Outstanding students ready to carve out future
When Kaitlyn Sanchez envisions her dream classroom, she sees a place filled with vibrant colors, an inviting haven where every child feels safe, valued and inspired.
Now, on the threshold of receiving her degree from Texas A&M University-Victoria this December, she is on track to see that vision come to life.
“I want to build that strong classroom culture for my students,” Sanchez said. “School isn’t a place to run away from, it’s a place of comfort. I want my classroom to be that for my future students.”
Sanchez, of El Campo, was named the Outstanding Undergraduate Student for the College of Education & Health Professions. She will receive a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education on Saturday, Dec. 20. The Outstanding Graduate Student for the college is Christa Lara of Refugio, who will receive her Master of Science in Sport Management.
Each semester, faculty from A&M-Victoria’s four colleges select outstanding students to be honored during commencement. The university will host four fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 19 and 20 at the Victoria Fine Arts Center, 1002 Sam Houston Drive. The Friday ceremonies will be 2 p.m. to celebrate graduates from the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences and then 6 p.m. for the College of Natural & Applied Science. The Saturday ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. to celebrate the graduates from the College of Education & Health Professions, and the 3 p.m. ceremony for graduates of the College of Business. A live stream of the ceremonies will be available on the A&M-Victoria Commencement page.
"On behalf of the college, I am thrilled to celebrate Christa and Kaitlyn as our two Outstanding Students this semester," said Rachel Martinez, dean of the College of Education & Health Professions. "Their achievements reflect remarkable effort and perseverance. They have set a powerful example for their peers, and I look forward to seeing all they will continue to achieve."
For Sanchez, education is more than just a career path, it’s a family tradition and a calling she felt from an early age, inspired by her mother, grandmother and sister, who all work as educators. Praised through the years for her patience and drive, skills honed from working in daycares, Sanchez said she cherishes watching young learners grow.
Currently, she is on track to complete her teacher residency program in a third-grade math and science classroom. Come this January, Sanchez is set to begin her career in a second-grade classroom in the Houston area.
“I am very excited. I think I’m just really excited about the thought of having my own classroom, my own students, and being able to teach them,” Sanchez said. “I want to make it as meaningful as possible.”
Along her journey, Sanchez credits Katherine Kubelka, student teacher supervisor in the College of Education & Health Professions, as the person who has really helped shape her as a teacher and as a person.
“She’s always there whether it’s early mornings or late at night,” Sanchez said. “She was always there to listen and to help me in any way that she could. She has been an angel and has been such a blessing to me throughout my journey.”
As she prepares to walk the stage this December, Sanchez said she can’t help but look back on her journey with gratitude.
“It’s been a journey,” Sanchez said. “It came around super fast, but it’s a road that I would travel again.”
For Lara, the path to academic and professional excellence is paved with resilience, determination and a deep passion for helping others. Originally from Refugio, Lara received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2022.
Drawn back to her roots and family after her undergraduate studies, she decided to pursue another degree closer to home. Now, she is on track to earn her master’s degree from A&M-Victoria this December. She chose to attend A&M-Victoria because of her sister, who played softball for the university, she said.
Her love for exercise science and sports management stems from personal experience. As a former high school athlete who played softball, her athletic ambitions were halted by a career-ending injury.
“After my injury, I had so many people who helped me and rehabbed me,” Lara said. “I was really inspired by all of those people, and I want to do that for others.”
Her academic journey has not been without obstacles, she said. She started her college career just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, she struggled with the abrupt transition and distance from her close-knit hometown. Yet, with support from friends and family, she not only adjusted but began to thrive, she said.
“Everyone supported me and pushed me through,” Lara said. “After I got that one degree, I felt like another one, getting my master’s, wasn’t impossible.”
Currently, she works as an exercise specialist at a hospital in the Crossroads area. After graduation, she plans to continue helping individuals achieve their physical goals, whether it’s big or small, she said.
“Lean into your support, and whatever you want to do, do it now,” she said. “Now is the best time to go after what you want; don’t put it off, there’s never a perfect time.”
Texas A&M University-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the colleges of Business, Education & Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and Natural & Applied Science. A&M-Victoria provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as online classes that students can take from anywhere. The university supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.