From early graduation to public health impact — Rebecca’s path shows what’s possible.
Rebecca Hernandez graduated from Southwest Prep’s Northwest Campus in 2016 — a year early and as valedictorian. Today, she’s building a career in public health, interning with UT Health–Houston’s ICARE telehealth program and MD Anderson Cancer Center’s ASPIRE youth prevention initiative. After earning her B.S. in Public Health from UTSA, she completed her Master’s in Infection Prevention at Drexel University (2025) — with plans to pursue a doctorate and become an epidemiologist.
At Southwest Prep, Rebecca says she thrived in small classes where her potential could shine. “Mr. Eaglin and Mr. Moran pushed me to be the best I could be,” she shared. Encouraged by her teachers and counselor, she seized the chance to graduate early — only learning later she’d also be valedictorian.
Always be open to new opportunities.
— Rebecca Hernandez, Class of 2016Financially and academically, Rebecca credits SWPREP’s support for opening doors. Graduating in the top 10% and earning scholarships kept college costs down and made graduate school an attainable next step. Her advice to current students: “Use it wisely… being debt-free helps with the mental load college has.”
Rebecca first tried biology before discovering public health. “After my first public health class, the rest was history,” she said. Studying through COVID-19 showed her the real-world power of prevention and data — and gave her the confidence to speak up, raise awareness, and serve her community.
She also carries lessons from her family’s former restaurant, Sarah’s Barbacoa (closed in 2023) — where she learned the value of bringing people together. “Hearing stories of families taking food to a loved one was something I really enjoyed.” That heart for people fuels her public health mission today — connecting with empathy and helping others live healthier lives.
Her message to students: “Whatever you do, be happy with yourself. Plan for school and life, but take care of yourself. Life will try to drag you down, but knowing who you are helps you keep standing.” And the life lesson she still leans on from SWPREP? “Always be open to new opportunities.”