ultimately, he plans to pursue a career at an organization that helps expand cybersecurity awareness and access in underrepresented communities.
Other Honors College graduates are preparing for impressive next steps as well:
- Temiyemi Adewumi, a biology major and psychology minor, has been accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the University of Houston.
- Brianna Anaya, a computer science major, will begin her career as a software developer for Progressive Insurance.
- Jadzia Cruz, an environmental science major with minors in geography and sustainability, is relocating to Boston to work as a vegetation field technician with the National Ecological Observatory Network.
- Joshua Davidson, a cybersecurity major with a minor in computer science, has been offered a position with the U.S. Space Force.
- Zachary Galvan, a kinesiology major who completed UTSA’s Athletic Training Apprenticeship Program, will pursue a master’s degree in athletic training at the University of Miami.
- Michael Gomez, an electrical and computer engineering major, has been awarded the prestigious Rales Fellowship, which covers full tuition and housing as he pursues a dual master’s program at Carnegie Mellon University.
- Lorraine Hedje, a psychology major and aspiring physician, will attend Johns Hopkins University this fall to pursue a Master of Public Health.
- Yağmur Hocaoğlu, a chemical engineering major, has accepted a full-time position as a process engineer at the San Antonio Refinery, where she interned during her senior year.
- Justus Mendoza, a politics and law major who participated in the Archer Fellowship program in Fall 2023, has been accepted to Texas A&M Law School and will begin his studies this fall.
- Tia Miller, a business analytics major with a minor in statistics, will join Dell Technologies in Austin as a full-time supply chain management analyst.
- Emily Nguyen, a biology major and Top Scholar, will attend Case Western Reserve University to pursue a Master of Science in Anesthesia, with the goal of becoming a certified anesthesiologist assistant.
- Ella Pusey, a cybersecurity and information systems major, has secured a cybersecurity internship with jewelry company Kendra Scott LLC.
- Elizabeth Ramirez, a mechanical engineering major, will begin a full-time engineering position at Toyota.
- Ahtziri Serrano, a criminology and criminal justice major, will transition into a full-time paralegal role at the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.
Several other members of the graduating class will continue as Roadrunners this fall, pursuing graduate degrees in accounting, aerospace engineering, architecture, artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, business administration, health, community and policy, kinesiology, multidisciplinary studies, special education and statistics and data science.
Others will begin graduate programs in dentistry, medical laboratory science, nursing and respiratory care at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
