Category Archives: Education

STC Administrator Named “Man of the Year”

Daniel Montez

South Texas College Mid-Valley Campus Administrator Daniel Montez is the by the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year. The honor recognizes Montez’s commitment and dedication to community service and leadership. Montez said that being honored in this way is validation that his 10 years of service to the community was always the right thing to do. “Being awarded as Man of the Year validates years of service…

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STC Culinary Art Introduces New Associate’s Track

Il Forno Brands owner and long-time South Texas College Culinary Arts partner Jaime Muriel said anyone can be a great cook, but it’s excellent management and leadership skills that create success, which is why STC’s Culinary Arts newest restaurant management program is what the region needs. STC began the newest Culinary Arts program last semester as a response to industry demand. Chef Nadia Casaperalta Velazquez is a STC Culinary Arts lecturer.…

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McAllen ISD Offering Free Pre-K to All 4 Year Olds

Pre-K

McAllen ISD is set to welcome all 4-year-old children to Pre-Kindergarten next year. Pre-Kinder is the way to establish a foundation to a child’s education and now all children can participate at no cost. In the past, certain criteria applied for students to qualify for Pre-Kinder or parents had to pay tuition, but now, the program is free to all children who meet the age requirement. “Our world-class Pre-Kinder program…

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UTRGV Event Shape Future STEM Enthusiasts

(Photo Abraham Pérez, UTRGV)

UTRGV hosted its latest series of “Energy & U” shows Jan. 12 at the Edinburg Performance Arts Center. The award-winning event showcases the excitement of science and engineering to area K-12 students, focusing on the intersection of energy and STEM education. Karen Lozano, Julia Beecherl Endowed Professor in Mechanical Engineering and director of the UTRGV Nanotechnology Center of Excellence, serves as principal investigator on the grant support awarded by the National Science…

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STC Introduces Cutting-Edge Resources in Solar Energy

Students begin to dismantle STC’s new solar panels they installed during the semester on a simulated roof structure built at the college’s Technology Campus. (photo STC)

South Texas College Electrician Technology students are the first in the Valley to use to utilize a newly completed composite-shingled roof structure to simulate real-world residential solar panel installations. Built last summer at STC’s Technology Campus, the simulated roof structure enables students to utilize a new solar grid system that provides the same experience as working on an actual solar roof installation at residential job sites. The structure and equipment…

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UTRGV Students Win Big at Big Idea Competition

Four UTRGV students will move on to compete at the national level for a chance to win $10,000 after winning the fourth annual Big Idea Competition. This “Shark Tank”-like event, hosted by the UTRGV Center for Innovation & Commercialization, saw ambitious UTRGV students and local entrepreneurs pitch innovative ideas for businesses, products and services. The end goal of of the competition is the top prize of $1,500 and the chance…

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VIDA Changes Setbacks to Comebacks

Samuel Arguelles

Samuel Arguelles had excellent role models and grew up witnessing the importance of higher education. Unfortunately, that provides no guarantee. “I am a second-generation college student; however, I lost my parents at a very young age and have been trying so hard to make them proud,” Arguellas said. His parents passed away from different forms of cancer, his dad while working on a PhD and his mom while working on…

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STC Fire Academy Celebrates 20 New Graduates

STC Fire Academy

To protect lives and aid those in need was the pledge made by 20 new South Texas College graduates as they celebrated their completion of STC’s Fire Academy during a recent ceremony at the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence in Pharr. “Firefighting is a brotherhood, and much like them, our success relies on working together as a region. As a college, we collaborate closely with agencies across the Rio…

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TSTC Breaks Ground on Campus Transformation

TSTC Vice Chancellor of External Relations in Harlingen Cledia Hernandez talks about new facilities and programs of study that are scheduled to open in spring 2026 during a recent groundbreaking ceremony at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. (Photo TSTC)

Representatives of Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 7 for two new facilities and renovation of one existing building. The new additions will provide space for two programs new to the campus: Diesel Equipment Technology, and Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology.  The Automotive Technology and Diesel Equipment Technology programs will share nearly 50,000 square feet in one building. In addition, the Electrical Lineworker and Management…

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RGV Sees High Demand for Healthcare Careers

A panel of STC students at the “Building Health Care Leaders of Tomorrow" conference allow attendees to receive direct feedback on key success elements when pursuing a medical degree. (Courtesy)

In response to an ongoing shortage of health care professionals in the Rio Grande Valley, 80 industry representatives and school districts recently gathered at South Texas College to discuss how to support and encourage students to pursue careers in the medical field. Currently, health care is a field that occupies more than 25 percent of the region’s total employment. As the first institution in the nation to offer a registered…

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