Downtown Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Services Center staff with their 1st Place Homecoming plaque for Best Dressed Office.

To: Kelsey Bratcher- Assistant Director, Student Activities
From: Darrell C. Balderrama - Director, Outreach Programs


Good Morning Kelsey,

On behalf of UTSA and of Office of P-20 Initiatives, I would like to formally say “Thank You” for your contributions to this weekend’s Young Women’s Leadership Conference. Your presence along with your words of wisdom and experiences truly helped our attendees see the value in education, dedication and hard work.

We truly appreciate you taking the time on a busy Saturday to share some thoughts with us. The conference evaluations were very positive and showed that the young ladies had a great time. Despite our small numbers, everyone seemed to have learned a lot in terms of sisterhood and continuing to work towards their goals.

Thanks again for your support of our initiatives.

Kind regards,
Darrell

To: Re’Shanda Grace Bridges - Associate Director, Orientation & Family Programs

Re’Shanda Grace Bridges, Associate Director of Orientation and Family Programs recently presented at the National Orientation Directors Association Region IV conference and received the following kudos from a student participant. Great job Re’Shanda! -Lisa Alonzo and all the OFP staff

Dear Re'Shanda,

My name is Joshua Ellis, and I'm the Co-director for The University of Houston Orientation Team under Tara Boyle and Page Butera. You might not remember me, but I don't think I will ever forget you! Your last presentation at the conference was such a good idea I'm getting excited just thinking about how it will be replicated at the University of Houston. I just was emailing you to let you know how much of an impact you have had on me at the conference with regards to my professional growth. From your point system which forces peer accountability, to your ability to speak and command an audience (through out the entire conference), to how your student delegation was such a strong and exciting presence at the conference, and all the way to your presentation skills and methods! I have taken so much from you personally at the conference that I cannot thank you enough.

Let me tell you some more about myself. I'm a 3rd year student, and I'm premed. Thus, I am taking MCAT classes this semester. I work 3 jobs to pay for these classes, including a paid internship at the Baylor Medical Center and the Co-Director position of the Orientation Team. The other is a secretarial position at The Honors College. I am also President of two organizations, one being Invisible Children, which sends money to a secondary school and toward the construction of a hospital in Northern Uganda.

I am telling you all this about me because I want you to understand that even though you were presenting and leading us to be better orientation leaders, and I have no intentions of having a career in student affairs; I am positive I will be able to apply your influence to my future medical career, to the work I will do in Africa, and to every leadership position and professional environment I am in.

That is the effect you had on me from the very first time you spoke at the conference, so once again Thank You.

Joshua Ellis
Co-director for The University of Houston Orientation Team

From: Lisa Alonzo- Director, Orientation & Family Programs

The February Roadrunner of the Month is Willyam “BJ” Winston. He is the second Orientation Leader to be honored with this award, congratulations! Lisa Alonzo and all the OFP staff.

From: Javier L. Zambrano - Executive Director, Adelante and HACU Family

I am pleased to announce that Ms. Sarah Ramos has been promoted to Assistant Director of Student Services. In her new role, Sarah will oversee the coordination of all Adelante student programs, play a key role in our student workshops/activities at our Annual Leadership Institute and Leadership Days, and assist with all other Adelante programs and events.

Sarah joined Adelante! as an intern from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in the Summer of 2007 and then officially joined Adelante! as a part-time employee in July 2008. Demonstrating initiative and a strong dedication to student success, she has made an impact in our scholarship programs and other student-related events during her tenure. Sarah has managed and implemented our scholarship program, has assisted in the management and communication with our Advisory Boards in San Antonio and Chicago, assisted with the management of our Student Advisory Board, and has played an important role at the Annual Leadership Institute by coordinating certain segments of the program.

As part of my team, Sarah proves to be very capable of building authentic relationships with our college and university contacts, our students, alumni, and supporters. I believe Sarah exhibits many of the qualities that are essential to who we are and the “business” attitude we want to convey to our supporters and constituents. Sarah is also scheduled to complete her master’s program at UTSA this coming May.

Please join me in congratulating Sarah in her new position as Assistant Director of Student Services.