Category Archives: Education

Four Local School Systems Awarded $1.9 Million Combined

Community Partnerships Grant

Mercedes ISD, Progreso ISD, Santa Rosa ISD and Vanguard Academy recently received a combined $1,940,000 in state funding through the Texas Education Agency’s Community Partnerships Grant. According to TEA, the funding supports significant improvements in educational and developmental outcomes for children by expanding access to wraparound services, strengthening family and community partnerships, and increasing access to academic supports. “Communities will soon have access to local and regional resources that will…

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TWC Announces Adult Diploma Workforce Program

diploma completion

The Texas Workforce Commission is now accepting applications for its Workforce Diploma Pilot Program. This funding opportunity is intended to support programs that help adult learners in Texas obtain a high-school diploma, earn industry-recognized credentials, and develop employability skills. The Workforce Diploma Pilot Program is designed to create new career pathways for adult learners. The program connects adults who have not completed high school with education providers that offer a…

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Event Inspires Girls To Dream Big

Fifth grade girls in La Joya recently gathered to attend an event encouraging them to look into careers in STEM fields. (Courtesy)

Educators and community leaders across the country are working to encourage young girls to explore opportunities in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematic fields. The acronym for these fields is known as STEM and it is in these fields where women have historically been underrepresented. Nationally, women make up only about 28 percent of the STEM workforce. This underrepresentation is most pronounced in engineering and computer science and highlights the…

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RGV Culinary Leader Joins STC Foundation Board

Sony Rego

A longtime advocate of higher education and supporter of the South Texas College Culinary Arts program, Sony Rego has earned a seat on the STC Foundation Board. Owner of McAllen’s most popular culinary experiences – Santa Fe Steakhouse, Republic of the Rio Grande and University Drafthouse – Rego, through her Santa Fe Foundation has supported hundreds of students through scholarships, internships and career opportunities. “I’ve always been a huge supporter…

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STC CATA and La Joya ISD Announce Apprenticeships

La Joya ISD students are taking their first steps into the workforce through a partnership with the Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships at South Texas College, Crawford Electric Supply and Zitro Electric

A new partnership between the Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships at South Texas College, La Joya Independent School District and regional industry leaders is creating a pipeline from the classroom to the jobsite for local high school students. Twelve students from La Joya ISD recently visited Crawford Electric Supply in Mission as part of CATA’s Construction Technician Apprenticeship program, which is enabling the students to receive training as well…

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Hundreds Gather for STC Dual Credit Summit

STC Dual Credit Summit

February at South Texas College means hundreds of education professionals from across the nation gather at South Padre Island for the college’s annual Dual Credit Summit, in collaboration with the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships. This year, nearly 300 K-12 and post-secondary education leaders, advisors and counselors attended the three-day event that included keynote speakers, breakout sessions and networking opportunities. Rebecca De Leon, Ed.D., STC associate vice president of…

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Project SHARE Scholarship Applications Open

2025 Project SHARE Scholarship recipients

The Brownsville Public Utilities Board is accepting applications through March 9 for ten $2,000 Project SHARE Scholarships that will go to graduating high school seniors whose households have a BPUB utility account for water, wastewater or electric service. To be eligible for the Project SHARE Scholarship, applicants must have a BPUB account at their primary residence for at least one year prior to the application deadline. Applicants must be graduating…

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UTRGV Recognized for Excellence in Online Education

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has achieved significant recognition in the recent U.S. News & World Report rankings for online programs. The university’s online master’s degree in Criminal Justice ranked 15th, marking a jump of 12 spots from the previous year. Additionally, the online MBA program also saw a significant increase, surging 66 positions to 136th, along with other business programs improving their standings. In the 2026 U.S. News & World…

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McAllen ISD Named a Texas Honor Roll District Again

For the third straight year, McAllen ISD has been named a Texas Honor Roll school district. In addition, 15 McAllen ISD schools were named 2025 Texas Honor Roll schools. The list is based on data released by a non-profit organization that is part of a national effort to identify higher-performing schools and school districts. The McAllen ISD campuses include: Achieve Early College High School Brown Middle School Cathey Middle School Fossum…

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McAllen ISD Schools Earn National Recognition

Four schools from McAllen ISD earned a spot among America’s Best Schools Honor Roll – a national platform for schools with strong academic achievement. The list, created by the National Center for Urban School Transformation, includes James “Nikki” Rowe High, Brown Middle School, Seguin Elementary and Thigpen-Zavala Elementary. The 2026 America’s Best Schools Honor Roll recognizes “an exceptional group of schools whose applications demonstrate strong evidence of academic success for…

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