Fall 2025

In This Section

Aldo Cortez

Dalia Mendoza-Salgado

Evangelina Quiroga

Hadlee Zartner

Julien Martinez

Luis Sigala

Welcome to our Fall 2025 Graduate Spotlights

Here, we celebrate the remarkable achievements and bright futures of alumni from across our diverse programs:

School of Liberal Arts and Education
School of Health and Sciences
School of Business and Industry
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Sciences and Bachelor of Applied Science
Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency
Continuing and Workforce Education

After years of hard work, including working full-time while going to school & starting her BSN just two weeks after giving birth, Dalia’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. This first-gen college grad is proof that resilience can rewrite any story.

Read her story HERE

Luis dropped out of HS & went to work in the oilfield. A decade later, while balancing work & family, earning a GED was hard, but with the urge to set an example for his kids, he kept going. Next step? “Get your associates now,” he tells himself, eyes set on a promotion at work.

Read his story HERE

Evangelina paused her college journey to relocate with her fiancé, then tragedy struck when he suddenly passed away. She returned home, rebuilt her life, & discovered she was just a few credits short of her degree. Now, she’s graduating with degrees in Sociology & Psychology.

Read her story HERE

Inspired by seeing CBP officers during childhood trips to Mexico, Aldo pursued Criminal Justice at OC—joining Student Patrol, Crime Stoppers, and interning with the Sheriff’s Office. Now a confident graduate, he’s applying to U.S. Customs & Border Protection and ready to serve.

Read his story HERE

Permian junior Hadlee Zartner isn’t waiting for her future to begin, she’s kickstarting it. She’ll earn her Associates in Biology from OC before senior year of HS, all while taking AP/Honors classes, playing basketball, volunteering at MCH, & preparing for a future in medicine.

Read her story HERE

After a knee injury ended his plan to join the Air Force, Julien Martinez found a new path in OC’s Lineman Training Program. He excelled—finishing top five in his class—and now starts his career with Primoris Energy Services. “OC really takes care of its students,” he says.

Read his story HERE