Originally from Durango, Mexico, and raised right here in Mount Pleasant, Texas, Tania Lugo is proud to be a first-generation college graduate and the first in her family to attend college. Her educational journey began at Vivian Fowler Elementary, Corprew, and P.E. Wallace before graduating from high school in 1999.
Having known from an early age that she possessed a natural talent for drawing, Tania longed to master fine arts techniques like shading, detail, and realism. In high school, meeting her first true art teacher, Mr. Boyd unlocked a lifelong passion. Inspired by the saying, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” she decided by her senior year to become an art teacher, eager to share those skills and inspire future students to develop their own artistic talents.
Tania's journey toward becoming an educator led her to Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC), chosen for its strong art department. There, Professor Kim Wommack made learning exciting and guided students every step of the way, turning the art room into a comforting "home away from home" where everyone felt like family. Memorable professors like Dr. Andrew Yox, whose creative acting skills brought early morning history classes to life, showed Tania that great teachers leave an impact long after graduation. After graduating from NTCC in 2003, Tania transferred to Texas A&M University-Commerce, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education (All-Level) in 2005. She then dedicated 18 years to teaching art at Mount Pleasant Junior High.
In 2022, Tania returned to TAMU-Commerce to earn her Master’s degree in Academic Counseling. Today, she continues serving Mount Pleasant ISD students at the alternative school while also giving back to NTCC as an adjunct professor teaching Art Appreciation online. Outside the classroom, Tania continues to draw and paint, keeping art at the heart of her personal and professional life. NTCC provided the confidence, knowledge, and supportive environment Tania needed to navigate higher education as a first-generation student.
Now, her story has come full circle: her daughter, Mayte, attends NTCC and walks in the very same halls her mother once walked. Watching Mayte begin her own college journey fills Tania with immense pride, knowing her daughter is building on the same strong foundation that shaped her life. NTCC was where Tania's journey began, and today, she has the privilege of inspiring the next generation of students, just as her teachers once inspired her.