Bicultural-Bilingual faculty members help students during the holidays

DECEMBER 16, 2024 — You don’t have to go far to see the spirit of the holiday season personified by the UTSA community. In the UTSA Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies, the faculty is always ready to serve, especially the students they are molding into the future educators of tomorrow.

“I see how our faculty go above and beyond. Working with these students, they always work closely and try to help them succeed and always want to get to know them on a one-to-one basis,” Margarita Gomez said.

Gomez is in her 17th year as the administrative service officer in the Bicultural-Bilingual Studies department. She understands investing in the students today will make a lasting impact on them in the future.

“I'm very dedicated to our students,” she said. “You know, because of them, I have a job. And because of them, they can make the world a better place.”

For the last five years, every holiday season, the department has participated in the “Adopt-a-Family” program, which is run by the UTSA Student Involvement Center. Volunteers collect donations from its faculty to help families in the San Antonio community during the holiday season. It’s become a popular tradition.

“The faculty are always excited, and they're always asking, 'When is the next one?’” Gomez said.

“Working with these students, they always work closely and try to help them succeed and always want to get to know them on a one-to-one basis.”

Margarita Gomez

But last year around the holidays, Gomez became aware of personal hardships some students were experiencing. One story stood out: a student who was trying to balance school and personal tragedy at the same time.

“Those types of stories really hit you to the heart,” she said. “That's when I thought we should really help our students.”

Last year, the department started a new initiative called “Adopt-A-Student.” Bicultural-Bilingual Studies Chair Patricia Sánchez says it is an opportunity for the faculty to build stronger bonds by addressing students’ needs.

“I loved the idea! Several of our professors had brought emergency cases to me as department chair about our students’ struggles in recent months, so it made complete sense to merge these efforts,” Sánchez said.

Patricia Sánchez

Department faculty nominated students they felt needed help and will be put at ease by a giving heart. Two to three students were selected and presented with the donations by the department before final exams.

“What makes a university experience special to students are their relationships,” Sánchez said. “In many cases, students’ financial hardships spill into the university classroom in the form of absences, or late or missing assignments. And because of the already established relationship, students openly accept the help and gifts delivered to them by the trusting professor who nominated them.”

The idea of this pilot program has already caught the eye of the rest of the College of Education and Human Development. Inspiring the potential to grow this initiative in the future.

“I want to personally thank Margarita for connecting it all for us,” Sánchez said. “I often refer to her as ‘El Corazón’ of our department. She is highly attentive to both students and instructors year-round.”

In the eyes of Gomez, the work of the faculty and staff in Bicultural-Bilingual Studies is laying the groundwork for a better future for their students. But a better future doesn’t have to begin after graduation, it can start today with a simple act of kindness and love.

“I think just being able to help a little bit will give them that push so they can go out to the world and succeed and do good things,” she said. “That's what excites me and everybody else around me.”

— John Elizondo