Category Archives: Community

UTRGV Ranks Nationally In Student Economic Mobility

Education Featured News Comments
UTRGV

UTRGV was recently ranked fourth nationally among the Top 10 schools that offer the most economic mobility for their students. Third Way, a national nonprofit think tank, announced the ranking in a recent report, “Out With the Old, In With the New: Rating Higher Ed by Economic Mobility.” Third Way developed the economic mobility ranking by examining which schools enroll the highest proportion of students from low and moderate backgrounds…

Read More

TPWD Awards Grants To Local Parks

Community Featured News Comments
Lopezville Park (photo Hidalgo County Precinct 2)

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $12.5 million in Local Park Grants statewide to help create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities. More than $2.6 million goes locally to Cameron and Hidalgo counties and Port Isabel. The Cameron County Parks and Recreation Department is the recipient of a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Olmito Nature Park project. This project will include land acquisition as well as developments…

Read More

Agency Provides Services For Deaf In RGV

Community News Comments
Members of the Silver Silent Seniors Program from the Corpus Christi and McAllen Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centers joined Center staff and interpreter interns from South Texas College and The University of Texas Pan American at the RGV Livestock Show and Rodeo March 11. (Photo courtesy of Marla Martinez.)

Driving down Pecan Boulevard in McAllen, you may miss the homelike office bearing the sign “DHHC.” The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center is one of two in Region 11, which covers 22 counties from Corpus Christi to Laredo.  “In Hidalgo County alone, over 200,000 residents have hearing loss,” said Marla Martinez, the deaf and hard-of-hearing access specialist and center coordinator in the Rio Grande Valley. The DHHC provides a…

Read More

UTRGV Establishes Local Collegiate High Schools

e-Brief Features Education News Comments
UTRGV and McAllen ISD announced their partnership to create a UTRGV High School in the McAllen district. (photo David Pike, UTRGV)

Two Rio Grande Valley school districts have recently signed Memorandums of Understanding with UTRGV in support of the development and implementation of Collegiate High Schools. The McAllen Independent School District and the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District made the commitment to provide their students additional opportunities to pursue college credit during high school. “The leaders at the McAllen and Edinburg school districts know how important it is for students to…

Read More

TSC Helps Community Prepare Taxes Via VITA

Community e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Sophia Lopez is a TSC Accounting student and a volunteer at the VITA program site. She, along with her classmates, provide free income tax services for the community. (photo TSC)

For Sophia Lopez, a typical Saturday the last few weeks has included preparing and filing tax returns for people in the community as a Texas Southmost College Accounting Technology student and volunteer for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.  The 24-year-old, along with others in her class, have all completed a Federal Income Tax course within their curriculum. They have also earned certifications through the Internal Revenue Service for tax…

Read More

TSC Holds Ruby Gala April 2

Community Events Education Featured News Comments
TSC

Texas Southmost College continues its celebration of its 95th anniversary April 2 with its Ruby Gala.  The night will include a string quartet and live music by Rockstar Denied. Online and live auctions will include sport, spa and restaurant packages as well as art pieces and jewelry from local donors. The evening also includes a surf and turf dinner. The gala takes place from 6:30 p.m. to midnight on the…

Read More

McAllen Hosts Great American Cleanup

Community Events Featured News Comments
(photo Keep McAllen Beautiful)

Keep McAllen Beautiful holds its annual Great American Clean-Up and Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off April 9 from 8 a.m. to noon. The event starts at McAllen Municipal Park at 1921 N. Bicentennial Boulevard. Volunteers come from all walks of life such as students, business leaders, civic and non-profit organizations, individuals and families. Others come from community and religious groups, sororities, fraternities, sports teams and the military.  Volunteers who participate will…

Read More

Raul D. Gonzalez Receives Rooted Honor

Community e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Raul D. Gonzalez ceremony

Lifelong dedication to a community comes with a reward. Sometimes one is presented with a plaque. Rarely is an tree named after the honoree. On March 16 behind Harlingen City Hall, both of those presentations happened. As a formal bonus, the afternoon concluded with a proclamation by Harlingen City Commission. Raul D. Gonzalez, retired City of Harlingen employee and retired Harlingen Chamber of Commerce employee, was honored under the previously…

Read More

Finding Another Family In VIDA

Community e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Vanessa Mendoza

Pharr resident Vanessa Mendoza’s parents did not have the opportunity to go to college and get their “dream careers.” However, she said, they stressed the importance of college to their children. “My parents were humble and gave us what we needed,” Mendoza said. “They motivated me and my siblings to do well in school so we would be able to go to college to have a good job and a…

Read More

Quinta Mazatlan Holds Gala April 21

Community Events e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Senator Juan “Chuy” and Amanda Leticia Hinojosa (Courtesy)

The Friends of Quinta Mazatlan will host the Moon over Mazatlan 16th Anniversary Gala April 21 at Quinta Mazatlan. During the event, the non-profit organization will present Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa with The Legacy Award. “We are thrilled to recognize Senator Hinojosa’s longtime support of and advocacy for educational initiatives in Texas.” said FoQM Board President Val LaMantia. “I’ve always championed legislation and supported funding for initiatives that help students…

Read More