CHS Announces Fall 25 Commencement Honor Roles: Estevan Nieto, Undergraduate Student Marshal
Published December 10, 2025
By Darlene Muguiro
UTEP College of Health Sciences
This December, three CHS students will serve in honorific roles at the Fall 2025 commencement ceremony at the Don Haskins Center. These students were selected for their positions based on academic achievement, extracurricular participation, and community and JAVÃûÅ®ÓÅ¹Ý service. Our second story features Estevan Nieto, Undergraduate Student Marshal.
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Estevan Nieto, a candidate for the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences degree, says that he was drawn to the field of rehabilitation through his personal journey as a former athlete. Experiencing both positive and negative interactions with rehabilitation professionals helped him to understand the value of open communication and compassion toward patients and ultimately defined the kind of healthcare provider he wanted to become.
Estevan chose UTEP’s College of Health Sciences because of its focus on hands-on learning opportunities and culturally appropriate care, as well as the opportunity to give back to the community that has shaped who he is today. Throughout his undergraduate degree, Estevan balanced his coursework with a part-time job, volunteer activities with his church and the he Student Association for Rehabilitation Sciences, and work with the Neurorehabilitation and Motor Control Lab, led by Dr. Shashwati Geed. He says that balancing coursework with all of his other responsibilities was one of the hardest challenges he has faced, but also taught him valuable lessons in discipline and perseverance. Despite his challenging schedule, Estevan has excelled academically. He has been on the College of Health Science's Dean's List since spring 2023 and is on track to earn a perfect 4.0 GPA.
It was during his time in the Neurorehabilitation and Motor Control Lab that Estevan found his passion for neurorehabilitation. As a member of the lab team, Estevan worked directly with graduate students and stroke patients to identify how the brain recovers movement following a stroke episode. His work there led to an invitation to present at UTEP’s COURI symposium for undergraduate student researchers, as well as a first-author manuscript - a stellar accomplishment for undergraduate students. His passion for working with stroke survivors also led him to start the Art Supporting Stroke Initiative, where survivors can connect and heal through creative self-expression.
After graduation, Nieto aims to continue his education and pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, specializing in neurorehabilitation.
Congratulations, Estevan!
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Go Miners!
For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences Program, please visit: /chs/bsrhsc/
