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2021-2022 OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LAPTOP AWARD WINNER
STUDENTNEWS
By Hillary Jean-Baptiste and Clowey Adams
The winner of the Office of Information Technology Laptop Award for the 2021-2022 academic year, awarded by Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and University of Texas at San Antonio, is Brianna Garcia a mentor and graduate of the Access College and Excel Scholars program.
The laptop award program originated as a partnership between HACU and Gateway, with UTSA choosing to continue the laptop awards after the Gateway partnership ended. At UTSA, a committee of ACE Scholars advisers selects the laptop award recipients. A search of spring 2022 candidates who were admitted to the program and participate as mentors for their underclassmen established a pool of potential awardees. The candidates were asked to submit an essay application detailing their academic and community engagement experience and showcasing their UTSA involvement. Although a candidate’s grade point average is a factor in selecting the award recipients, it is not the sole factor. The committee considers overall accomplishments and the time spent on community and campus involvement, as well as the student’s desire for success, which was the Access College and Excel Scholars program's initial mission.
“The program began in 1999 and remains dedicated to promoting the academic success of its students. Our cohorts are recruited from high schools within historically underserved communities. For their first two years at UTSA, ACE Scholars receive one-on-one mentoring from an ACE alum, personalized academic coaching, enrollment in a College Success Seminar, and the chance to build community with their fellow ACE scholars via multiple workshops, volunteering opportunities, and events occurring throughout the semester,” said Carlos Lopez, ACE Scholars senior program coordinator. “Our primary mission is to aid the acclimation and acculturation of our scholars into university life. In mentoring sessions, ACE students learn best practices to study effectively, time management, resilience, and much more. We are proud of our work and most importantly proud of our ACE scholars,” he added.
“The UTSA Laptop Essay Contest started over a dozen years ago in collaboration with UTSA’s Information Technology department and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities,” said Vanessa Kenon, Ed.D., UTSA associate vice president of technology compliance and community engagement. “This is a great partnership funded by a Gateway Computer Company grant, with many UTSA students served over the years.”
From left to right: Amber Aguilar (ACE peer mentor and graduate of the 2020 cohort), Johanna Leon (ACE peer mentor and graduate of the 2018 cohort), Brandon Gallegos (ACE peer mentor and graduate of the 2020 cohort), Stephanie Ruiz (former ACE student development specialist and graduate of the 2018 cohort), Vanessa Kenon, Ed.D., (UTSA associate vice president of technology compliance and community engagement), Brianna Garcia (ACE peer mentor, laptop award recipient, and graduate of the 2018 cohort), and Carlos Lopez (ACE Scholars senior program coordinator).
