by Abby Tomlinson

04.14.2009

This May, Lisa Zucchini will become one of the first eight graduates of Texas Tech University at El Paso's Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree program.

Zucchini said that she fell in love with architecture during the four years that she studied the subject at a specialized high school in Italy, her home country. When she graduated high school, she planned to further her education in architecture, but decided to major in anthropology instead.

It was after her husband's 2004 military transfer from Italy, where the two met, to El Paso, Texas, that she got the opportunity to pursue a bachelor's degree in architecture through the local Texas Tech University program. It seems that she has no reservations about her decision.

Zucchini became one of the first 16 students to pursue the degree plan in El Paso. Through a partnership between El Paso Community College and Texas Tech University, students take the first two years of coursework through the community college and the last two years at Texas Tech University’s off-campus site in El Paso.

She said that being one of the eight surviving members of the first class is a source of pride for her.

"I am very, very proud," Zucchini said. "Being part of the first group is hard because you deal with challenges that the next group will not have to deal with. We had to fight more and work more and suffer more because we are the first class. But, because of that, things will be better now, and I am very proud of that. We are pioneers."

Zucchini praised many aspects of the program, but the highest praise was reserved for the faculty and community architecture professionals that taught the required coursework.

"I really consider myself lucky because the director of the program, Dr. Nicholas Markovich, is a great teacher. He gave local professionals in architecture a chance to teach courses and I appreciate the instruction," Zucchini said.

Calling herself lucky to be able to be a part of the program, her experiences have driven her to become active in recruiting possible students for upcoming enrollment. She said that she has spoken with Markovich in attempt to arrange visits to local high schools to promote the program to the community.

"El Paso still does not know that we are here, but this program is a great opportunity," she said of her desire to spread the word about Texas Tech University at El Paso. "I am trying to be very active for the school here. I know it must be stressful to try and launch a program like this, and I want to help as much as I can."

In between waiting for her husband's next military orders and her trip this summer to her home in Italy, she plans to find well-deserved time to celebrate her achievement.

"My parents are coming from Italy, along with a couple of uncles," Zucchini said. "My husband's family will also come in from Florida. We will have a party by the pool with a band and have some fun. I think I deserve it - I did a good job."