Category Archives: Education

Project SHARE Scholarship Applications Open

Community e-Brief Features Education News Comments
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

e-Brief Features Education News Comments

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

e-Brief Features Education News Comments

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

e-Brief Features Education News Comments

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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STC Dual Credit Programs Recognized Nationally

e-Brief Features Education News Comments
South Texas College Dual Credit Program

South Texas College Dual Credit Programs earned national recognition after being selected to participate in a research study conducted by the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. The study examined how colleges can strategically invest limited resources to sustainably scale practices that provide students with more purposeful and impactful dual enrollment experiences. Based on its findings, the research team expressed admiration for STC’s dual credit model, highlighting…

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Inaugural Football Season Unites RGV

Community Education News Comments

The head football coach of a brand-new college football team had a blank slate as his UTRGV Vaqueros kicked off their football season in late August 2025. Travis Bush had been through this before as an assistant coach when UT-San Antonio launched its first football season in 2011. Now Bush was the head man of a new football venture further south in Edinburg. “Coming in there weren’t too many expectations,”…

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Female Students ‘Picking Up The Torch’

Education Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
Some industry reports estimate the percentage of female welders has doubled over the last 15 years. (Courtesy)

The welding industry is a growing field as it experiences a strong demand that is driven by big infrastructure projects and increasing manufacturing needs. Retirements in an aging workforce are creating a need for younger replacements as one industry estimate says there are over 82,000 jobs to be filled annually in the field. It remains a male-dominated industry but some shifts are being seen. The percentage of women welders has…

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STC to Launch AI Community Course

e-Brief Features Education Featured News Technology Comments
In the new year, South Texas College is introducing a new community course – Essentials of AI, or artificial intelligence. T

In the new year, South Texas College is introducing a new community course – Essentials of AI, or artificial intelligence. The course, beginning Jan. 20 through STC’s Continuing Education and Workforce Development, is an entry-level introduction to AI. Faculty from STC’s Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics Technology and Cybersecurity programs will teach the course. Vice President and Provost of Academic Affairs and Economic Development Anahid Petrosian said for the last two…

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UTRGV Breaks Ground on Port Isabel Research Facility

e-Brief Features Education News Comments
Marine Ecosystems Research Facility groundbreaking

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday for the Marine Ecosystems Research Facility, marking the start of construction on a $21.5 million coastal research center that will expand the university’s capacity in marine and environmental sciences. The project was approved earlier this year by The University of Texas System Board of Regents and will be constructed at 905 S. Garcia Street in Port Isabel. The 14,500-square-foot…

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STC Names 2025 Faculty of the Year

e-Brief Features Education News Comments
Sharon O’Leary

Sharon O’Leary was hired at South Texas College in 1999 to start the college’s music program. Now, 26 years later, the program is going strong, and she has been named Faculty of the Year for largely contributing to its growth. “I cried when saw I had been named Faculty of the Year,” said O’Leary. “Since 2008, my Department Chair Daniel Cather has been nominating me and this year, I told…

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