John M. Esparragoza
I’m an Undergraduate Computer Science student at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) with a growing interest in machine learning/AI and applied research. I’ve had the chance to work on edge computing projects through research experiences at Texas State University, exploring computer vision and natural language processing. I enjoy learning how tech can solve real-world problems, and when I’m not coding or studying, you’ll probably find me at the gym, binging shows/anime, or catching up on sleep.
Stephanie Chavarria
Is a fourth-year biology student and a Service-Learning Peer Leader from the University of Houston- Downtown. She was a course participant through the Scholars Academy under the guidance of Dr. Mary Jo Parker, where she developed a passion for advocacy and connecting classrooms with communities. She leads groups of undergraduate students in designing STEM experiments for middle school aged students, emphasizing the importance of higher education in STEM. This role has transformed her journey from mentee to mentor, strengthening her leadership while supporting peers in building confidence and problem-solving skills.
Landon Sanz
Landon is a 4th year biology student at the University of Houston–Downtown with experience in tutoring and clinical research. He tutors biology and anatomy for the UHD Natural Sciences department and designs monthly biotechnology labs for high-school students at Lone Star College. He conducts pediatric clinical research with Wake Forest physician scientists and completed a grant-funded internship leading his own study and by managing consent/IRB tasks, REDCap builds and writing a first-author manuscript. He published a first-author review on plastic degradation and has multiple manuscripts near completion, with presentations at PAS 2025, ATE PI 2024, and Wake Forest’s 2024 conference.