Ethan Saenz will become a first-generation college graduate on December 13 when he walks the commencement stage in D.L. Ligon Coliseum at Midwestern State University. 

His family is the primary reason he accomplished this milestone, and they have been an influential part of why it’s important to celebrate his graduation. Saenz grew up in Wichita Falls, near Memorial Stadium, where the Mustangs play their home football games. 

This environment contributed to his college choice. He admits hearing the football games from his backyard may have influenced his decision to stay home for college, as both Midwestern State University and his family were nearby. 

Once enrolled, Saenz didn’t turn comfort into passiveness at all. Exploring opportunities is a big reason that Saenz will be joining American Airlines as an Associate Software Developer after graduation. 

Saenz participated in the NASA SUITS (Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students) program, as MSU Texas earned a chance to compete in the national design contest. Saenz was also a key member of the MSU Texas Esports team, and he participated in a successful internship with American Airlines last summer. 

But before he begins his professional career, Saenz is glad to take some time to think about his accomplishment as a first-generation graduate. 

“I am a first-generation student, so that brings a lot of pride to my family and sets an example for my younger brother if that’s something he chooses to pursue,” he said. “Growing up, my mom and dad fostered an environment that pushed me to be the best that I can be, something they didn’t necessarily have when they grew up.  I know seeing me at the stage I am at makes them feel as though they did something right in raising me.” 

Saenz said his internship with the Loyalty and Marketing Customer Data Team at American Airlines was a “spectacular” experience, saying he learned a lot about the corporate world in just 10 weeks. “It was an amazing opportunity to intern at American Airlines as a software developer intern,” he said. “My team was so welcoming and allowed me to really feel like a part of the team through contributions in meetings and in the solutions I created.  

“I believe that internships are absolutely crucial, even nonnegotiable, especially for computer science students in a job market where tech is becoming more competitive by the day. In Wichita Falls, there are not many opportunities for us looking to break into the software engineering, data engineering, or even AI/ machine learning positions due to the fact that these jobs are mostly in larger cities such as Dallas and Austin, for example.” 

His advice to students is to be proactive and start building their network early, even as a freshman. “Reaching out to people, just establishing a connection, you never know what may happen when a position opens at their company. The power of communication and connection is an amazing tool for starting your early career and onward.” 

Another connection that clicked for Saenz was his role on the MSU Texas Esports team. Saenz was captain of the Valorant team for nearly two years. He said establishing camaraderie with students from various backgrounds with different personalities was a challenge, but he enjoys being part of a team. “Playing baseball since I was able to has allowed me to understand what it means to be a team, and I reinforced this throughout my high school career as someone underclassmen looked to for advice and guidance,” he said. “So, I was able to utilize my experience to bring the team together and establish chemistry with team members quickly, as usually our season started just after meeting each other.”