This year’s Texas Parents Outstanding Student Awards go to two seniors who exemplify leadership, scholarship, character and service. Maggie Gunn and Da’Marcus Baymon were honored Nov. 9 at the 61st annual Celebration of Leadership Dinner, hosted by Texas Parents and the Office of the President.
Gunn grew up in Dallas and is studying in the Plan II Honors, English Honors and UTeach Liberal Arts Programs. After graduation, she plans to teach English in urban middle schools through Teach for America before pursuing a doctoral degree.
“As I started spending more time with students, and tutoring and spending more time with communities that really needed a lot of help in their educational environments, I just felt sort of called to it because this is what I really love to do and this is what I’m good at,” she says of her interest in service.
Her accomplishments include enhancing content for Plan II signature courses on social entrepreneurialism, serving as president of Orange Jackets, working as a resident assistant on campus, performing in the Innervisions Gospel choir, working with the Reformed University Fellowship campus ministry and becoming a member of the Friar Society.
Baymon, a neurobiology major, hails from Houston. He participated in the College of Natural Science’s Freshman Research Initiative, which fueled his interest in research.
“Long after I’m gone, hopefully, the work that I’ve done can impact somebody’s life even though they won’t know who I am,” Baymon says.
He is currently an undergraduate researcher at the Mihic Lab at the Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research. Baymon also serves as a lead mentor and chemistry tutor with the Texas Interdisciplinary Plan. He will pursue a career in medicine after graduation, focusing on research that can easily be transferred from the lab bench to the bedside.
Texas Parents, which is part of the Division of Student Affairs, is dedicated to being the best resource for university parents and families as their students strive for excellence.
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