Category Archives: Featured

Long, Winding Road Leads To A New VIDA

Marvelia Saldana

Sometimes a path is straight and narrow; other times it can be winding, making the journey longer but allowing us to see sites and have experiences we would otherwise have missed. Such was the path for Brownsville resident Marvelia Saldana. Being a military wife meant “bouncing around from one state to another,” according to Saldana. With four small children, she didn’t have the time — or, likely, the energy —…

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Port of Brownsville Honors High School Graduates

2023 Port of Brownsville Scholarship recipients

Thirty-two local high school graduating seniors will receive $1,000 scholarships from the Brownsville Navigation District via the 2023 Port of Brownsville Scholarship. The program is in support and encouragement to the pursuit of higher education for students within the district. The scholarship winners – selected for their academic performance, community involvement, extracurricular activities, and work experience, as well as for essays penned as part of their applications – attend 16…

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UTRGV Creates Local Economic Partnerships

A workforce and economic development satellite office opens in Harlingen at its EDC space. (Courtesy)

With a mission to advance regional economic, workforce and business development, UTRGV’s Office of Workforce and Economic Development is expanding its network and reach to cities across the Rio Grande Valley through satellite offices. UTRGV opened its third office in the City of Mission on May 12, which will be housed in the Center for Education and Economic Development at 801 Bryan Road.  “Establishing these hubs in our partner cities…

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South Texas College Establishes Foundation

South Texas College has established a new Foundation and Foundation Board to continue providing an affordable education for all.

In its pursuit of innovation and growth, South Texas College has established a new Foundation and Foundation Board to continue striving at providing an affordable education for all. The mission of the new foundation is to raise funds to support student educational endeavors by means of grants and scholarships. Between 2020 and 2021, STC awarded more than $1 million dollars in scholarships. More than 80 percent of STC’s traditional students…

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Vendor Applications Open For Texas Cook’Em High Steaks

Texas Cook'Em High Steaks vendor

The Texas Cook’Em High Steaks in Edinburg is now accepting vendor applications for the 2023 event. Organizers state this year’s cook-off promises to be bigger and better than ever, with live music, food and fun activities for the whole family. The Texas Cook’Em High Steaks BBQ Cook-off and Festival is an annual event that celebrates Independence Day weekend. This year’s event will be June 30 through July 1 at Ebony…

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IMAS Visionary Members Pay it Forward

IMAS exhibits bring family visitors together. (Photo Crystal Kelly)

The International Museum of Art & Science has launched a “Pay It Forward” fund with the goal of offering fully funded memberships for families in need. As an expansion of its Membership for All program, which currently serves families who qualify for WIC/SNAP, this program will provide MFA Memberships to first-time members free of charge. Supporters can fund this program in two ways; purchasing a Visionary Membership to fund three…

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UTRGV Hosts Latina THRIVE Summit

STEM, woman scientist

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will host the “Latina THRIVE Summit” for college faculty and administrators on May 18-19 on South Padre Island. This year’s summit at the Courtyard by Marriott South Padre Island will focus on the THRIVE (The Healthy DepaRtment Initiative for InclusiVe Excellence) Partnership. With the support of the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE program, THRIVE seeks to remedy gender inequity in academic STEM careers. Marci…

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STC Hicks Off STEM Summer Camp Season

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics summer camps at South Texas College have officially begun and recently kicked off with a Region One GEAR UP LEGO robotics camp at the college’s Technology campus. The three-day camp, which also included a tour of the campus, hosted Region One’s GEAR UP 8th grade cohort of students from Donna ISD, Sharyland ISD and Valley View ISD who built computerized LEGO models and piloted them…

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UT System Approves UTRGV Computer Science PhD

The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Thursday approved a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science with Interdisciplinary Applications degree program at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. By design, the program will prepare graduates to become faculty at research-intensive universities or to establish research careers in industry. It will also offer rigorous, fundamental training in computer science and the application of computational methods to other disciplines.…

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Wendy’s Opens In Mercedes

A new Wendy’s location held its grand opening May 5 in Mercedes with the Mercedes Area Chamber of Commerce and the Development Corporation of Mercedes. The new location is at 8001 E.  Expressway 83 on the northeast corner of Mile 2 E and Expressway 83.  Highlighting the grand opening celebration were music, prizes, and giveaways. The first 100 dine-in customers were awarded free Wendy’s for a year.  “We are thrilled…

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