UTA's first Tu Futuro scholar set to graduate
Before Ana Gonzalez had even arrived at The University of Texas at Arlington for the first day of her freshman year, she felt at home—and at ease.
She came to UT Arlington in 2022 as one of two recipients of the Univision Tu Futuro Scholarship—an award that covers tuition and fees for a bachelor’s degree at UTA.
On Friday, Gonzalez will become the first of now eight Univision Tu Futuro scholars at UTA to graduate. She made the most of the opportunity, earning bachelor’s degrees in both business management and marketing.
“I feel very excited; it’s all so surreal,” Gonzalez said. “I know I’m graduating, but it just doesn’t feel real yet. Graduating college is a goal I’ve had since middle school, and it’s been a beautiful journey getting here.”
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In the fall, she plans to return to UTA as a graduate student in the College of Business with a focus in management and aspirations to work at a major corporation.
Since UTA and Univision partnered in 2021 to create the Tu Futuro Scholarship, eight students have started their own college journey at UTA. Awarded annually to incoming freshmen, the scholarship provides financial and academic support, mentorship from faculty and staff and unique networking and development opportunities.
Related: Univision adds another scholar to Tu Futuro program
“Aside from the financial benefits, I’ve gained so much from this scholarship,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve met a lot of great people and made strong connections. If I had not received this scholarship, I wouldn’t have the relationships and mentorships I do now, and I wouldn’t have the job I have now. The scholarship really put me in the position I’m in today.”
Gonzalez just concluded her internship for the Office of Admissions. She worked in the area that supports the Dallas County Promise—a component of UTA’s Blaze Forward program, which provides financial assistance to eligible students.
Related: UTA expands tuition and fees reimbursement program
“Working as a student assistant with Dallas Promise has allowed me to go to different high schools, in the same area where I went to high school and interact with students that may not be aware of higher education opportunities and everything that comes after high school,” Gonzalez said. “The work I’ve done there, really aligns with what I want to do in the future.”
The support of her family has also played a significant role in Gonzalez’ higher education journey. She says her family has been her biggest motivation and credits her parents for encouraging her to apply for the Univision Tu Futuro Scholarship.
“My parents saw a commercial on TV. They turned to me and said, ‘Look, you should apply for this,’” Gonzalez said. “I told them, ‘What are the odds that they would pick me out of all the students applying?’ They just kept telling me to apply and that I was going to get the scholarship. At school the next day I submitted my application. Before I knew it, I got a notification telling me I had been chosen.”
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Gonzalez said graduating and moving onto graduate school are major milestones along the path she set out on her first day at UTA. With her two degrees and a promising career ahead, she’s looking forward to giving back to the community that helped her reach this day.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.