Joaquin Marquez

Meet Joaquin Marquez, a senior and animal science major preparing to graduate in May. Originally from Kingsville, Texas, Joaquin fell in love with Texas State thanks to the help of his tour guides and orientation leaders. Coming from a small town, Joaquin was ready to see new places and meet people. 

From his very first tour of Texas State, Joaquin knew he wanted to “make this place somewhere people want to come.” Exploring the campus during New Student Orientation only cemented this desire for him, but it was Cat Camp that sold him on making his mark. After attending Cat Camp the summer before freshman year, Joaquin quickly pursued a leadership role- serving as a counselor for two summers before stepping into greater responsibility. He became a coordinator for the program, which allowed him to further his goals of making Texas State a place where so many individuals feel like they belong.  

Joaquin knew he wanted to be a vet years before coming to college, and he joined the Pre-vet Society in his first semester and stayed a member all four years to prepare for vet school.

Additionally, Joaquin is a University Ambassador, also known as the “40 Faces of Texas State,”, where he helps out during campus tours, ring ceremonies, and Bobcat Days.

During his freshman year, Joaquin joined Loud Crowd, an organization whose purpose is to pack the stands at sporting events. At each game he’d see students leave before halftime or not cheer for the teams playing. “I wanted a group of people who would go crazy in the student section,” Joaquin said. This inspired Joaquin to create his own organization, Hellcats. Known for painting their faces during football games, Hellcats is a spirit organization dedicated to supporting Texas State athletics. 

Most recently, Joaquin has been working as a Learning Assistant for Honors General Chemistry II because he wanted “to be a stepping stone in students’ journey.” He was also recruited to be a part of Texas State’s first ever class of the Bobcat Creators program. The university’s marketing team recognized the impact of his content and selected him to present the university’s voice and spirit through digital storytelling.

Those who know Joaquin would say he’s down to earth, affectionate and sentimental. His constant drive keeps him always working and on the move.

In his final semester, Joaquin is hoping to maintain his 3.9 GPA and graduate with honors. After dedicating many hours to applying to eight different veterinary schools, he was recently admitted into Texas A&M University’s Veterinary School where he will start in the fall. He’s looking forward to “jumping in the river and it finally meaning something,” as well as continuing to grow as a leader and a future doctor.

“I’m always growing and always willing to grow and change,” Joaquin said.

Story by Stelos Fellow, Lyla Jacobson