Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Gutierrez receives first Hispanic alumnus award

KINGSVILLE - October 17, 2006

Contact: Julie Navejar
kajam03@tamuk.edu or 361-593-2590

Garza, Pina also honored

Jose Angel Gutierrez was honored by the Hispanic Heritage Committee at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, with the first Distinguished Hispanic Alumnus Award. This award and others were given at the annual Hispanic Heritage Month banquet held Thursday, Oct. 12.

He is currently an attorney and political science professor at the University of Texas-Arlington, where he has worked since 1993. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&I, a master’s degree in government from St. Mary’s University and a doctorate from the University of Texas. All are in government. He also earned a law degree from University of Houston Bates College of Law.

Gutierrez was lead organizer, founder and co-founder of several organizations including the Mexican-American Youth Organization, Mexican-American Unity Council, Cuidadanos Unidos, Obreros Unidos Independientes, La Raza Unida Party and more.

Dr. Laura Garza, assistant professor of psychology at A&M-Kingsville, received the Outstanding Hispanic Faculty Member award. She is faculty advisory for Psi Theta Upsilon, the Psychology Club and is co-advisor for Psi Chi, a national psychology honor society.

She is a positive role model for the students and encourages open discussion in class and helps students apply the material to their everyday life.

Garza earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M International University and her master’s and doctorate from Texas Tech University. Her research dissertation focused on the memory of Hispanic elderly.

Brandy Pina, a senior psychology major from Port Lavaca, received the Jose Angel Gutierrez Outstanding Hispanic Student Award. Gutierrez was present to honor Pina. She has been on the Dean’s List and has received two scholarships from the College of Business Administration. She is a member of the Psychology Club and the Accounting Society and serves as an orientation leader for A&M-Kingsville.

She is a member of the Psi Chi National Society for Psychology majors and Alpha Chi National Honor Society. Pina has held a number of positions, including president within Theta Phi Alpha. She has received two national scholarships, the Selma Gilday Founders’ Foundation Scholarship and the Eva Stroh Bauer Everson Founders’ Foundation Scholarship.

Each award winner received a $250 monetary award donated by Dr. Felipe de Ortego y Gasca, visiting scholar and lecturer in language and literature; and his wife, Dr. Gilda Baeza Ortego, professor and library director.


This page was last updated on: June 04, 2010