The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has proudly announced its roster of ten alumni set to be honored at the upcoming Homecoming celebration this fall. These honorees include two Distinguished Alumni and eight Gold Nugget Award recipients, whose careers span a diverse range of industries from geological engineering to broadcasting. In a release from UTEP, President Heather Wilson stated, "The Distinguished Alumni and Gold Nugget recipients are a testament to how far a UTEP education can take you."
Geologist James Cearley and businessman Paul Dipp will be taking home the Distinguished Alumni Award, which is the highest recognition for UTEP grads. According to UTEP, Cearley had a 35-year career with Chevron, where he rose to the position of General Manager of Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Exploration. Dipp has made his mark as a commercial real estate specialist with a focus on the food industry, successfully combining academics with hands-on experience from his family business.
As part of the annual tradition, UTEP's colleges have selected the Gold Nugget Awardees to represent their commitment to professional excellence and service. The eight chosen for 2025 include leaders in transportation and logistics, infrastructure engineering, education, public health, and more. UTEP President Heather Wilson praised the upcoming honorees, "We look forward to celebrating our successful alumni and the impact they have had during their lives," as per UTEP. Each recipient has a story punctuated by dedication to their respective fields and significant contributions to their communities.
Miriam Baca Kotkowski, president of TECMA Transportation Services, and Ruben Chavez, founder of CEA Engineering Group, are among the Gold Nugget awardees. Kotkowski, a pioneer in cross-border logistics, began by managing a U.S. purchasing office and progressed to co-founding Omega Trucking, Inc. Chavez has notably shaped El Paso's landscape with his engineering firm. Their achievements, alongside others like literate advocate John Corcoran, also emphasize their commitment to mentoring the next generation, a theme common among all recipients.
