Net Gains. How the Oviedo Siblings from Mexico turned a love of Tennis into College Degrees and Launched Their Careers
When Alex Oviedo was a freshman in high school in his home country of Mexico, he decided he wanted to come to the United States to attend college. He began the hard work he knew was necessary to make that dream a reality. As he got closer to the end of his high-school career he learned of A&M-Texarkana and its tennis team through some connections in amateur tennis competitions.
Seven months before his career at A&M-Texarkana began, the entire Oviedo family visited Texarkana to see the area and check out the university. They fell in love with both. “We loved that it was part of the Texas A&M University System,” said Elizabeth Oviedo, mother to Alex and Lydia. “They really got to know their professors and people really got to know them.” The university was also relatively close to their home in Mexico. A two-and-a-half-hour plane ride and a two-and-a-half-hour car ride was all it took to have the family together.
Alex graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 2021 and received his master’s degree from A&M-Texarkana in 2023. He is employed as a Technical Sales Manager with Voltyx, an electrical energy infrastructure provider in Sacramento, California.
Younger sister Lydia didn’t immediately follow her brother to Texas A&M University-Texarkana. She began her college career playing tennis at Norfolk State University in Virginia. But it wasn’t a good fit, and she wasn’t happy there. She decided to transfer and join her brother on the Eagles tennis team at A&M-Texarkana. Her parents were particularly happy to have them in the same place. “We loved having them together in the same place,” said Elizabeth. “You worry when they’re off on their own, and we just felt better about them being in the same place in case either of them had a problem,” she added.
Lydia recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She has already secured full-time employment in the accounting department at Mayo Manufacturing in Texarkana. While at the university Lydia was also a member of Eagle Aspire, a program where select students are invited to participate in mentorships with successful businessmen and women from the Texarkana area.
Both Lydia and Alex left an indelible mark on the university and the Eagle tennis program. They were very active within the campus community and were prominent fixtures at campus events for more than 7 years. Tennis coach Jim Turley added “Alex and Lydia helped make us the program we are today. They are great players, great leaders, and great people.”
Thank you, Alex, and Lydia Oviedo, for all you brought to the A&M-Texarkana community. We will miss your presence here but know you will find much success in your future endeavors. #Soar Eagles.