Ariana Mendoza

It's springtime, and the end of the semester is fast approaching! As we get ready for final exams and projects, we present our April student spotlight, highlighting Ariana Mendoza, who is a junior geography major and the winner of this year's Schoolmaster Outstanding Undergraduate Award. Ariana has been working closely with Mara Hedrich, an adjunct professor at UNT, who has been a great mentor she hopes to continue working closely with.

Ariana has always been interested in the connection between humans and the environment, and how that relationship can be made to be mutually beneficial. Growing up in Mexico, she was taught from a young age that taking care of our environment ensures that everyone lives a long and healthy life. "Being a geography major emphasized that principle," she said, "and [she has] been amazed at the job outlook and opportunity that comes with it."

Ariana's journey to the geography program was not necessarily straightforward. Having first come to UNT as an environmental science major, she soon found herself struggling with the mental load of classes that she felt no longer aligned with her career path and looking for a different approach. One day, in her geology class, Dr. Wolverton came in as a guest speaker, which was the impetus she needed to make the switch to Geography. After graduating with her bachelor's in Geography Ariana hopes to work as a data analyst for a company that provides guidance and security, or as a GIS analyst in a non-profit organization which helps lower-income communities.

One of the things that many undergraduate students often struggle with in a large university like UNT is finding the right support to keep themselves motivated academically and working towards the ultimate goal of graduation. Faculty are a crucial part of this, and to Ariana the best part of being an undergraduate student at UNT has been the number of professors she has met who truly care about their students and what they teach.

Mental health is also essential to student success, and as Ariana says, "Creating a positive headspace to unleash our full potential is so important and crucial during the four stressful years of university." One of the crucial lessons she has learned is the importance of enjoying oneself and cherishing the people one meets at school. With a healthy mindset and support network, Ariana has been able to accomplish a lot during her time at UNT.

Of course, it's also very important to get away from the academic slog occasionally. Ariana loves to stay active and having been on the Drill and Dance teams in high school, she often visits studios to hone her dancing skills. She also loves to cook, having been taught by her mother and grandmother. And as a history and modern art buff, Ariana loves to visit museums and has set a goal for herself to visit all the major museums in the DFW area. When she isn't dancing, cooking, or visiting museums, Ariana likes to visit local stores in Denton. According to her, one of the best hidden gems in Denton is Sleeping Lizards on Locust Street. It is a shop "owned by the loveliest ladies that sell handmade jewelry, crystals and fun artifacts." Thank you for sharing Ariana, and congratulations again on your great achievement this semester!