2024 Graduates

Yosef Awad graduates cum laude with a degree in neuroscience. He served as the first-year coordinator for the Terry Scholars Student Organization, president of the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, and quality assurance expert of the UT Southwestern Texas Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program. Yosef worked with the Student Success Center as a Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) leader. He also volunteered with Medical City Plano, the Visiting Nurse Association, and We Are Blood. Yosef is pursuing an advanced degree in healthcare. 

Tarik Lbayad graduates with a degree in Finance and was active in Sigma Alpha Epsilon, serving as treasurer. He also served a mentor for incoming Terry Scholars. Tarik continued his volunteer work at EPIC Masjid. He plans to work in the finance industry after taking a gap year to travel abroad.

Mya Miller graduated magna cum laude in December with a bachelor's degree in criminology and a minor in political science. While at UT Dallas, Mya worked as an investigator, completed the Archer Fellowship in Washington D.C, studied abroad in Switzerland, served as a mentor for the Innocence Project of Texas, worked as a Peer Advisor for residential life, volunteered with children at Heart House, and was a legal clerk for a pro bono law firm in her hometown of Tyler. Mya will be attending UT Austin School of Law on a full scholarship.

Joseph Paroski graduates with a double major in computer science and cognitive science. He was active in service with the Terry Scholars Student Organization. Additionally, he completed several IT certifications.  He will pursue a career in computer networking and information security.

Mark Salazar graduates summa cum laude with a degree in neuroscience. He completed EMT and Advanced EMT courses and served the Houston and Dallas Metroplex with Acadian Ambulance Service. Mark also volunteered with the first responder organization and with the University Emergency Medical Response, for four years and served as the operations chief. He worked as a BLS and CPR instructor and taught the community Spanish and English courses. He is an active member of JAMP and mentored students as an ambassador his senior year. Mark is also a member of the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and will attend the John Sealy School of Medicine at the University of Texas at Galveston.

Eric Shields graduates with a degree in computer science with a focus in machine learning and cloud computing. He won 3 first-place prizes at hackathons during his time at UTDallas. Eric served as the first Terry Scholars tech chair and helped develop that position. He also served as vice president of the Terry Scholars student organization. Eric worked as a software engineering intern for JP Morgan & Chase this past year and now starts as a full-time engineer.

Abigail Smith graduates cum laude with a degree in computer science. She served as social coordinator, vice president, and president of the UTD Terry scholars student organization. She also participated in the Association of Computing Machinery by serving the HackUTD team as a logistics coordinator. Abigail interned for two summers and throughout her senior year at Pioneer Natural Resources as a data analyst and will work as a software development analyst at Exxon Mobile.

Jimena Soto graduates magna cum laude honors in political science. While at UT Dallas, Jimena worked as an orientation leader, studied abroad in Lugano, Switzerland, served as treasurer, social chair and vice president with LULAC, and was social chair for the Terry Scholars student organization. Additionally, Jimena was an Archer Fellow interning for the House of Representatives in her district. Jimena is taking a gap year to work as a paralegal with an immigration law firm and will participate in UT Austin's School of Law pipeline cohort program before applying to law school.

Jalen Williams graduates in December with a degree in finance. He served as partnerships director for 180 Degrees Consulting, as first-year coordinator for the Terry Scholars Student Organization, as a peer mentor and focus group leader for the Davidson Management Honors Program, as alumni ambassador for the Archer Fellowship Program, and was involved with the Professional Program in Finance and the John Marshall Pre-Law Society. He played on the UT Dallas Men’s Basketball Team for two years, studied abroad in Lugano, Switzerland, and completed internships at The Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., J.P. Morgan & Chase, and Hilliard Law Firm. Jalen will intern at Bain & Company this summer, where he hopes to begin his career.