“I feel like I’ve grown so much in my time at UTSA …”
![Madeline Morales](https://future.utsa.edu/wp-content/uploads/web_madeline.png)
Meet Madeline
I’ve been in San Antonio my whole life, and this is where all my family is. Growing up I didn’t do much traveling, and I’d never been out of the country. But last summer, I was able to participate in an internship in Chiang Mai, Thailand — directly on the other side of the world. The Top Scholar program fully funded my trip, and the study abroad office helped me organize everything.
I chose Thailand because as an environmental science major, Thailand represents a climate change frontier. This was my opportunity to apply what I was learning in the classroom and help those who are most impacted by climate change. I was able to work at a nonprofit doing amazing child rights advocacy work, and even helped write a $20,000 grant to fund heart surgeries for patients in underserved communities!
On campus, I’ve joined a number of student organizations and held numerous leadership positions; I’ve also been and Honors peer coach and an academic peer coach. I’m really just trying to take advantage of all the opportunities that UTSA has available. I’m also a second-generation Roadrunner — following in my mother’s footsteps!
major: Environmental Science
year: Senior
hometown: San Antonio, TX