Arath Dominguez (’25) had a clear vision for his future as he approached his final year at Garland High School. Coming from a large, tight-knit family, he was determined to find a college that would allow him to pursue his education without sacrificing his connection to his loved ones. He decided to attend SMU.
“I come from a family of seven. I wanted to find a university that would keep me nearby and provide the opportunities I needed to succeed,” Dominguez says. “I was introduced to SMU by a representative who visited our high school. The warmth and encouragement I experienced during that visit stayed with me, and the partnerships SMU had in electrical engineering were impressive, as it was the field I wanted to pursue at the time. I remember thinking SMU was the perfect choice — it allowed me to be near my loved ones while providing a great education and easy access to companies in the tech industry.”
Now a junior at SMU, Dominguez is pursuing a B.A. in computer science and a B.S. in data science. His academic journey has been heavily influenced by his involvement in the SMU chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, where he has had opportunities to engage with diverse professionals in his fields of interest. These experiences, combined with interning and interacting with SMU alumni, led him to switch from electrical engineering. “SHPE helped me meet professionals in STEM who looked like me, which inspired me to pursue my current majors,” he explains.
As the first in his family to attend college, Dominguez had to figure out his pathway by conducting independent research on colleges and the application process, learning the intricacies of completing applications, navigating financial limitations and applying for financial aid. He collaborated closely with SMU Student Financial Services to secure the necessary resources to pursue his academic interests. He also explained to the financial aid office why he required more assistance: His goal was to become a better leader and student on campus, and he believed additional aid would assist him in achieving this goal.
“Students may think attending SMU is beyond their financial means, but that’s simply not true. Assistance is available for those who seek it, and I can attest to this personally. After contacting the financial aid office, I can say that they’re more eager to help students who advocate for themselves,” he says.
Thanks to the combination of federal grants, merit scholarships (SMU Distinguished Scholarships, International Baccalaureate Scholarship) and institutional support from SMU (Opportunity Award and Access SMU Scholarship), it was possible for Dominguez to cover almost 95% of his college expenses.
“Financial aid is a crucial aspect of student success. It liberates us from the financial burden of pursuing higher education, allowing us to focus on our studies without worrying about our families’ financial stability,” he says.
Dominguez is also the president of the SMU chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and a peer mentor in the Thrive Scholars Program, a student-to-student mentoring program in the Lyle School that provides academic and social support for first-year and transfer students from underrepresented groups in engineering and computer science.
While receiving financial aid at SMU, he actively sought additional scholarships and was awarded several, including the SMU Latino Alumni Scholarship and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. “I did not stop looking for scholarships during my undergraduate career. Students are not limited to only getting scholarships during high school.” His own experience obtaining aid taught him the significance of self-advocacy skills, which he is now committed to sharing with students across campus.
“Attending SMU was challenging for me at first, especially because I came from a highly diverse high school where I had a strong network of friends. Thankfully, I was able to make a close friend during the first few weeks of school who was Hispanic. We made it a point to attend every possible event together, and one of the events we frequented was at SHPE,” Dominguez recalls. “When the first-year committee board applications were released, I applied and was placed on the SHPE Community Outreach Committee. My friend also applied and got in, and she now serves on SHPE’s current executive board under my term as president. Every year, SHPE SMU positively impacts new students, and we provide them with a support system to help them find their community.”
According to Dominguez, joining SHPE is not just about the value of community; it’s also about the importance of “familia.” His involvement with SHPE has allowed him to discover valuable support systems at SMU that enable students to smoothly transition to college life and achieve academic excellence, including computer centers, expert tutors and career guidance.
“Thanks to the contacts I made through SHPE, I interned at AT&T as a data scientist. This experience solidified my passion for pursuing a career in data science or technology consulting and reinforced my desire to work for a company that values diversity. One of the astounding things about the companies we meet through SHPE is their support of marginalized groups in STEM and other fields. Wherever I work after graduation, I would love to attend the SHPE convention and participate in recruiting future professionals.”
Dominguez understands that a strong foundation is crucial for college success and encourages students to seek help and ask questions. “Just asking questions is crucial, especially for first-gen students like me. I struggled with this because I didn’t want to reveal that I didn’t know what was going on, even when I didn’t. In hindsight, I would have benefited from asking more questions,” he reflects. “Everyone learns at a different pace. Failure is a natural part of the learning process, and you need to be open to it to identify areas for growth. So don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if you feel like the person next to you has it all figured out. Because the truth is, they probably don’t.”
Students and high school counselors who want to learn more about how to eliminate financial barriers to college can visit smu.edu/AccessSMU.