Class of 2021 Shares Its Favorite UTD Memories

05.19.2021

To celebrate the Class of 2021, we asked graduating Comets to share their fondest memories of UT Dallas.

Here’s what they had to say …

Aisha Dada

Bachelor’s degree in business administration

❝My favorite UTD memory is stepping on campus the first day and realizing that I truly felt like I was at home. The community at UTD has made UTD my home away from home. I am forever grateful for all of the amazing people I have met through UTD.❞

Dammy Adegun

Bachelor’s degree in biology

❝One of my favorite memories at UTD was a dinner hosted to celebrate Black students by the Multicultural Center. It was a really memorable one with great food and wonderful performances from different students.❞

Dr. Dineli Ranathunga

PhD in chemistry

❝One of my favorite UTD memories is winning the 2018/2019 Natural Sciences and Mathematics Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award and being nominated for the President’s Teaching Excellence Award for Teaching Assistants twice, in 2018 and 2019.❞

Dr. Edleeca Thompson

PhD in aesthetic studies

❝My favorite UT Dallas memory is when Dr. Richard Brettell whisked a few of his ‘fav’ PhD humanities students away on a private jet to Kansas City in 2017. We had so much fun watching Dr. ‘B’ enchant a packed audience at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art while he lectured on the work of French painter, Camille Pissarro. He was such an amazing and gifted scholar and lecturer and gave his all for the love of art.❞

Emma Henderson

Bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering

❝Hiking in the Swiss Alps as part of the study abroad program here on campus.❞

Gemaris Velazquez

Bachelor’s degree in software engineering

❝My favorite UTD memory are the nights I spent my freshman year singing silly little songs on a ukulele at the residence halls until 2 a.m.❞

Jade Thuna

Bachelor’s degree in criminology

❝Getting the opportunity to represent UTD Cheer at the national championships in Daytona, Florida, and getting second place.❞

Jie Xiao

Bachelor’s degree in marketing

❝All the game nights at the UTD dorm with my peers.❞

Jocelyn Ariel Brady

Master’s degree in geospatial information sciences

❝Working with my advisor, Dr. Anthony Cummings, to examine drone data of farms in Guyana.❞

Linh-Hoa Nguyen

Bachelor’s degree in arts, technology, and emerging communication

❝I’m always in awe every time the homecoming lights line the fountains. I don’t think I could ever get over how beautiful campus was those nights.❞

Rosa Rosales

Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies

❝Going into my first class, I was feeling very nervous, and then I realized how welcoming and friendly everyone was toward me. I am grateful to say that all of my professors positively impacted my life. I also remember walking by the UTD mall and feeling like I belonged and that I was part of something great.❞

Samantha Prazak

Bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology and audiology

❝My favorite memory at UTD was performing my talent of baton twirling at the 50th Year Parade as the feature twirler of the University!❞