MAY 18, 2021 — UTSA has been able to offer many virtual outreach opportunities over the past year thanks to the university’s excellent faculty and staff, as well as a special group of students called G-Force Mentors.
G-Force Mentors is a student work-study program that is part of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Work Study Mentorship Program. Its students are dedicated to promoting a college-going culture.
Over the past year, 15 G-Force students have helped promote the importance of a college education in and around the San Antonio community through various UTSA recruitment and outreach events.
Through collaborative programming efforts, they served more than 9,000 students and their families. G-Force Mentors aim to reach and inspire students to think about their future and higher education. “These G-Force students are planting seeds in our community that will increase college access, awareness, and support student success. We are recruiting future Roadrunners through the work we do,” said Kayla Martinez, senior program coordinator and supervisor to the G-Force Mentors.
G-Force Mentors have helped with various events and initiatives across the division of Strategic Enrollment, but their most popular session is entitled “When You Go To College,” which includes an engaging presentation on the benefits of going to college, an inside look at UTSA, life as a Roadrunner, and tips on how to prepare for college. The session concludes with an interactive student panel in which students answer questions ranging from “Why did you choose to UTSA?” to “Can you have your pet on campus?”
G-Force Mentors also assist in events such as UTSA Day, UTSA transfer sessions, and UTSA family engagement sessions. They have even assisted in supporting the university’s One Stop Enrollment Center with the phone queue and participating in call campaigns to increase enrollment numbers.
The work that G-Force Mentors do is not only beneficial for the students attending the presentation, but also for the mentors themselves. They gain experience in public speaking, building programs, and training related to admissions, financial aid, and more. G-Force Mentors make sure the university is well-represented in the community. They are able to present in English, but also have presented in Spanish at many bilingual events. They recently earned the UTSA President’s Distinguished Diversity Award for a student organization, which recognizes their ability to practice diversity and inclusion in creative and collaborative ways.
Several G-Force Mentors have made great strides in their own personal academic journeys. The program is celebrating four graduating seniors this year: Alejandra Teran, Alexis Acosta, Martha Salazar, and Valerie Quintana. Teran has been admitted to Rutgers University, where she will pursue her M.S. degree in business for personal care. She plans to launch her own make-up line.
Additionally, sophomore and G-Force team coordinator Destiny Anguiano has been admitted into the University of Houston’s Pre-Law Pipeline Program, and junior transfer student Jasman Sidhu recently accepted a summer internship with the U.S. Department of Defense’s National Security Innovation Network.
“I started out as a G-Force Mentor knowing that I wanted to help make a difference in how younger students perceived their future. I wanted to do this even though I had a fear of public speaking and being in the spotlight,” Sidhu said. “The G-Force Mentor program has made a complete and positive impact in my life and made me more confident, especially with public speaking. It is my firm belief that I would not have been able to secure my internship without the confidence, skills, and support I have received from my G-Force Mentor position. I am forever grateful to have gone through this amazing experience as a G-Force Mentor.”
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At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusJoin us for a tribute to Willie Velásquez, honoring the legacy of Willie Velásquez, a pivotal figure in shaping the history of Latino and Hispanic participation in the American voting process. Delve into his life and contributions as a champion of Latino voting rights. Moderated by UTSA's Teresa Niño, the event will feature influential voices, including Jane Velásquez, María Antonietta Berriozábal, Dora Oliva, and Anthony Gonzales.
Buena Vista Building, Gregory Luna Room, Downtown CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
