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The Brownsville native gained an ardent passion for robotics after he built his first robot as a sophomore at Simon River High School for a Technology Student Association national competition. “After days and nights of building and debugging, I finally powered up the robot and a robotic arm arose from its base; I was hooked,” said Reynoso, who shortly after quit his dream of becoming a professional soccer player to focus solely on robotics. After he graduated from Rivera in 2006, Reynoso pursued an education at UTB. He interned at NASA several times while a student before becoming a contractor under the Robotics Sector: On an average day, Ivan Rangel, 25, can be found doing a multitude of things to create a better computer system for The Boeing Company, one of the largest multinational aerospace and defense corporation in the world. Rangel, a December 2009 graduate of The University of Texas at Brownsville, has worked as a System Design and Integration Specialist for Boeing in Saint Louis, MO, for the last four years. Rangel works closely with his team of experts to complete the weekly tasks assigned to his department. “My teammates have been working for the [computer science] industry for more than 30 years, so I’m always learning from them,” said Rangel. The Brownsville native gained an intense passion for computers and networking after being introduced to computer networking and programming through Lopez High School’s Information Technology Career Pathway. After he graduated in 2005, Rangel enrolled at UTB with a clear desire to pursue an education in computer science. “The curriculum allowed me to learn about the different areas of computer science,” Rangel said. “In addition, conferences and resources made available to me allowed me to see what careers were currently in demand. In fact, it was at one of those conferences where I got the job offer for my current position.” Heriberto Reynoso, 25, is a robotics expert, motivational speaker and entrepreneur. Since he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in May 2011, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Disney Imagineering and other tech industry giants have courted Reynoso. He is the founder of the robotics company, Reybotics, which recently completed a successful youth summer program hosted at UTB. Mobility and Manipulation Group (3475) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. There, he developed code for a top secret spy plane for the Air Force Research Laboratory, dubbed “Angel Fire.” “The Computer and Information Science Department has given me the skills needed to fully deduce large problems into manageable and ease to conquer tasks,” said Reynoso. “The Computer Science Department has a high caliber of professors that are able and willing to work with students to fully seek out their curiosities by molding their curriculums and teaching style to meet the needs of students.” Reynoso continues to advance his work in robotics, and his company is already gearing up for a new summer camp this year. Rangel, meanwhile, is delving deeper into the Computer Security (Cyber Security) aspects of his chosen field and is enrolled in a Master of Science in Computer and Information Science with a focus on Security. “I’m fascinated by how quickly the field of computer science evolves,” said Reynoso. For more information on degrees in Computer and Information Science, call 956-882-6605, email cscis@utb. edu or visit utb.edu/cis. Degree leads students to careers in robotics and cyber security Robotics expert Heriberto Reynoso, UTB computer science graduate, sits with a rover robot that he helped build. PARTNERS IN EDUCATION Life after Graduation Check out our monthly alumni features. utb.edu/alumnifeature Take these steps to become a UTB student • Take a campus tour. Contact the Office of Admissions and Recruiting at 956-882-8295. • Complete an online admission form at utb.edu or applytexas.org. • Take the COMPASS, THEA or a state-approved test. For testing dates, call the Testing Center at 956-882-8875. • Entering freshmen or transfer students with fewer than 30 credit hours must attend orientation. Call the Office of the Dean of Students at 956-882-5141. • Meet with an academic advisor to plan a course schedule and degree plan. Contact the Academic Advising Center at 956-882-7362. • All first-time freshmen returning and transfer students must provide one of the following to Student Health Services: – A certification from a health care practitioner evidencing that the student has received a vaccination or booster for bacterial meningitis no more than five years and no fewer than 10 days prior to the first day of class. – An affidavit indicating the vaccination has been declined for reasons of conscience or a certificate from a health care practitioner stating the vaccination would be injurious to the health and wellbeing of the student. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online to apply for federal and state grants, work-study and loan programs (fasfa.ed.gov). Parents and students should apply for a pin number at pin.ed.gov. Apply for admission to the university and make sure all official transcripts are sent to the Office of Admissions and Recruiting. Transfer students must request evaluation of transcripts. Take the COMPASS/e-Write exam or other Texas Success Initiative (TSI) test. Check with the Testing Office at 956-882-8875. Students will receive either a Student Aid Report (SAR) or a Student Aid Acknowledgement and must review the information for accuracy. A financial aid advisor will review the FAFSA. Comply with all Office of Financial Aid requests for verification of information or to request additional documentation. Once the file is completed and cleared, the student will receive a letter stating his/her eligibility status and/or award offer by email. Register for classes before the designated deadlines as indicated in the course schedule; pay balance at the Office of Accounting and Finance before payment deadline. Email your financial aid questions to fi[email protected]. Financial aid checklist 7. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. utb.edu/careercenter • The next in this series will appear on May 10. THE SPARK IN COMPUTER SCIENCE “After days and nights of building and debugging, I finally powered up the robot, and a robotic arm arose from its base; I was hooked.” — Heriberto Reynoso, Robotics expert and UTB alumnus Computer and Information Research Scientists ............................. $100,660 Software Developers ........................................................................ $90,530 Computer Systems Analysts .............................................................. $77,740 Information Security Analysts, Web Developers and Computer Network Architects ................................................... $75,660 Database Administrators .................................................................. $73,490 Computer Programmers .................................................................... $71,380 www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm Source: 2010 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information, visit bls.gov. Median salaries for computer science occupations DO IT NOW! UTB registration for summer and fall 2013 is underway! Register now for the best chances of getting the classes you want. Plan your schedule, apply for financial aid and move your life forward. go2utb.com
