While students have plenty of academic obligations, UHV also recognizes that part of a well-rounded college experience is setting aside time for fun. That’s where the UHV Office of Student Life &
Services and the Athletics Department come into play as UHV makes history by building a destination university.
During 2011-2012, students took part in a wide range of activities. New events, organizations and spots where students could hang out enhanced the student life experience and increased social
interaction.
Another successful season on the field was highlighted by the Jaguars softball team earning its second trip to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Softball Championships
and becoming the first UHV team to post a 40-win season.
The soccer and golf programs also continued to make strides in their second year of competition.
Here are just a few athletic and student life highlights:
Athletics
• The UHV softball team finished the year ranked No. 13 in the nation after a 40-10 season and its second trip to the NAIA national tournament.
• Pitcher Tanner Hamilton became the first UHV ballplayer to sign a professional contract when he inked with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a free agent.
• Softball pitcher Emily Bergstrom was named UHV’s Female Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. Soccer forward Adrian Mendoza was named the Male Athlete of the Year.
• Bergstrom and Brittany Arredondo were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Southwest Region softball first team and the Association of Independent Institutions all-conference first team. Bergstrom also was an NAIA
All-American honorable mention selection. Dawn Villegas, Porsha Ramos, Ariel Gomez and Ashley Shannon were named to the A.I.I. all-conference second team.
• Mendoza and Nathan Kenyon were named to the A.I.I. all-conference first team in soccer, while Rudy Castrejon and Taylor Belchor earned second-team honors. Mendoza also was named to the
National Soccer Coaches Association of America/NAIA All-Southwest Region Team.
• Jonathan Allen shot a 7-under 209 to become the first UHV men’s
golfer to win an individual title with a first-place finish at the Texas Lutheran John Bohmann Memorial.
• The UHV women’s golf team shot an opening round 347 to claim the school’s first-ever team title at the University of Texas-Dallas Lady Comets Invitational.
• Chad Kruse and Creighton Hoke were named to the A.I.I. all-conference baseball first team, while Ryan Suescun was named to the second team.
Student Life
• At Jaguar Journey, UHV’s new student orientation, freshmen became familiar with the campus, were introduced to services available to them at
UHV and began forming relationships with their peers, upperclassmen, faculty and staff.
• The Student Lounge in University West got a new look and a new name. The walls were painted “UHV red,” and the Student Government Association purchased a flat-screen TV. The lounge is now
called The Spot.
• Students had fun participating in a number of new events, such as Cinemark Movie nights and a foam party, while reoccurring events like Pumpkin Palooza, Totally ’80s Skating and a Cinco de Mayo
Celebration drew in big crowds.
• Students took the initiative to form several new organizations including the Master of Business Administration Student Association and the Jaguar Jazz Team.
• Student Life staff members organized new Special Interest Groups to help students connect with peers who share similar interests. Groups included a book club, video game group and
jewelry making.
• The fun wasn’t limited to Victoria. UHV students at UH Sugar Land and the UH System at Cinco Ranch took part in several events, such as family movie nights, faculty lectures and Brain Food Breaks.