Spotlights and Testimonials

loren pumphrey

My journey to Sam Houston was a lot different from what people expected. One of the main reasons I came to the school was to be with my cousin, who at the time was attending the University. She had told me so many wonderful things about the campus and it made me decide to come here and experience it for myself. When I came here, I fell in love with the campus and the environment. As someone who just recently graduated with a BA in History and a minor in German, I learned so many new things that have helped me understand the true importance of what life at Sam is like. There have been several faculty members and staff members who have played a huge role in my success at SHSU. Those names are Professor Silke Bugge, Professor Aaron Hyams, Professor David Mayes, Professor Bernadette Pruitt, Professor Stephen Rapp, Kendis Smith, Madison Seagraves, and Michelle Seagraves. 

Currently, as my journey at Sam comes to an end, I will be attending the University of Graz in Austria, where I plan on studying the history of Southeastern Europe. Learning German has been extremely beneficial and one of my favorite courses to learn at Sam. Silke Bugge is an amazing woman, and she has been someone who doesn't give up on kids and who loves what she does. My advice for students coming into college is focusing on your studies, but at the same time live a little because your closest friends will always support you no matter what. You will continue to grow no matter what, and your closest friends can change your life. 

evelyn arguenta

Evelyn Argueta was born in El Salvador during the civil war that raged throughout the country for twelve years and resulted in the deaths of more than 75,000 people. Against the backdrop of this violence, Evelyn’s parents protected her and her siblings from the horrors all around them and instilled in them the value of learning. Her mother told her that the most important inheritance they could provide her was an education.

After the death of her mother when Evelyn was in her early twenties, she and her father, a carpenter, worked together to support the family. While attending college in El Salvador, Evelyn held several jobs that she hoped would help to lift the family out of hardship but her effort was never enough. When things became too bad, she was forced to drop out of college to work full time to provide for her younger siblings.

In 2009, she married her husband, and the next year they immigrated to the United States. Without speaking the language and completely isolated in a new country, Evelyn worked hard to learn English in order to help her children take full advantage of the opportunities available in America. She attended free English language classes offered by the local school district and her community church. She enrolled in the local community college to further her education and take advantage of better opportunities to help provide for her family and incorporate into the greater community and she never forgot her promise to her mother.

While working as a home instructor for Irving ISD, Evelyn continued to work towards her goals and she eventually became a bilingual instructional aide in 2020. In 2021, she became a United States citizen.

Within two years, Evelyn earned her Associate of Arts degree and credits learning to speak English for changing her life but she wasn’t finished. As a wife, mother, and full-time employee, she struggled to find an institution that fit her needs to continue her dream of obtaining her bachelor’s degree.

With the help and encouragement of her husband and family, Evelyn found Sam Houston State University and the online Spanish Language Program. “I am very grateful to SHSU because even though I don’t have time to be a traditional on-campus student, I can study at my own pace to complete my degree.”

Her journey took over fifteen years, but with the help of Sam Houston State University, she has finally realized many of her dreams. “Your success depends on how much you believe in yourself.”

Evelyn is set to graduate soon with her four-year degree, and wants to encourage others, “like me, who may think there is no more time to pursue their dreams or that it is too late. It’s never too late to strive for what you want”. Even though she has never set foot on the SHSU campus, Evelyn values her time as a Bearkat and feels like she is part of the Sam Houston State University family.

alyssa newman

As a proud 2023 graduate of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Sam Houston State University, I am continually reminded of how my time at SHSU shaped both my academic and professional journey. I double majored in Philosophy and Political Science with a minor in Spanish, originally planning to attend law school. However, through the mentorship and opportunities I received as an undergraduate, especially my acceptance into the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, my path began to shift.

One of the most meaningful parts of my time at SHSU was sharing the experience with my mom, who was also earning her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Biology. We were in the same McNair Scholars cohort, supporting each other through research projects, presentations, and graduate school preparation. Today, we are both thriving at the University of Florida. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Neuroscience, and I am continuing my journey in higher education.

My experience in the McNair Scholars Program, along with serving as an Honors Ambassador for the Elliot T. Bowers Honors College and writing tutor at the Academic Success Center, helped me discover a passion for supporting students in their academic and personal growth. These experiences ultimately led me to pursue a career in higher education rather than law. After graduation, I joined the University of Florida Online as an Admissions Officer, where I have been able to help connect aspiring students with transformational educational opportunities.

I am deeply grateful to my mentors such as my thesis advisor, Dr. Zachary Bachman, who helped me develop independent research skills and connect with other supportive faculty members such as Dr. Jessica Elkayam. I also owe thanks to my graduate mentor, Kayli Carrillo and the director of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, Dr. Lydia Fox, who encouraged my passion for research and inspired my mom and I to continue our studies.

Today, I am pursuing my M.Ed. in Student Personnel in Higher Education at the University of Florida with a projected graduation date of August 2026. The skills, mentorship, and values I gained at SHSU continue to guide me every day in my work and studies. To any student just starting out, I would say to stay open to where your curiosity leads, because you never know how your experiences may shape your passions and future path.

ty hilliard

Ty Hilliard graduated from Sam Houston State University in May 2024 with a bachelor's degree in History and a minor in Spanish. Today, he is a Park Ranger at Waco Mammoth National Monument, where he shares one of the world's most unique paleontological discoveries with visitors every day.

"As a park ranger, I primarily give tours," Ty said. "The Waco Mammoth National Monument is the only recorded instance of a Columbian mammoth nursery herd ever being uncovered in the world."

Although Ty always knew he wanted to study history, he wasn't sure where it would lead.

"I always knew I wanted to major in history, but I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do with it," he said. "I pretty much knew I didn't want to go into teaching, so I was keeping my options open."

Everything changed when he enrolled in the Public History course taught by Dr. Zachary Doleshal.

"It wasn't until I took the Public History class that the History Department offers under Dr. Doleshal that I really found a passion for going into public history."

That class led to a public history internship at the Samuel Walker Houston Museum in Huntsville during the summer of 2023—an experience Ty credits with helping launch his career.

"That internship really helped separate me from other candidates for what I'm doing now."

Looking back, Ty says one of the greatest lessons he learned at SHSU was how to market the skills his degree provided.

"Rather than marketing my degree, I market the skills I learned from that degree," he explained. "Research, learning how to present information in a tangible format, and other practical skills have helped me move forward whenever roadblocks come up."

The Public History course remains one of the most impactful classes he took at Sam Houston.

"It was probably one of the best classes I took because it was so hands-on. We maybe only spent five actual days in the classroom, and the rest of the time we were doing practical work in museums."

Now working in the field he loves, Ty is excited for what comes next.

"I'm very fortunate that I got a public history job right out of college," he said. "A lot of my friends who also took public history courses and internships haven't been able to find jobs in those fields yet, so I'm just glad to be doing what I love."

For current students, Ty's advice is straightforward: take advantage of every opportunity to gain experience.

"The one thing I could recommend the most is doing internships," he said. "During my interview, a lot of the questions were about whether I had experience working in a museum or in public history. Having that experience under your belt right out of college can make or break the deal."

He also encourages students to build relationships with the people around them.

"Don't be so introverted. Make friends with the people in your department because you're going to see them in a lot of your classes. Get to know the people around you, and you'll make some really good, lasting friendships."

His final piece of advice is to invest in relationships with faculty.

"Get on your professors' good side because when it comes time for internships, letters of recommendation, or just help in general, you really want them advocating for you."

Ty's journey demonstrates how hands-on learning, meaningful connections, and taking advantage of opportunities at SHSU can open doors to a rewarding career doing what you love.