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The Student News Site of Texas State University

The University Star



The Student News Site of Texas State University

The University Star
The Student News Site of Texas State University

The University Star









All content by Sarah Hernandez
Texas State journalism senior Sarah Hernandez smiles with her Editor of the Year award, Saturday, April 29, 2023 at The Star Awards in Wimberley, Texas.

Finding my place at Texas State University

Sarah Hernandez
May 9, 2023
ESA

Emotional support animals comfort students

Sarah Hernandez, Managing Editor
April 12, 2023
San Marcos residents brave the snow and cold, Monday, Feb.15, 2021, on Wonder World Drive.

Hays County resources, shelters open for winter weather

Sarah Hernandez, Managing Editor
December 21, 2022
Star file photo

Texas State reports positive case of monkeypox

Sarah Hernandez, Managing Editor
August 23, 2022
updated flyer

UPDATE: Unconscious New York man is not Jason Landry

Brianna Benitez, Gabriella Ybarra, Nichaela Shaheen, and Sarah Hernandez
July 27, 2022
Roughhouse Brewing's new cave beer, Monday, April 18, 2022, at Roughhouse Brewing.

Kite festival soars into San Marcos

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
April 18, 2022
A photo of the Diversity Mural, Sunday, April 3, 2022, at E Martin Luther King Drive and S LBJ Drive.

San Marcos exhibit reveals how alumnus finds beauty in resilience

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
April 6, 2022
filmfest

Students to explore consent, culture at International Film Festival & Symposium

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
March 28, 2022
"The Hopeful Captive," 2020, a digital painting by Sean Haynes for the 2021 Transcend Trans Day of Visibility Art Show.

Transcend to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility with virtual art show

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
March 21, 2022
The Mistick Krewe of Okeanos Mardi Gras Parade, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in the San Marcos Historic District. 

Mistick Krewe of Okeanos celebrates community, culture during Mardi Gras

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
February 21, 2022
A photo of the Kissing Alley street sign, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Kissing Alley.

Kissing Alley serves as gateway for love, community in San Marcos

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
February 9, 2022

Kissing Alley serves as gateway for love, community in San Marcos

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
February 9, 2022
The exterior of Body Shop Movement Studio, a boutique fitness studio located at 1917 Dutton Drive in San Marcos, Texas. 

Body Shop Movement Studio engages community with unique fitness experience

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
January 24, 2022
The original nine members of the Texas State Gospel Expressions Association stand for a group photo in 1983.

Gospel Expressions Association voices faith through music, community

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
December 8, 2021
Michelle Obama answers a student's question during Common Experience's virtual event "Becoming: Michelle Obama in Conversation" on Nov. 9.

Michelle Obama talks leadership, self-care in Common Experience panel

Sarah Hernandez, Life & Arts Editor
November 10, 2021
Members of the San Marcos High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) walk in the San Marcos Veterans Day Parade, Saturday, Nov. 6, on the Square.

San Marcos celebrates annual Veterans Day Parade

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
November 6, 2021
A Día de los Muertos altar celebrates passed loved ones, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in the Student Recreation Center. The display is one of 18 altars on campus this year.

Texas State celebrates loved ones, Latinx culture with Día de los Muertos

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
November 2, 2021
Two girls dressed as Jack Skellington and Sally from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" smile for a photo at the 2019 Farmer Fred's Harvest Fall Carnival.

San Marcos celebrates spooky season

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
October 27, 2021
Dr. Mario Garza’s traditional dress along with Rene Renteria’s Sacred Springs Powwow portraits are displayed as part of the Napokō (Our Journey) exhibit, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at the Price Center. The Indigenous Cultures Institute (ICI) of San Marcos created the exhibit to last from Oct. 4 to Nov. 27, and it shares the story of the Indigenous community in San Marcos.

San Marcos Indigenous community preserves culture, history in art gallery

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
October 18, 2021
The Hispanic Business Student Association 2021-2022 executive council smile for a photo underneath the arch.

Hispanic Business Student Association facilitates community, opportunity

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
October 11, 2021
Chic City Picnics' pink theme set up at Rio Vista Park in September 2021.

Student-run picnic business aims to create spontaneous experiences

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
October 7, 2021
A woman in a mermaid themed costume dances with her silk fan veils at the Fifth Annual Mermaid Promenade & Downtown Street Faire, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, outside the Hays County Historic Courthouse.

Mermaids plunge into San Marcos at annual Mermaid Promenade

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
September 28, 2021
Radish & Dill, located on Wonder World, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in San Marcos.

Radish & Dill brings fresh, sustainable food to San Marcos

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
September 22, 2021
Texas State PINK campus reps Kassidee Ryder and Kiarra Regalado show off their PINK gear in August at Stellar Coffee Co.

Victoria’s Secret PINK campus team launches on campus

Brooklyn Solis and Sarah Hernandez
September 20, 2021
This year's Lost River Film Fest will take place from Sept. 9-12 in San Marcos and Lockhart, Texas.

San Marcos to celebrate diversity, creativity at fifth annual Lost River Film Fest

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
September 7, 2021
Eye Like You co-owner Whitney Anderson hangs up a business sign, Monday, August 30, 2021, at Red Bus Food Park.

Local snack kitchen promotes affordable, healthy snacking

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
August 30, 2021
Cowboy Jack smiles and pets a Kunekune pig at The Learning Zoo in Conroe, Texas. In this episode, Cowboy Jack met with a zookeeper to learn and teach viewers about the different animals at the zoo.

Cowboy Jack, the alumnus YouTuber who lassos viewers with educational content

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
August 23, 2021
Community mural by Mano Amiga on the side of QC Meat Market, Thursday, July 22, 2021, in San Marcos.

Community paints history through mural honoring local Latinx leaders and activists

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
July 28, 2021
Alvéole beekeeper Kevin Kohli sets up a bee hive installation on the roof of the Tanger Outlets in June 2021 in San Marcos.

Tanger Outlets pollinates visitors with rooftop beehive and beekeeping program

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
July 16, 2021
Arianna Apodaca smiles for a graduation photo wearing a sweater that says "Radiation Therapist." Now graduated, Apodaca hopes to go to medical school. Later on, she dreams of opening her own oncology site.

Finding strength: Alumna discovers purpose in battle against breast cancer

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
July 13, 2021
A sign for the Annual Juneteenth Celebration, Saturday, June 19, 2021, at Plaza Park.

San Marcos celebrates Juneteenth with annual charity cook-off

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
June 20, 2021
Jaelyn Dominguez, a social work freshman, lines up her clackers shot on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at Gaillardia Fest.

SACA celebrates semester’s end with Gaillardia Fest

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
May 9, 2021
Texas State Class of 2023 students smile for a photo in their Common Experience t-shirts, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, at Strahan Coliseum.

Common Experience reveals Compassion as 2021-2022 theme

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Editor
May 3, 2021
Jamie Saucedo smiles for a headshot photo. Saucedo heard about LGBTeachers through social media and says the organization gave him a community of support with people who shared his anxieties surrounding being an LGBTQ educator.

LGBTeachers educates inclusivity, representation in classrooms

Sarah Hernandez, Assistant Life and Arts Editor
April 28, 2021
Texas State business freshman Heather Tran (left) and communication and English senior Amrin Madhani talk with each other, Friday, April 2, 2021, at Mochas & Javas.

‘Texas State is not an exception’: Asian students reflect on lack of campus representation, inclusion

Sarah Hernandez and Timia Cobb
April 4, 2021
Members of Women In Business smile for a photo at the San Marcos River Clean-Up, Saturday, March 6 2021.

Women in Business establishes community of support, confidence

Sarah Hernandez, Assistant Life and Arts Editor
March 31, 2021
Owner Kelsey Huckaby (left) poses for a photo with co-owner Jason Sherman (right), Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at Studio San Martian.

Studio San Martian paints inclusivity, acceptance within local art community

Sarah Hernandez, Assistant Life and Arts Editor
March 25, 2021
Davis Jones takes a selfie while out promoting the Squaredeal App in the Houghson Heights neighborhood in San Marcos.

‘Love where you live’: Local shopping app seeks to support local businesses, grow community

Sarah Hernandez, Assistant Life and Arts Editor
February 24, 2021
COVID fatigue

Pandemic fatigue: Students battle exhaustion from new-found reality

Sarah Hernandez, Assistant Life and Arts Editor
February 3, 2021
Unconventional Holiday

Students plan for unconventional holiday season

Sarah Hernandez, Assistant Life and Arts Editor
December 1, 2020
Taylor Levy with the Hays County Food Bank and Jack Traugott with Bobcat Blend smile in front of the Bobcat rental from Sunbelt that helped load up compost for the food bank's new planter box.

Bobcat Blend, Hays County Food Bank plant seeds of sustainability through compost education

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Reporter
November 16, 2020
The ofrenda in Lampasas Hall is one of the three on campus that visitors can go to pay their respects to loved ones that have passed on. This year's display in Lampasas is dedicated to the Black and brown lives lost due to racism and violence.

Texas State honors diverse communities with Día de Los Muertos traditions

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Reporter
November 2, 2020
Dr. Deborah Bergeron (blue shirt, left, second from the bottom) smiles for a photo with her fellow Foxtales castmates in the '80s. Bergeron is currently the director of the Office of Head Start, a federal program created in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson, and is recognized as one of the five 2020 Distinguish Alumni Award honorees.

Distinguished, Young Alumni honorees reflect on award recognition, lives as Bobcats

Cristela Jones, Leanne Castro, Brooklyn Solis, and Sarah Hernandez
October 30, 2020
Jasmine Valadez smiles with her earrings for sale at Two P's and Calli's Boutique in San Marcos. Valadez sells her earrings at the boutique, on Etsy and does custom orders on her Instagram @lambsandlemons.

Alumna shares love of art through earrings and education

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Reporter
October 19, 2020
The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter is using its $20,000 grant from the ASPCA to fund its Fur-Get-Me-Not Outreach to give pet owners financial aid during the pandemic.

San Marcos animal shelter lends helping hand to pet owners

Sarah Hernandez, Life and Arts Reporter
September 29, 2020
Jonnie Wilson smiles for a photo outside of the Undergraduate Academic Center. After 24 years of working at Texas State, Wilson has retired from her job in Career Services. Throughout her time at Texas State, she has touched the lives of students and colleagues with her encouragement and mentorship. (Photo courtesy of Jonnie Wilson )

Texas State’s ‘Mama’ retires, leaves legacy of hope and acceptance

Sarah Hernandez
September 16, 2020
Diana López smiles for a headshot image. López earned her MFA from the creative writing program at Southwest Texas State in 1999. Since then, she has published several books and has won numerous literary awards.

Alumna and author of Pixar’s “Coco” novel inspires readers with inclusive storytelling

Sarah Hernandez
August 26, 2020
Student artwork featured in the Student Juried Exhibition inside the Texas State Galleries at Texas State. Photos of all of the artwork featured in the gallery can be found on the Texas State Galleries website.

Campus galleries visualize new art scene through virtual exhibits

Sarah Hernandez
August 5, 2020
For some incoming Texas State students, the excitement that typically accompanies move-in day has now been replaced with concern and fear due to COVID-19.

Incoming freshmen prepare for new normal in campus dorms

Sarah Hernandez
July 20, 2020
The Supreme Court ruled that the basis of what the Trump administration attempted to end the DACA program violated the Administrative Procedure Act. For current DACA students at Texas State, this decision means they can continue to plan their academic careers and finish their degrees with fewer worries.

Texas State reacts to Supreme Court DACA decision

Sarah Hernandez and Daniella Carrera
July 13, 2020
San Marcos artist Rene Perez smiles in front of a newly-installed banner downtown with his painting of a bobcat and a rattlesnake floating on the San Marcos River. Perez wanted to incorporate the city’s two school mascots in a painting.

Downtown street banners feature vibrant paintings by local artist

Sarah Hernandez
June 25, 2020
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