Angie Valencia is a graduate student, a soccer player and team manager, a future business woman and now a scholarship recipient.

A student in the Master of Science in Professional Writing and Technical Communication (MSPWTC) program, Valencia recently received a scholarship from the Houston Women's Soccer Association (HWSA) and was presented the award during a Houston Dynamo soccer game.

"It is very exciting to get this kind of support and I am very grateful for the opportunity," she said. An avid UHD supporter, Valencia even wore a UHD t- shirt during the presentation to recognize her university and graduate program.

Valencia was eligible for the scholarship because she manages and plays in a competitive, division one co-ed soccer team, the Barcelona Bandits, registered in the HWSA league. Preference was given to students who required financial assistance and who demonstrated involvement and service to their communities.

Along with attending school and playing soccer, Valencia also works as an associate brand manager for AlEn USA, a consumer goods manufacturer. She credits UHD with preparing her for the next steps in her career.

"As a working professional in one of the biggest cities in the nation, I love the flexibility and affordability of the graduate programs at UHD. More importantly, the MSPWTC has polished me for higher management positions in a competitive market," she explained.

This all-star will graduate with her master's degree in 2014, but hopes to continue her education in cross-cultural communication and marketing, a topic she is familiar with personally.

"It will be an honor to be the first in my family to earn a master's degree. As a first generation Latina, I look forward to raising a family with Colombian roots combined with the American spirit. In the future, I hope to start my own marketing agency where I can help businesses connect with local and global audiences around the world," she said.

Grad student Angie Valencia wear a UHD shirt to a Houston Dynamo game where she received a scholarship from the Houston Women's Soccer Association.