Category Archives: Community

RGV Hispanic Chamber Member Earns Top Honors

Noah’s Ark LLC

Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce members Daniel Pizaña and Erika Mazzola, co-founders of Noah’s Ark LLC, earned the Community Choice and First Runner-Up honors at the Startup Texas Pitch Fest on Sept. 9. The integrated pet care platform supports lost pet recovery, wellness guidance, and community connections. Pizaña presented the company during the live pitch competition at the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization. He joined founders from…

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Plumbing and Pipefitting Program Debuts at TSTC

Plumbing and Pipefitting, a program new to Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, recently welcomed its first cohort of students as the fall semester got underway.  Among those students are Ricardo Cantu, David Martinez and Fernando Ochoa.  Cantu, of Lyford, is pursuing a Plumbing and Pipefitting – Tradesman certificate of completion. He said his goal is to mirror the skill and expertise demonstrated by his instructors. “I want to learn…

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Quality of Life Grant Applications Now Open

Applications are now being accepted for the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation’s Quality of Life Grants for Fiscal Year 2026. Nonprofits, public agencies and eligible community partners are encouraged to bring forward projects that make daily life in Brownsville better, more active and more connected. Eligible activities include community infrastructure and beautification, recreational and sports facilities, health and wellness initiatives, safety and accessibility, environmental sustainability, destination amenities that support tourism, technology and…

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RGV Hispanic Chamber Announces ‘Manual for Success’ Men’s Conference and Expo

The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host the second annual “Manual for Success” Men’s Conference and Expo on Nov. 5. The one-day professional development experience is designed to equip men with the tools to thrive personally and professionally. “Investing in yourself — both personally and professionally — is one of the smartest moves a man can make,” said Armando Villarreal, director of membership and events. “Our Men’s…

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Luna Awards Celebrate RGV Women Leaders

2025 Luna Awards Luncheon – Rio Grande Valley Region

On Aug. 27, the 2025 Luna Awards Luncheon – Rio Grande Valley Region honored the achievements of women, women-owned businesses and advocates in the architecture, engineering and construction industries.  State Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gámez delivered the keynote address and Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda provided opening remarks, highlighting the impact of women leaders on the region’s built environment. 2025 Award Recipients are: A/E/C Firm of the Year: Karla Goldammer, D&J Site…

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IMAS to Host Free Community Event in Mission

Interactive activities, planetarium shows, and close-up insect talks await at Beyond the Exhibits: Outreach at the Pavilion on Sept. 20.

The International Museum of Art & Science invites families and residents of Mission, Alton and surrounding communities in Hidalgo County Precinct 3 to partake in a day of learning and connection at the Veterans Memorial Pavilion in Mission. The event, “Beyond the Exhibits: Outreach at the Pavilion,” will take place on Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature interactive activities for all ages. The event includes…

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STC Ranks as Top Hispanic-Serving Institution

South Texas College graduation

South Texas College has earned the top spot in the nation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the Washington Monthly 2025 College Rankings report. Since 2005, Washington Monthly has ranked colleges based on their contributions to the country in three areas: social mobility, research and promoting public service. This year, in collaboration with Excelencia in Education, it also ranked how well Hispanic-Serving Institutions like STC, are serving this increasing population. “This ranking affirms…

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Tech Center Expands TSTC’s Possibilities

Construction work was finishing up in mid-August at the new Transportation Technologies Center at TSTC in Harlingen.

Texas State Technical College is starting a new school year with the opening of an 84,000-square-foot Transportation Technologies Center on the western end of the Harlingen campus. The new building opens up to big spaces on the major halves of the facility. The west side of the facility will be the work and training space for students in the diesel technology field that specializes in repair and maintenance of large…

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NASA Specialist Gives Back To RGV

Steven Garcia’s NRG Ink Screen Printing creates the T-shirts used for the Earth X Space Celebrations.

Samuel Garcia’s career as an educator has taken him across the American South and Caribbean Islands in connecting students and teachers to the wonders of space and science. Garcia works from his home base at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He is an education outreach specialist representing NASA. Garcia has travelled throughout Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in conducting seminars, workshops and interactive sessions to a…

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Major Association Brings Youth Show To RGV

Kylie Sikes was making her way to the Rio Grande Valley and travelling down U.S. Highway 77 through King Ranch country.  “You go through so many miles of open country and then all of a sudden you see this big mix of cities in the Valley,” she said. Sikes is the director of youth programs for the Junior Beefmaster Breeders Breeders Association. The destination in mid-July was the Rio Grande…

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