Mustang Scholars Class of 2025

Meet the Mustang Scholars Class of 2025

student Leslie Castro

Leslie Castro

High School: Skyline High School

Major: Biology (Pre-Health)

Current Extracurricular Activities: Hilltop Scholars Program, Rotunda Scholars Program, and College of Hispanic American Students (CHAS)

What I Love about SMU: I love that SMU has an enjoyable environment because the faculty and students make you feel part of the community.

Graduation Year: 2025

Jacob Garza

Jacob Garza

High School: Cedar Hill Collegiate High School

Major: Political Science 

Current Extracurricular Activities: Commons Council- MHPS, attend CHAS events and Rotunda Events.

What I Love About SMU: What I love about SMU is the array of opportunities it has given me. I used to believe college was just a stepping stone to a career but SMU has showed me how being is college is the start to a successful career.

Graduation Year: 2025

Emma Hernandez

Emma Hernandez

High School: Cedar Hill High School

Majors: Accounting, Music (Voice)

Minors: Women's & Gender Studies, Statistics

Current Extracurricular Activities: Marketing and Recruitment officer of the Mustang Powerlifting Club, Rotunda Scholar, Meadows Chorale Ensemble, Campus Services Advisory Panel.

What I Love About SMU: I love the plethora of resources SMU provides! You truly have the world at your fingertips; all you have to do is put your goals into action! Everyone here wants you to succeed and excel in everything you do, from academic to extracurricular. It is definitely a great place to grow.

Graduation Year: 2025

Jada Joseph

Jada Joseph

High School: Cedar Hill Collegiate High School

Majors: Business Marketing 

Current Extracurricular Activities: Cox Career Accelerator Program

What I Love About SMU: I love that we are surrounded by a lot of eateries that’s walking distance. It’s always a great day to take a nice walk and grab lunch.

Graduation Year: 2025

student Damondre Lynn

Damondre Lynn

High School: Mesquite High School

Majors: Education and Mathematics

Current Extracurricular Activities: Research assistant- Work with the West Dallas Stem School on developing curriculum.

What I Love About SMU: I love the inclusiveness of SMU.

Graduation Year: 2025

student Kirk Ogunrinde

Kirk Ogunrinde

High School: Harmony School of Excellence

Majors: Journalism and Computer Science

Current Extracurricular Activity: SMU Daily Campus, SMU Club Soccer, SMU Rotunda Scholars, Hegi Career Leader, SMU German Club, SMU CRU.

What I Love About SMU: I love the ease of life and campus involvement opportunities at SMU.

Graduation Year: 2025

Jonathan Rivera

Jonathan Rivera

High School: Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy

Major: Finance 

Minor: Political Science

Graduation Year: 2025

Luis Solorzano

Luis Solorzano

Major: Finance, Sport Management

Minor: Economics 

Current Extracurricular Activities: Finance Club, Real Estate Club, Rotunda Scholar, Hilltop Scholar, intramural soccer

What I love About SMU: Something I truly love about SMU is the location it is in and the opportunities. The fact that SMU is in Dallas, really close to Downtown, and to major companies which headquarters are here is an amazing opportunity. Being able to go out or eat and being so close to campus is the best thing since campus is not in the middle of nowhere. Additionally, SMU being close to major companies lead many students to find internships and companies come out to do events.

Graduation Year: 2025

Kayla Spears

Kayla Spears

Major: Computer Science

Minor: Art

Current Extracurricular Activities: Association of Black Students, National Society of Black Engineers, Cybersecurity Club, Rotunda Scholars Program, and Thrive Scholars Program

What I Love About SMU: I love the ability to pursue any of my passions by joining clubs, participating in social events on campus, being able to take classes in subjects that interest me, and being encouraged to major and minor in subjects that can be completely different from one another.

Graduation Year: 2025

Jesus Zepeda

Jesus Zepeda

High School: Uplift Peak Preparatory

Major: Sport Management

Current Extracurricular Activities: Rotunda Scholars, CHAS, soccer and football

What I Love About SMU: I love the campus and environment because it’s nice to walk around whenever and the environment is very studious, which I like.

Graduation Year: 2025