Miguel A. Loya will forever be part of the University of Texas at El Paso College of Engineering with a $30 million donation — the “largest gift in university history.”
The donation, announced at the Fox Fine Arts Center on Thursday, Feb. 5, will be given to the Miguel A. Loya Scholarship Program for exceptional engineering students who receive a full ride scholarship, including books, housing and stipend.
Students who receive the scholarships also will receive a $30,000 bonus if they graduate with honors or other academic distinction to assist in starting their careers.
“UTEP had an extraordinary impact on my life and trajectory,” Loya said, “I’m thrilled to be able to give back to this wonderful university and support future Miners in their own journey.”
UTEP president Heather Wilson also announced the school’s College of Engineering will now be called the Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering. The first scholarship applications will open in the fall semester. Those students will start their engineering degrees in the fall semester of 2027.
Who is Miguel A. Loya?
Loya received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UTEP in 1977 and finished his MBA at Harvard University in 1979. He has worked in the global energy industry.
Loya’s career included positions at Esso Eastern, Tenneco Oil, and Transworld Oil before assuming leadership of Vitol, Inc., the North American arm of the Vitol Group and one of the world’s largest oil trading companies.
In his 25-year career, he has opened markets for Vitol in Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Loya was already the namesake for the Mike Loya Academic Services Building on the UTEP campus for past contributions to the university. Loya was the first of his seven younger siblings to earn a college degree.
Wilson: ‘A transformational gift’
Wilson lauded the donation, calling it “transformational” for generations of students.
“This transformational gift from Miguel Loya will be one of the most generous in the nation and will support the best students who want to become engineers. It will transform lives for generations to come. I couldn’t be more grateful to Miguel,” Wilson said.
Dean of Engineering Kenith Meissner noted the donation will bolster UTEP’s reputation as a destination for top engineering students across the country.
“Our engineering graduates compete with the best engineers,” Meissner said. “The Loya Scholarship program will build on the engineering excellence that is core to the Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering.”
University of Texas System Chancellor John M. Zerwas echoed those sentiments, adding UTEP is an institution on an upward trajectory.
“UTEP will forever be a national destination institution for top engineering students,” Zerwas said. “Mike Loya’s unique design of this scholarship program is something that is rare anywhere in higher education and it sends a strong and compelling message to aspiring engineering students that this is their place.”
How many students are in the College of Engineering?
The Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering enrolls over 5,000 students and has more than 290 faculty and staff in seven academic departments that offer undergraduate and graduate programs.
Benjamin Gurovich, a computer engineering student, recalled how the labs in the curriculum help establish a semester-long project.
“Some projects I’ve done at UTEP have been implemented throughout my labs during the semester,” Gurovich said. “We connected semester-long research that would teach me how to work with a central processing unit. UTEP has prepared me for an incredible career in computer engineering.”
Gianna Ornelas, who is studying metallurgical and material engineering, has already worked on a project with Los Alamos National Laboratory.
“The thing about UTEP and specifically my department is that it’s hands on,” Ornelas said. “Even in intro classes, you’re able to get into labs and speak with professors one-on-one. I’ve been able use my experience to gain my internship this summer.”
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP receives record $30M donation, renames engineering college
Reporting by Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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