Resilience Connects These Three 2026 Graduates, Even Though They’ve Never Met

One quality that sets UNT Dallas students apart is their resilience. It’s a common bond that connects them through shared experiences, from classes to extracurriculars.

This May, as hundreds of undergraduate, graduate and law students received their diplomas in Commencement ceremonies, examples of resilience were everywhere – and they were celebrated.

Three who stood out included an accident survivor unable to walk for months who might never have had the opportunity to attend college, the son and grandson of migrant farm workers who became a champion boxer before setting his sights on a legal career, and a one-time orphan from Ethiopia who recovered from a serious illness to excel academically and make university history.

While all three come from different backgrounds and overcame unique obstacles, they share common traits, including resilience. They have shown incredible strength, determination and an ability to power through life’s challenges.

Maddie Mansell, a communications and digital media major, was critically injured in a car wreck while still in high school. There was a fear she could have been paralyzed. She suffered a fractured spine, shattered pelvis, broken legs, ribs, and right arm. “I remember being in the car, laying on my back, looking up at the ceiling,” Maddie recalled, describing the scene of the accident that killed one her best friends. “I felt numb from the neck down.”

Doctors were concerned that Mansell might be disabled because of the damage to her back and neck. After nine hours of surgery and many months of recovery, Maddie was able to walk once again – and enroll at UNT Dallas after attending graduating from Waxahachie Global Early College High School and Navarro College with an associate degree.

Fast forward to May 2026, and Maddie was ready to start her career in communications, building on the practical, hands-on experience she gained in her courses and an internship.  Maddie’s resilience got her to UNT Dallas, and her degree prepared her well. "It was the program I wanted and it was affordable,” she said. “I felt extremely grateful. I was not online, not in wheelchair. I can use stairs if I want to.”

Maddie is following a career path similar to her mother’s, working for a local school district. From writing to filming to editing, she is ready for whatever challenge comes next.

Hana Taylor-Schlitz is grateful, too. As a newborn, she beat a potentially deadly illness. Hana was orphaned when her mother died of tuberculosis shortly after giving birth. Alone in Ethiopia, Hana was adopted by a family in the U.S., who discovered Hana also had TB. Luckily, Hana’s mother is a physician and made sure she received the necessary care. “Had it not been for the family who adopted me and I hadn’t gotten the treatment I need, I would have died,” Hana said.

Hana recovered and soon excelled. As she grew and learned about her early medical struggles, Hana became an advocate for people still suffering from TB and a crusader against the contagious disease. Now she has a passion for emergency services – helping people when disaster strikes. “Having TB made me more aware of the problems we have in healthcare,” Hana said.

In remarks to the UNT System Board of Regents, Hana said, “My survival wasn’t just a medical miracle. It was the result of people and systems acting with purpose. But I know that for millions of others, survival is not guaranteed

Hana’s resilience helped her make history in May 2026, as the youngest student to receive a master’s degree from UNT Dallas. She graduated from the public leadership administration program, with a concentration in emergency services. “I want to help build public health and emergency response systems that don’t leave people behind. At UNT Dallas, I am gaining the tools to understand these challenges and address them head-on,” Hana said just prior to Commencement.

Noe Mendoza Jr. faced a different set of challenges, growing up as a son of migrant farm workers. His parents insisted he get a good education – and along the way he became a champion collegiate boxer. But, while a student at UNT Dallas College of Law, Noe stepped out of the ring and soon will be stepping in to courtroom.

He believes there are many parallels between being a successful boxer and a successful lawyer. “They both require intense devotion to prepare for competition,” he said. “You have to be a forward-thinker. It translates. Like chess, understanding how one move affects another.”

Mendoza participated in five legal advocacy competitions – known as moot court and mock trials – during his second and third years of law school, finishing as a finalist in one and the co-winner of another. “To stand in front of appellate justices” in a moot court and “talk to jurors” in a mock trial were transformational experiences for Mendoza. “You have to anticipate objections the way you anticipate punches.”

Mendoza is studying for the Texas bar exam and hopes to clerk for a federal judge before practicing as an attorney. He plans to specialize in personal injury law, fighting for clients who are victims of big rig wrecks, faulty products, or other cases involving liability claims. “I want to help them understand the weight of a settlement or a verdict,” Mendoza said, referring to potential defendants he wants to hold accountable.

As Noe, Hana and Maddie head off in different directions to chase their dreams, each will cherish their memories of UNT Dallas: the knowledge they gained, the friendships they made, the passions they explored, and the resilience they shared, even without knowing each other until they met for this article.

Trailblazers are known for charting new courses, busting down roadblocks and climbing steep hills. Their hard work opens doors and creates opportunities not only for themselves, but for those who follow.

If you are interested in attending UNT Dallas or UNT Dallas College of Law, explore admissions, financial aid and enrollment information at the links earlier in this sentence. Applications for the Fall 2026 semester will be accepted through August 24, 2026.