The University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) has quite the track-record of innovation, forward-thinking, and open-mindedness. In the early 60’s, when UTEP was called “Texas Western College,” its men’s basketball team won a national championship with an all African-American starting lineup, making it the first team in the country to do so (this is the subject of Disney’s “Glory Road”). Today, this tradition of diversity continues, as UTEP is the only major research university in the country at which the majority of students enrolled are Hispanic.
Part of the reason for this latter fact is UTEP’s location near the United States-Mexico border. This location is also a reason, however, for the rare southwestern United State beauty of UTEP’s campus. The campus itself lies in the heart of El Paso’s mountains, making the school an ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts as well as those who simply appreciate a beautiful sunset. The unique architecture of the campus is intended to resemble the building-style of a small Himalayan village, which gives trademark elegance to the already naturally beautiful area.
Academically, UTEP is perhaps most proud of its engineering and science programs, the success of which is part of the reason why the National Science Foundation has named UTEP as one of the six model institutions for scientific research and education in America. This reputation for excellence in the sciences is supported by the presence of top-notch facilities on UTEP’s campus. The recently constructed centers for nanotechnology and biomedical research are among the most cutting-edge national facilities of their kinds. Research conducted in part at these state-of-the-art facilities is an important reason why UTEP recently received a federal grant to establish a Regional Geospatial Service Center to create maps for better emergency response programs.
The College of Business Administration is also nationally respected for the effectiveness of its programs and the quality of its facilities. Most notable among the latter is the Paso Del Norte Research and Business Development Complex. UTEP’s business school is also known for producing many leaders of the Hispanic commercial community.
The combination of all these wonderful features has led many interesting people to pass through UTEP’s halls on their ways to glory and fame. MGM president Hank Cohen, Microsoft co-founder Bob O’Rear, and comedian Jack Handey are just a few examples of notable UTEP alums. The current faculty at UTEP has also included several notable cultural figures, including sculptor Urbici Soler y Manonelles and animal rights activist Steven Best. Athletically, UTEP is most competitive in football, basketball, and track and field. Not surprisingly, the school has produced NBA legends like Nate “Tiny” Archibald and Tim Hardaway, as well as NFL hall-of-famers like Don Manyard and world-famous track stars like former long-jump world record holder Bob Beamon.
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