Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology instructor Miguel Zoleta is making sure his program’s students stay plugged in to advancements in the automotive industry. “Right now, we’re seeing that a lot out of industry is electrical vehicles, and electrical vehicles are coming out in every dealership,” he said. “Every company is trying to come out with at least one line of an electrical vehicle.” The bells and whistles that come…
Brownsville native and entrepreneur Steven De La Garza understands, firsthand, the vital role community colleges have in developing the next generation workforce. To ensure students have access to high-quality education that will connect them with careers that are in demand, he is funding scholarships at Texas Southmost College. His first donation of $30,000 will go toward full student scholarships for workforce training programs. This includes welding, industrial scaffolding, plumbing…
The University of Texas Health Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine is expanding its healthcare offerings in South Texas with a new Cancer and Surgery Center at its McAllen Academic Medical Campus. McAllen officials are hoping to establish and develop the area around the campus as a medical center for the region. “I am so proud of the efforts being made by UT Health RGV School of Medicine to expand…
When McAllen resident Maria Delgado first applied to the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement in 2012 after learning about it from an outreach counselor at South Texas College, the VIDA staff knew she was an excellent candidate. Delgado was a single mother with two daughters, ages 11 and 5, unemployed and on public assistance and a first-generation college student. She served in the National Guard for two-and-a-half years. But…
The UTRGV School of Nursing celebrated its expansion during a signing ceremony Sept. 2 with the City of Pharr at the site of the school’s future facility at 2800 N. Cage Boulevard. In May, the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded the school a $2-million grant under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act fund. The federal funding will also be matched with $24 million in local investments. The project…
A renewed donation by RGV Focus for the coming semester at South Texas College will continue to increase credential certificates and advancing degrees in the Valley. RGV Focus, the educational arm of Dallas-based Communities Foundation of Texas presented a $30,000 check to STC directed towards students pursuing workforce credentials. RGV Focus Senior Director Dr. Rodney Rodriguez was in attendance to present the award to STC trustees at their regular board…
Jennifer Han, a fourth-grade teacher at McAllen ISD’s Seguin Elementary, is now a finalist for the Texas Teacher of the Year Award after being named the Regional Elementary Teacher of the Year. She is one of only six finalists for the statewide award and the only one from the Rio Grande Valley. Han has been teaching for 13 years and is also a robotics team coach. She is a 2003 graduate…
A year ago, Delyssa Gonzalez was working as a home health provider in Brownsville. At the time, employment opportunities looked to be limited. Where Gonzalez is at the present time – training to be an electrician – is unimaginable compared to where she was. It’s a story she told in brief form in front of a crowd recently at the administrative offices of the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement.…
Texas Southmost College is the recent recipient of a Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior Becas program grant from the Consulate of Mexico in Brownsville. The Mexican government program provides help to organizations and institutions of higher education that promote and focus on areas such as literacy, English as a second language, adult education, computer skills and job training. “The Hispanic community is a large community and sometimes they…
The Texas Workforce Commission has awarded South Texas College a $287,500 Skills Development Fund grant. The grant will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley area. “Skills Development Fund Grants are a key tool we use to make sure Texans have the skills to be competitive,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “This grant will allow South Texas College to train local workers and ensure our labor force remains among the…