Scholarship

Providing motivated Mavericks every chance to make a difference

The first time she set foot on the UTA campus, Jacqueline Hernandez was captivated by its beauty and felt a powerful sense of belonging. Those initial impressions proved spot on.

“This was the first university I ever toured. The pebbled grounds, swaying trees, invigorating diversity, and excellent degree program ultimately convinced me that I was meant to be a Maverick” says the May 2023 electrical engineering graduate from Ennis, Texas. “I considered UTA my second home.”

It’s a home where Hernandez thrived.

She maintained a 3.9 GPA and held leadership positions in Alpha Lambda Delta national honor society and UTA’s chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. She also explored the design of autonomous robot systems as a research assistant in the Electrical Engineering Department.

In 2022, Hernandez landed an internship with Oncor Electric Delivery, working on the company’s power quality project. Her contributions were so impressive that Oncor offered her a full-time position as an associate engineer, which she begins this summer.

But none of this would have been possible without the philanthropic spirit of UTA donors. As a junior, Hernandez was awarded the highly coveted Rear Admiral Grace M. Hopper, PhD Scholarship. Established with an anonymous gift from a UTA alumnus and his wife, the fund supports first-generation sophomores and juniors pursuing degrees in STEM fields who demonstrate persistence, technical knowledge, and volunteer service. To date, students have received nearly 1,300 Hopper awards totaling over $2.9 million.

“This scholarship made a life-changing impact on me,” Hernandez says. “Like a domino effect, the experiences I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy have all come from extended opportunities provided by generous donors to proceed with my studies.”

She also received the prestigious Alfred R. and Janet H. Potvin Distinguished Undergraduate Scholar in Electrical Engineering Award and the Bernard and Ann Svihel Memorial Scholarship, both awarded to exceptional electrical engineering students.

Hernandez credits this support with turning her education and career dreams into reality.

“I’m forever grateful to these donors for believing and investing in me and for helping me become an electrical engineer,” she says. “I will make every endeavor possible to succeed and give back to those who have aided me along this journey.”