Student exemplifies excellence in leadership
Hunter the Hawk’s personal handler is more than the mascot’s body guard. Undergraduate Robin Aleman participates in 11 campus organizations and programs, mentors fellow students and works part time in the Office of Admissions while attending classes full time.
After attending College of the Mainland, Aleman transferred to UHCL to pursue an undergraduate degree in social work. She plans to graduate in May 2016.
Hunter the Hawk and his personal handler are the first two students recruited as the exclusive “Flight Crew.” UHCL’s Flight Crew consists of Hunter the Hawk and a personal handler to guide Hunter around, protect him from raging fans and make sure he doesn’t trip or fall. This position provides Aleman with the opportunity to guide Hunter everywhere he goes.
“Everywhere he goes, I go!” Aleman said.
If Aleman is not with Hunter, chances are she is mentoring one of her 33 student mentees. Seven of her mentees are provided through the Hawk Leadership Institute, where Aleman co-mentors alongside a fellow student leader.
Helen Nguyen, mathematics major, was very excited to learn that Aleman would be her mentor for her first year of college.
“She reminded me about a teacher I had in high school with her outgoing personality,” Nguyen said. “In my head I thought ‘I really want her to be my mentor.’”
Aleman also mentors 24 freshman students in the First-Year Seminar class and two students in Strictly Speaking, an Intercultural Student Services program that helps immerse non-native English speakers into the everyday English environment they face at UHCL.
Jennifer Clark, assistant director of student life, works with Aleman through the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), a honor society within Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLICE). Aleman is the vice president of NSLS and holds a leadership position with SLICE.
“She’s very passionate about UH-Clear Lake and all of our students,” Clark said.
Aleman is a student government representative for Social Work Student Organization, an SGA representative, a past director of the production “Monologue, Memory, Rant, and a Prayer” for People Against Violence Everywhere (PAVE), and an orientation leader. She even helped bring to UHCL Be The Match, the organization awarded as best new student organization on campus at last year’s Student Life banquet.
Lee Ann Wheelbarger, administrative secretary in the Office of Academic Advising, works closely with Aleman for Be The Match.
“Robin’s ability to lead is immeasurable,” Wheelbarger said. “She has great organizational skills; her dedication can’t be put into words.”
Aleman dedicated last year’s Thanksgiving to give international students a feeling of home while far from it during the American holiday by sponsoring an entire meal for 400 people. This Thanksgiving, Aleman, along with several other organizations, will host another Thanksgiving dinner the Wednesday before the holiday.
The mother of three grown children is also the prospective hawk liaison at UHCL, which provides promotional items such as posters and advertisements to outside sources.
In September, Aleman was awarded the Student Leader of the Month, putting her name in the hat for Student Leader of the Year. This recognition is peer nominated, SGA awarded and will be rewarded at the annual leadership banquet this spring at Space Center Houston.
Additionally, Aleman was awarded the Who’s Who award and was a Gold Recipient Servant Scholar Leader award last year, which requires 300 volunteer hours and 30 on-campus leadership hours. This year, Aleman will be recognized as a platinum recipient after completing 500 volunteer hours and 50 on-campus leadership hours.
Aleman credits the students of UHCL as the support behind all she does.
“You guys [UHCL students] are my kids now,” Aleman said. “This is my life and my world.”
