Growth and Camaraderie

UTSA is extending its sustainability focus with a community garden where student groups, faculty, and staff can grow their own fruits and vegetables to eat and share, like Rosye Rodea and Alex Irizarry [both pictured], members of the university’s Dietetic and Nutrition Association.

“The students’ motivations are diverse—to promote environmental sustainability, to take charge of their personal health, to ensure food access and equity for underserved populations—but their common passion brings them together,” says Lindsay Ratcliffe, faculty adviser for the campus Green Society.

Students began promoting the idea for a community garden in 2013. With input from the Green Society, the Office of Sustainability, and experienced home gardeners, the project came to fruition this year.

“Our goal is to influence more people at UTSA to practice sustainability by planting their own food,” says Anthony Govea, a cybersecurity senior and Green Society project coordinator. “Students learn to grow food on campus, then apply that knowledge by planting a garden at home.”

Located on southwest Main Campus, the garden features six raised beds: five 3-by-30-foot beds divided into three and a sixth bed for wheelchair access.

Golden Guns

Victoria Vargas is a world-class powerlifter set on breaking records. Earlier this year the senior kinesiology major won gold for the second consecutive year at the USA Powerlifting Collegiate National Championships. Finishing with the highest recorded powerlifting score for the meet, she went on to set two unofficial world records in her weight class. Vargas trained and competed throughout high school and chose to attend UTSA partly because of the prestige of its powerlifting club.

¡Baila! ¡Baila! ¡Baila!

Students Andrea Gallegos and Alyssa Aguilera display pointed toes, extended arms, and vibrant dresses that rhythmically flow in enchanting spirals. These are the captivating sights of Ballet Folklórico de UTSA. Created in March through the College of Education and Human Development’s bicultural-bilingual studies department, this new student organization is dedicated to the performance and cultural preservation of Mexico’s traditional folkloric dance. The group has already made a colorful splash through performances at the National Latino Children’s Literature Conference and the UTSA Hispanic Student Association’s talent show.

Road Warriors

Building drivetrains and fine-tuning suspensions since 1987, Roadrunner Racing is UTSA’s motor sports club. The team, which works in association with the Society of Automotive Engineers, has been dedicated to expanding classroom education into a real-world yet fun environment with applications that test engineering skills and knowledge. While engineering is a crucial focus, the team also brings together students with a wide range of interests—from design and manufacturing to business and group management.

Each summer the crew travels to Lincoln, Neb., for the Formula SAE International Competition, where they compete against clubs representing universities throughout the United States as well as from Canada, Mexico, India, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, and Pakistan. SAE judges analyze each club’s prototype race car on cost and manufacturing, presentation, acceleration, fuel economy, and endurance. Roadrunner Racing has notched two top 30 finishes at Formula SAE in the past three years.