Meet Natalia Armenta, sophomore at UTPB is who majoring in Accounting and is a member of the Women's Golf team. For Armenta, being Latina is more than just a part of her heritage—it's a connection to her roots and the resilience of her family. 

"Being Latina is important to me because it connects me to my roots, traditions, and the resilience of my family," said Armenta. "I'm especially grateful my dad chose to journey to the U.S., giving me opportunities while still preserving our culture." 

Armenta has always celebrated her Latina identity through meaningful family traditions.  
 
"I have grown up celebrating this identity through visiting my family in Mexico often, family gatherings and traditional food," said Armenta. "We honor our heritage by speaking spanish at home and participating in Mexican traditions during the holidays."  

Although this is her first year at UTPB, Armenta has already found a sense of belonging on campus.  

"I really love the environment here and being back home in the Permian Basin." Armenta said.