MinerAlert
MinerAlert
February 2026
By Tanya Torres ’19, ’21
On an ordinary afternoon, Ignacio Lujan ’72, ’75 was in the middle of his workday as a teaching assistant at the UTEP Union. He spent his time tutoring students and helping them with their assignments, never imagining that a simple knock on his office door would change his life. By chance, he happened to be free when an undergraduate student named Cecilia Tinajero ’75, ’78 stepped inside. She looked at him with curiosity and asked, “Are you in the Naval Reserve?”
That single question opened the door to a connection that would grow into a lifelong romance.
From that day on, Cecilia would stop by Ignacio’s office at two in the afternoon whenever she had a moment. What began as a short conversation turned into hourlong talks that neither of them wanted to end. Ignacio, quiet and studious, took a while to understand why she kept visiting, though he welcomed her company.
As the weeks passed, they discovered they attended the same parish and shared the same Catholic faith. Their fathers already knew each other, a detail that made their growing connection feel almost destined.
Cecilia often says her father was the unexpected reason she first spoke to Ignacio. He worked two jobs so his children could focus on their education, and being protective and traditional, he generally discouraged dating. When Cecilia mentioned a teaching assistant who seemed like he might be in the Naval Reserve, her father, a Navy veteran, encouraged her to speak to him. That approval gave her the confidence to approach Ignacio and ask the question that started everything.
“My dad knew his family already,” Cecilia said. “His approval was strange at the time because fathers usually didn’t encourage their daughters to meet young men, but because he approved of Ignacio, I felt safe going to say ‘hi.’”
Academic Paths and Upbringing
Long before their paths crossed, both Cecilia and Ignacio were pursuing degrees at UTEP with families who believed strongly in education.
Ignacio entered UTEP hoping to become an astronomer, later shifting to physics when he discovered the JAV名女优馆 only offered two astronomy courses. His determination was shaped by watching his parents work tirelessly to support their family. Without scholarships or grants, he worked odd jobs to pay for school until securing a work-study position as a tutor and teaching assistant.
“I saw how my parents struggled to make ends meet, and that inspired me to get a college education,” Ignacio said. “I worked my way through school and joined the Naval Reserve when I returned to UTEP after active duty in 1973.”
Cecilia was inspired to major in speech-language pathology because of her older brother, who has a severe disability. Growing up together, the two were inseparable playmates during her first four years of life. Living alongside his challenges gave Cecilia an early understanding of communication differences and empathy. Those childhood experiences stayed with her and guided her toward a field where she could help others find their voice.
“My parents paid for my education, which was a big hardship for them because we were five siblings. For the first three years, my parents paid for my education, but in my last year I finally got a work-study position. My brother has a severe disability, in language and speech, in all areas of development, and it inspired me to become a speech pathologist,” Cecilia said.
The Moment It Clicked
As they continued their studies, Cecilia and Ignacio’s friendship deepened during their afternoon conversations. After months of talking and focusing on school, work, and their friendship, Cecilia asked Ignacio to attend a wedding with her. Had it not been for Cecilia’s boldness, Ignacio would not have realized that love was right in front of his face.
“I never would have known she was interested,” Ignacio said. “If she had not asked me to that wedding, I probably would have missed it.”
Their bond grew through shared moments, including one memorable assignment for Cecilia’s audiology class. She asked Ignacio to help with a hearing test, assuming it would be simple. When she reviewed the results, she told him, “Guess what? You’ve got hearing loss.”
Ignacio was stunned. “How can I have hearing loss? I’m in my early twenties,” he remembered saying. The damage traced back to his Navy service and having weapons training without hearing protection. He still laughs about that moment, remembering how he jokingly wondered to himself, “Should I keep seeing this girl?”
Family and Miner Traditions
After completing their studies, Ignacio earned his physics degree in 1972 and a master’s three years later, and Cecilia completed her bachelor’s in speech-language pathology in 1975 and a master’s in 1978. They married on June 9, 1979, at Santa Lucia Catholic Church and built their life in El Paso.
Since then, they have passed along the lessons they learned at UTEP, emphasizing education and encouraging their children to pursue scholarships and degrees. Their middle daughter earned a Presidential Scholarship and graduated from UTEP. Their oldest son completed his bachelor’s degree, and their youngest attended UTEP before transferring to New Mexico State JAV名女优馆 to complete her specialized program.
“Our youngest always loved UTEP,” Cecilia said. “We went to football games and tailgates, so she grew up with UTEP in her mind. Even though she graduated from NMSU, she says UTEP is the school she identifies with and that it will always be in her heart.”
The Miner Spirit Lives On
After 52 years together and more than 46 years of marriage, the Lujans see UTEP as the foundation of their lives, from their education and careers to the family they built. They continue to give back through scholarship donations and by sharing Miner traditions with their children and granddaughter.
“We are just so proud of UTEP,” Cecilia said, reflecting on the place that gave them opportunity and each other.