Student Ambassador Bios

Adriana Alcala

Hometown: Austin, Texas
Major: Psychology
Graduation Date: Fall 2021
Campus Activities: Student Ambassadors, TRIO, Mental Health Advisory Committee
Future Plans: I plan on gaining my bachelor's degree in psychology, then completing my master's degree in criminal justice to gain employment as a victim advocate. 
Favorite Classes: General Psychology, Intro to Social Work, Problems of Children and Adolescents, Dynamics of Group Counseling, Ethics, Pharmacology of Addiction, Counseling Theories, and Abnormal Psychology
Favorite Professors: Ted Robles, Jessica Shelton, David Fleuriet, Rebecca Bogguss, Dan Makowsky, Lisa Lindloff, and Bradley Turner
Favorite Place to Study: The library or the study areas in the MAC
Advice for New Students: Get connected to school resources including TRIO, support programs, campus associations, and success coaches to utilize support throughout your college journey. Stay organized and prioritize!
Outside of class: I enjoy volunteering for the community when my schedule permits. In the past, I've volunteered for CASA, Shepherd's Heart food pantry, Communities in Schools, and the Waco Police Department Victim Services. I enjoy cooking, and I love to travel to visit my children, grandchildren, and parents in Austin and San Antonio.

Maria Briseno

Hometown: Waco, Texas
Major: Electrical Engineering
Graduation Date: 2020
Campus Activities: Student Ambassadors, Hispanic Student Association, and the Engineering and Physics Club
Future Plans: I plan to transfer to a four-year university, and, in the long run, teach robotics and electrical classes in a third-world country.
Favorite Classes: Calculus I
Favorite Professors: Matt Shelton
Favorite Place to Study: Common Grounds
Advice for new Students: Always ask questions, no matter how dumb you think they are.

Outside of Class: I try to involve myself in robotics and engineering by judging events and working on personal projects.

Hailey Howse

Hometown: Waco, Texas
Major: Youth Mental Health
Graduation Date: 2021
Campus Activities: Student Ambassadors
Future Plans: I plan to go to school to earn my doctorate in Psychology and travel to third-world countries to help kids who need help with mental needs.
Favorite Classes: Basic counseling skills is my favorite class because we get to role-play and learn about other people and also feel comfortable enough to share what we have gone through. 
Favorite Professors: My favorite professor is Ted Robles because even whenever I have given up on myself, he never gave up on me, and he's always pushed me to be better than I ever imagined I could be. He has taught me how to open myself up more and trust people to help me when needed. He's given me many tools that are not only for school, but in my own personal life.
Favorite Place to Study: My favorite place is in my room or in my kitchen because I like to be home and have everything I need without having to go far.
Advice for New Students: Never give up, even whenever the odds are against you. Just know that there's a brighter light at the end of the tunnel, and always believe in yourself because if you don't, no one else will.

Outside of Class: I enjoy spending time with my family and driving around listening to music with my younger sister, or going to get Dunkin Donuts coffee.

Daniela Juarez

Hometown: Waco, Texas
Major: Biology
Graduation Date: Spring 2020
Campus Activities: Student Ambassadors, TRIO, and the Hispanic Student Association
Future Plans: I plan to obtain a bachelor's degree in biology at the University of Texas at Austin, later attending Physical Therapy School to earn my DPT credentials.
Favorite Classes: Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Sociology
Favorite Professors: Dr. Otsmar Villarroel, Dr. Theresa Sparks, and Stephanie Randell
Favorite Place to Study: Dichotomy, Common Grounds, or the MCC Library
Advice for New Students: Immerse yourself with the different student organizations on campus. A substantial number of students in these groups have the same class as you or have taken courses you are currently in, which is helpful when you need someone to study with or want advice. It's also a great way to create new friendships!
Outside of Class: I enjoy spending time with friends and family outside of my school activities. If I have free time on the weekends, I'll usually take a quick trip to visit my best friends in Austin and explore the city.