UTEP Announces 2024 Distinguished Alumni, Gold Nugget Honorees
Recipients stand for excellence, commitment and incredible service
EL PASO, Texas (Oct. 8, 2024) – This year The 山ּ of Texas at El Paso has selected two 2024 Distinguished Alumni and ten Gold Nugget Award recipients, including two couples. Their stories exemplify the values of UTEP and reinforce the influence UTEP graduates have on the professional world. The recipients will be recognized during the 山ּ’s Homecoming celebration this Nov. 3 through Nov. 9.
“These alumni are a testament to the excellent education UTEP offers,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “We are grateful to them for sharing their time, talents and resources with current UTEP students and I look forward to celebrating them at Homecoming.”
The Distinguished Alumni and Gold Nugget Awards are among UTEP’s proudest traditions and highest recognition. Recipients demonstrate excellence, professionalism and community in their professions.
2024 Distinguished Alumni
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor given to alumni at UTEP, a tradition that began in 1950 and has been a recurrent celebration since then. This year, UTEP recognizes Richard “Dick” Myers, basketball player and businessman, and Oscar E. Venegas, engineering mentor and businessman.
The 2024 Distinguished Alumni are:
- Richard “Dick” Myers
- Oscar E. Venegas
Richard “Dick” Myers
BBA in Management, 1967
Woody L. Hunt College of Business
Richard “Dick” Myers is a dedicated business analyst and former UTEP Basketball player. Myers was recruited from Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas by Coach Don Haskins to play at UTEP, known as Texas Western College at the time. He was part of the historic 1966 UTEP Basketball team that won the NCAA National Championship over the 山ּ of Kentucky. His involvement contributed to the expansion of civil rights in the sports realm and opened a conversation on discrimination.
Upon graduating from UTEP, Myers stayed in El Paso and built his family alongside his wife, Elsie Myers. They continued supporting UTEP Athletics, spending their time and talents with the Miner Athletics Club and the student athletes. Myers dedicated 20 years working at Farah Manufacturing, a leading local manufacturer and marketer of men’s apparel, and subsequently obtained an administrative position at Coach New York, the American luxury fashion house, where he built a 14-year career and retired as the Vice President of Planning and Logistics in 2007.
Even during their time away from El Paso, the Myers family supported UTEP through donations to UTEP Athletics and the Woody L. Hunt College of Business.
Oscar E. Venegas
B.S. in Civil Engineering, 1973
College of Engineering
Oscar E. Venegas is a prolific engineer and a successful business leader with an unwavering commitment to education and his community. Venegas founded VEMAC, LLC in 2003 and served as its President until 2019, during which he grew and transformed the company into one of the most successful and highly respected construction management firms in the El Paso region.
His philanthropic impact is enduring as he has generously donated to UTEP Athletics and the Department of Civil Engineering, backing initiatives that help current and future students. He is an advocate for UTEP graduates and supports them directly by not only mentoring students, providing them with guidance and knowledge, but also opportunities as engineers and businesspeople. Under his leadership at VEMAC, LLC, many graduates from the College of Engineering and the College of Business Administration have been hired to work in the firm.
Venegas’ dedication also led him to establish the Alumni Association for Civil Engineers at UTEP, bringing together a successful group of UTEP civil engineering graduates to support the educational, research and service activities of the department. He serves on the Department of Civil Engineering Advisory Board and in the Athletic Advisory Board and was recognized with the College of Engineering Gold Nugget Award in 2012.
2024 Gold Nugget Award Recipients
Each of UTEP’s colleges and schools select exceptional alumni to be recognized within their areas of study to receive the Gold Nugget Award. These recipients demonstrate excellence in their careers, contribute outstanding service to their community and alma mater, and are role models for current and future students.
The 2024 Gold Nugget Award Recipients are:
- Ida Almanza
- Alfredo Carbajal
- Jaswinder “Jassi” Chadha
- Punya Prakash and Vikram Jayaram
- Susan and Jack Moreland
- Margie Salazar
- Lewis Teal
- Tita Yanar
Ida Almanza
B.S. in Medical Technology, 1979
College of Health Sciences
Ida Almanza is a board-certified medical technologist, a specialist in microbiology by the American Society for Clinical Pathology and a major mentor for Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) students. She has a distinguished career in various hospital laboratories and retired as Director of Shared Technical Services at Vitalant Blood Services. Almanza is a respected figure on a state and national level and is a consultant for her expertise in laboratory operations.
A founding member of the College of Health Sciences Advisory Board, Almanza was also a member of the CLS Advisory Board for five years, later serving as President for three years. She worked closely with students through internships and mentoring, using her network to guide students through clinical placements and rotations.
Alfredo Carbajal
B.A. in Journalism, 2000
College of Liberal Arts
Alfredo Carbajal is a trailblazing editor who cut his teeth in journalism working at El Diario de Juárez while attending UTEP. Following his graduation, he first worked at The Press-Enterprise and then at The Dallas Morning News, where he was the managing editor of “Al Día,” its Spanish-language sister publication, and then senior editor, overseeing coverage of the Texas-Mexico border and diverse communities.
Carbajal has been a staunch advocate for complete, accurate and fair reporting of border and binational issues. As president of the American Society of News Editors, he's been a promoter of diversity and inclusion in newsrooms across the country, where he created the Emerging Leaders Institute to train and promote diverse leaders in newsrooms nationwide. He has mentored and recruited dozens of UTEP students into the field of journalism. Carbajal is now a supervising editor at National Public Radio, leading immigration coverage, working with the national desk teams and editing news from the Western United States.
Jaswinder “Jassi” Chadha
M.S. in Industrial Engineering, 1992
College of Engineering
Jassi Chadha is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Axtria. His life sciences company harnesses the potential of data science and software to improve patient outcomes by connecting the right therapies to the right patients at the right time. In less than 15 years, Jassi has grown Axtria into a 3,000+ person enterprise serving clients in more than 50 countries, including many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies.
Chadha is also a member of the Second District Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, was a member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers at UTEP and served as a member of the Mike Loya Advisory Council and the Blackstone Launchpad Stewardship Council where he helped design entrepreneurship programs that empower UTEP students with the skills and resources needed to succeed. Chadha’s contributions and involvement are in gratitude for UTEP’s pivotal role in his professional career and are focused on supporting the next generation of students.
Punya Prakash and Vikram Jayaram
M.S. in Electrical Engineering, 2009 (Prakash)
M.S. in Electrical Engineering, 2004; Ph.D. in Electrical & Computer Engineering, 2009 (Jayaram)
College of Engineering
Punya Prakash and Vikram Jayaram are engineers and innovators who are committed to higher education.
Prakash’s career began with internships at Texas Instruments and she has since climbed the ladder in the semiconductor industry. Today, she is the Vice President and General Manager of Infineon Technologies, a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing. Prakash’s contributions include extensive patents and publications, solidifying her reputation as an engineering trailblazer.
Jayaram’s career began at UTEP, where he was sponsored by NASA to pursue his doctorate and his passion for technology, data science and research formed. Following his postdoctoral fellowship at The 山ּ of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, he became a research faculty member at the 山ּ of Oklahoma, a senior scientist at Global Geophysical Services and Sabre, and ultimately, Head of Data Science and Digital Transformation at Pioneer Natural Resources. In founding Neuralix Inc., an award-winning AI company providing solutions to the energy and manufacturing sectors, Jayaram said he is guided by the principles he cultivated at UTEP and hopes to continue pushing the frontiers of artificial intelligence.
Prakash and Jayaram recently established the Punya and Vikram Jayaram Engineering Endowment. With the endowment, they seek to empower young minds, who, like them, can carry the spirit of UTEP into the world.
Susan and Jack Moreland
BSN, 1981; MSN in Nursing Maternal Child, 1992 (Susan)
BSN, 1981; MSN in Medical Surgical, 1992 (Jack)
College of Nursing
Susan and Jack Moreland are experienced nurses who share military roots.
Susan began her nursing journey during her military service, excelling in staff and specialty nurse positions. Her studies at UTEP gave her a strong foundation in clinical and administrative skills, which motivated her to pursue her studies further. As a Major of the Army Nurse Corps and a nurse for 37 years, Susan’s roles spanned clinical, educational and administrative knowledge. Susan served as Director of Medical Staff Services and Accreditation at St. Joseph Regional Health Center and the Program Director for the KSTAR Nursing Program at Texas A&M, where she demonstrated compassion to patients and the nursing community, and a focus on patient safety.
Jack shared his experiences as a UTEP graduate and its unique community with nurses around the U.S. and Germany as a military nurse. From his nursing studies and military career, Jack found that the combined experience served as a strong base of knowledge. Jack made an impact as the Director of Patient Care and Clinical Services at The Physicians Centre Hospital in Bryan, Texas and later served as an Associate Professor and founding faculty for the Texas A&M School of Nursing. He drew UTEP’s expertise into his professional career, which enhanced his experiences with the nurses and patients he cared for.
Now retired, Susan and Jack are establishing an endowed scholarship in honor of their experiences at UTEP, grateful for the opportunities they received and hopeful that their efforts will support and inspire future nurses.
Margie Salazar
BBA in Management, 1997
Woody L. Hunt College of Business
Margie Salazar continues marking historic milestones at First Light Federal Credit Union as the President and CEO, making her the first woman and Latina to lead the $1.5 billion institution. An exceptional leader and visionary, she is dedicated to advancing financial education and inclusion to future generations. Salazar supports UTEP’s Banking Academy through the School of Business, nurturing the next generation of banking professionals and making higher education more accessible and relevant to local students.
Salazar has a key role in growing the efforts of the First Light Community Foundation, which awards $50,000 in scholarships and provides free financial literacy for students and Borderland community members.
Lewis Teal
B.S. in Geological Sciences, 1977; M.S. in Geological Sciences, 1979
College of Science
Lewis Teal is a certified professional geologist with 43 years of global experience in the mining industry with expertise in greenfield and near-mine exploration. Over his 28 years in Newmont Mining, he took on leadership roles as Sr. Geologist, Sr. Exploration Manager and Group Executive of Exploration. Teal was instrumental in the discovery of significant gold and copper deposits in Nevada, Peru, and Suriname.
Teal also has been a private consultant, where he shares his expertise with companies that have international exploration and development projects. As a senior fellow with the Society of Economic Geologists, Teal has authored publications on key mining districts, solidifying his reputation as a thought leader in economic geology.
Tita Yanar
M.Ed. In Curriculum and Instruction, 1971; M.Ed. In Education, 1975
College of Education
For nearly 50 years, Tita Yanar has been a dedicated educator and mentor in El Paso. She served as Associate Director of the Mother-Daughter Program and Director of Upward Bound at UTEP for a combined 26 years, making a lasting impact on generations of students. Yanar is an advocate for continuous professional growth, including taking grant writing opportunities offered by the U.S. Department of Education to work with student assistance programs.
Yanar was instrumental in developing El Paso’s chapter of the National Hispanic Institute, a student organization that focuses on growing leadership skills in high school students. She is a distinguished and valued community leader that has served on various boards and institutes and has guided countless students toward academic opportunities.
Last Updated on October 08, 2024 at 12:00 AM | Originally published October 08, 2024
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
