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Thomas Velez
UT San Antonio
Thomas Velez
Austin, TX
Junior, Criminal Justice Major, at UT San Antonio
Financial Sources
Jobs: Work-study, Office of the President
Financial Aid & Scholarships: TPEG (Texas Public Education Grant), TEXAS Grant (Toward Excellence, Access and Success Program), Federal Pell Grant
Thomas's Story
When Austin native Thomas Velez was thinking about his future, he was sure he wanted to go into medicine. And when it came time for the James Bowie High School graduate to decide on college, he chose San Antonio and UT San Antonio.
“I pretty much knew that I wanted to come here because the health science center was here. I wanted to be a doctor or go into pharmacy,” Thomas said. “It wasn’t a huge commute and UTSA just seemed to fit.”
But a funny thing happened on the way to his future. Thomas discovered criminal justice. Thomas had a change of heart because he had the opportunity to explore. Without financial aid, however, it wouldn’t have been possible.
“I am the youngest in the family – with three other siblings – and without financial aid, there is no way I would be where I am today,” Thomas said. “I’ve been real fortunate to have so many grants that I will never have to pay back.”
Also, Thomas has been in the work-study program for the past three years, all while carrying a full load and maintaining a 3.4 GPA. “For me, there is no question about it. If I didn’t have work-study, I wouldn’t be here.”
As for the change of heart, Thomas, now 21, took his first criminal justice class as a social science prerequisite, and after two additional ones, he changed his focus.
“My father was a probation officer for 27 years and we grew up in a household heavily law oriented, and all about honor and justice. When I took that first class, and just listened to the material we were learning, and I thought that’s it.”
Upon graduation, Thomas plans to go to law school.
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