RecSports Fall Class of 2020 Spotlights
In celebration of the Class of 2020, we’ve compiled stories of some of our amazing graduates. There is no shortage of impressive achievements and inspiring stories among them. Read our latest story featuring five of Team RecSports’ impressive grads.
Paulina Barron
BBA, Accounting
At RecSports: Program Assistant — Sport Clubs
Hometown: Frisco, Texas
Beyond Team RecSports: Alpha Kappa Psi and Texas Darlins
Life After the Forty Acres: Completing her MPA in May as part of the McCombs five-year accounting program and joining the Ernst & Young team as a public accountant in Dallas, Texas.
Paulina believes that working with amazing leadership and a great team at RecSports taught her that your co-workers will set the tone and attitude for the work that you do. She brought an impressive academic background in accounting and finance to RecSports that allowed the Sport Clubs program to streamline processes and assisted in making life easier for staff and club officers. Paulina is a high achiever, reliable, consistent servant leader and has been an absolute joy to work with. When asked what advice she had for new Longhorns, Paulina urged students to “get involved.” She added, “Whether you join a student organization related to your major, a social organization, a religious group, a sport club, or become a UT staff member, it is SO important to find a group that you enjoy spending your time with and who you identify with.”
Elizabeth Garabedian
BS, Radio-Television-Film
At RecSports: Photographer & Senior Communications Coordinator — Communications
Hometown: Keller, Texas
Life After the Forty Acres: Pursuing photography full-time while job searching in the television industry.
Elizabeth has acted as the brains and hands behind countless RecSports photo and video projects. Her creativity and leadership skills led to a cutting-edge and consistent aesthetic across all RecSports channels. She has been instrumental in crafting, capturing and telling beautiful and meaningful visual stories. When reflecting on her time with Team RecSports, Elizabeth highlights her favorite memory as “working Longhorn Run in the pouring rain in 2019 [because she] had the chance to bond with other student creatives.” Elizabeth encourages incoming Longhorns to “Say “yes” more during your first year. UT holds so many opportunities and you never know what that “yes” will lead to.”
Christina Ruiz
BS, Kinesiology and Health
At RecSports: Building Coordinator & Program Assistant — Outdoor Satellites
Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas
Beyond RecSports: Texas Women’s Rugby, Texas Gospel Fellowship
Christina has served as a trainer and mentor of new teammates, a guide to new professional staff and has found a passion in collegiate recreation with a focus on inclusive/adaptive sports. She credits her time with RecSports for introducing her to unique experiences that allowed her to find family and lifelong friends.
Dat Dinh
BS, Aerospace Engineering
At RecSports: Intramural Sports Program Assistant and Official
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Beyond RecSports: Longhorn Rocketry Association, UT Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team
Dat has been identified as “the perfect piece of the puzzle to complete the Intramural Sports team picture.” He has left a remarkable legacy within the Intramural Sports program and a void that will be tough to fill. Dat believes that his time as a member of Team RecSports taught him how to develop his organizational and leadership skills. When asked what advice he would give to new students, Dat recommended that students “take advantage of the variety of organizations and activities available on campus and get involved in something you’re interested in.”
Sabreelyn Villalpando
BA, Psychology
At RecSports: Building Coordinator - Recreational Sports Center
Hometown: Round Rock, Texas
Beyond RecSports: Christian Students on Campus
Life After the Forty Acres: Working at a mental health hospital before starting graduate school for counseling psychology in the fall.
Sabreelyn came to UT as a transfer student and says this experience was “harder than you think!” Although she was initially unfamiliar with campus life, she credits her time with RecSports for “help[ing] her feel more comfortable with the school and other students.” When looking back on her time with RecSports and key lessons she’s learned, Sabreelyn remarks that “Being kind to someone is the most important thing you can do for them. If you want to be a successful leader, you have to ensure your staff is mentally prepared for work by creating a positive and supportive environment. Everyone deserves to be included, appreciated and loved.”
