This scholarship is given in memory of Maralyn S. Heimlich, who served students at The University of Texas at Austin for more than twenty years. For the last eleven years of her service, she directed the orientation program for new students and was responsible for the training and teaching of the student staff and Orientation Advisors (OAs). Maralyn was a teacher, mentor, and friend to the OA staff who served as a professional role model by demonstrating respect and care in the way she performed her job duties and lived her life. It is these attributes and values we seek to honor and recognize in scholarship recipients.
These students have all served as Orientation Advisors, where they went through a semester of training and successfully welcomed students to the University. They also submitted applications about their experience in Orientation and were chosen through a committee of professionals who work closely with orientation.
We are excited to celebrate them today!
2025 Maralyn Heimlich Scholarship Recipients
Alexa Cavazos
Orientation Advisor for Summer 2022 and 2023
Impact of Orientation Advisor Position: “Being a Moody College OA for two summers provided me with invaluable skills that will support my future career as an ESL teacher. Working with students navigating a major transition taught me the importance of patience, active listening, and meeting individuals where they are—skills directly applicable to teaching multilingual learners. One of the most rewarding aspects of being an OA was seeing my students grow in confidence, engage with their peers, and become eager to start their college journey. The moment they told me how much my support helped them feel more prepared reinforced my passion for mentorship and education. Just as I guided students through orientation, I aim to create a classroom where every student feels valued, empowered, and capable of success."
Diana Garcia
Orientation Advisor for Summer 2024
Impact of Orientation Advisor Position: “Being an Orientation Advisor taught me resourceful problem-solving skills that have helped me achieve my academic goals and career goals. Being able to lead in our own way while knowing there were always people there to help us gave us the comfortability to be our own problem solvers."
Summer Mompoint
Orientation Advisor for Summer 2024
Impact of Orientation Advisor Position: "Being an Orientation Advisor taught me valuable leadership and problem-solving skills that are vital for directing and producing films. Adapting to unexpected challenges and collaborating with a team strengthened my ability to manage projects, work under pressure, and effectively communicate, all are essential to be successful in the film industry."
Isabelle Ramirez
Orientation Advisor for Summer 2024
Impact of Orientation Advisor Position: “Orientation has provided me the opportunity to foster and grow my leadership skills, and truly get out of my comfort zone. Through various things such as leading a small group to helping students one on one I can truly say that I have grown immensely into the leader I want to be.”
David Zambrano
Orientation Advisor for Summer 2023 and 2024
Impact of Orientation Advisor Position: "The OA role has strengthened my interpersonal and leadership skills, equipping me to excel in any future career. Through facilitating peer engagement and fostering a growth-oriented team environment, I have developed valuable communication and collaboration abilities that will set me apart in both professional and personal settings.”
Gifts from alumni, parents and friends of The University of Texas at Austin fund the Maralyn Heimlich Scholarship.
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