Meet a Roadrunner: Christian Ume-Ezeoke wants to empower his community

Christian Ume-Ezeoke

By Jesus Chavez
Public Affairs Specialist

(March 5, 2014) -- Meet Christian Ume-Ezeoke. He is a natural leader working hard to find new ways to empower his community.

"I try to stay active in my community because staying busy and involved is very important to future success," said Ume-Ezeoke. "It gives your mind focus, and it gives you purpose. Every organization or community member that I have worked with has helped mold me into the person that I am today, and I am grateful for that."

What drives him to spend nearly all of his time giving back? According to Ume-Ezeoke, 28, he first decided that he wanted to dedicate himself to being a community leader after attending the LeaderShape Institute, a six-day educational leadership experience hosted by the UTSA Student Leadership Center.

He said that attending the institute gave him the focus that he felt was missing from his life up until that point. He knew he wanted to empower people through service for the rest of his life. Since then, there's been no stopping him from finding new avenues for public service.

"Christian has made a long-lasting, positive impact on UTSA by serving his fellow students with his whole heart," said Jana Schwartz, program coordinator at the UTSA Student Leadership Center. "He has seized many opportunities and achieved so much in his young life. I am so moved by his strong convictions and values. Christian has a true passion for people, and that's what drives his desire to succeed so he can effectively lead within his community."

Ume-Ezeoke is a student worker at the UTSA Student Leadership Center, a member of Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education and Services (VOICES), a former Student Government Association senator and chief of staff, a member of the UTSA Honors Alliance, former secretary of Be A Responsible Roadrunner (BARR) and serves as the health chair for the UTSA chapter of the NAACP. He is a former president of the UTSA chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society. He also recently was appointed a member of President Ricardo Romo's prestigious Student Leadership Council.

Ume-Ezeoke plans to graduate this May. After he graduates, he would like to attend graduate school to study health and kinesiology. His goal is to attend medical school after he obtains his master's degree. Until then, he'll be at the UTSA Student Leadership Center planning how next to strengthen his community.

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Do you know a UTSA student who is affecting positive change in their community? Email us at social@utsa.edu so that we may consider your suggestion for our next installment of Meet a Roadrunner.

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Join the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.

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McNair Scholars' Spring Celebration

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North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main Campus

Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.

Doctoral Conferral Ceremony

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Arts Building Recital Hall, Main Campus

Thursday, May 16, 3:00 p.m.

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Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Friday, May 17, 10:00 a.m.

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Celebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

Friday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.

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Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.

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