Ashley Jimenez ’24 named Outstanding Islander Graduate for School of Arts, Media, & Communication

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – On December 14, Ashley Jimenez will graduate from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art — a milestone she once thought might be out of reach. For Jimenez, choosing TAMU-CC wasn’t just about academics, it was about finding a second home and a community where she could truly belong.

“I wanted to go to a university with a small student-to-teacher ratio where I could get the attention I needed and also find another city I could call a second home,” said Jimenez, a native of Round Rock, located north of Austin. “I found all that at TAMU-CC.”

For her academic achievements and resilience in the face of challenges, Jimenez has been named the Fall 2024 Outstanding Islander Graduate for the School of Arts, Media, & Communication at TAMU-CC. She will earn a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art at the commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Jimenez’s family had a deep history with the Island University and the Corpus Christi area. Her great-aunt and uncle met on the Corpus Christi State University campus, and her aunt graduated from TAMU-CC when Ashley was seven. Her father and mother also met in Corpus Christi while they were both visiting. Jimenez felt destined to be part of the Islander family and said she received a sign during her first campus tour. 

“It was during that tour that I discovered that Dr. Hector P. Garcia, a celebrated civil rights leader and my father’s childhood doctor, was honored with a statue on campus,” she said. “At that point, I told myself this was it; this was my sign.”

While at TAMU-CC, Jimenez’s passion for art, which began as a child when she could first hold a marker, flourished. Art was her outlet, her way of showing the beauties of the world, the emotions, the stories, and the people she encountered. Her earliest creations — drawings covering printer paper and even her family’s couch — were symbols of a love for creativity that has only grown deeper with time. At TAMU-CC, Jimenez seized every opportunity to refine her skills and share her vision with others.

“I believe curiosity is the key to personal growth — there’s something exciting about opening new doors and exploring the unknown,” she said. “I am grateful that TAMU-CC has given me growth opportunities to work with professors, peers, and unexpected allies. I’ve even had the incredible opportunity to work with my very first elementary school art teacher, Kim Block — this time as her peer, not her student.”

While her time at TAMU-CC has been filled with rewarding experiences, Jimenez was tested during winter break of 2023, when her family faced unexpected hardship. Her mother suffered a stroke, and her brother was hospitalized with a serious infection, leaving Jimenez torn between her studies and her responsibilities as a daughter and sister.

“Despite my reluctance, both my mom and dad told me they wanted me to stay strong and continue my education,” Jimenez said.” “They didn’t want to see me give up my dream of receiving a bachelor’s degree.”

Jimenez chose to enroll in TAMU-CC’s online 7-week fast-track program, which allowed her to stay home and care for her mother while earning the required upper-division credits for her degree. Jimenez then returned to campus to finish her final courses.

 “Ashley is a testimony to the love, sacrifice, and solution-minded resilience we hope to support,” said David Hill, Assistant Professional Professor and Galleries Manager. “She has allowed the challenges in her life to mature her, and her confidence has grown. She deserves to be recognized for working against insurmountable obstacles and graduating in spite of them.”

Jimenez’s aspirations now include opening her own gallery, building an art business, and managing a creative space where others can learn to create.

As Jimenez prepares to graduate, she reflects on the growth she has experienced since her first, uncertain days at TAMU-CC. From the friendships she forged, the professors who mentored her, and the challenges she overcame, Jimenez believes she is now ready to face the future with confidence and pride.

“The Ashley that first started TAMU-CC is not the same as the Ashley I know today,” she said. “Every day since being here has been a learning experience as I open new doors and strive to be the best person I can be daily.”