For the first time in 13 years, the Port of Brownsville resumed the export of grains overseas via vessel. WestPlains LLC, the operator of the port’s grain elevator, loaded 34,000 metric tons of sorghum onto the M/V Tian Fu in late-August. The grain was harvested from throughout the Rio Grande Valley. This is the first of four vessels with sorghum that WestPlains will ship to China this year. The port…
It was new. It was different. But taking the next step toward a lifelong goal and the sighs of relief were all the same when 35 Texas Southmost College Criminal Justice Institute cadets “walked the stage” on July 24 during TSC’s first-ever CJI Virtual Graduation Ceremony. Among the 35 graduates are nine female cadets, the most in any previous CJI class. “It took a little while to get here, but…
Patrick Alvarez walks into big-box stores and their rows of school supplies and his trained teacher eye makes an astute observation. “A lot of the inventory doesn’t move,” said Alvarez, a social studies teacher at a Brownsville charter school. “It’s not what teachers really need.” The dollar stores offer discounts on inexpensive items like glitter and markers, but what about the more specific supplies and decorations teachers commonly need to…
All students enrolled in Texas Southmost College’s fall 2020 semester will receive an automatic 20-percent tuition reduction scholarship. “The Scorpion family continues to be relentless in making higher education affordable for our community,” said TSC President Dr. Jesús Roberto Rodríguez. “The TSC Board of Trustees and leaders across campus unequivocally agreed our number one priority when budgeting for the fall semester should be providing direct support for students.” The scholarship,…
Texas Southmost College will extend remote learning using various online technologies and alternate operations through the fall 2020 semester. The announcement comes at an unanimous agreement by the college’s board of trustees. “With a robust on-campus student population and hundreds of employees each fall, we strongly believe it is in the community’s best interest to take this measure to help slow the spread of the coronavirus,” said TSC Board Chair…
After spending 22 years with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board as a certified lineworker, Candelario Deanda is ready to climb to new heights. His new role is an Electrical Lineworker Technology instructor when Texas State Technical College introduces the program at its Harlingen campus this fall. “We are still in the process of getting everything ready,” Deanda said. “I will be an instructor for courses in obtaining the certificate, as…
The Port of Brownsville ranks third among U.S. ports for “strong financial resilience” surveyed in a new report from Moody’s Investor Services. The ranking underscores the ongoing value of the port’s prudent financial stewardship in light of economic impacts from the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Moody’s analysis evaluated American ports on a range of key factors surrounding financial responsibility. This includes the ability to handle the impact of a significant decline…
The construction of two 774-foot-long container ships for Pasha Hawaii continues on schedule at the Port of Brownsville. On June 5, Keppel AmFELS hosted a presentation and tour for port and city of Brownsville officials. Here, they presented an update of construction for the M/V George III and the M/V Janet Marie. Delivery of the M/V George III to Pasha is set for this summer. The twin U.S. Jones Act…
Thirty-two local high school graduating seniors will receive $1,000 scholarships from the Brownsville Navigation District. The inaugural Port of Brownsville program helps deserving students pursue their education and career dreams. “On behalf of the entire Port of Brownsville organization, we are proud to support these local students and families at this time,” said John Reed, chairman of the Brownsville Navigation District. “We are excited for the students as they continue…
For the first time ever, the Department of Fine Arts at Texas Southmost College is hosting a virtual art show to replace the program’s annual art show. It just comes to show that nothing, not even a pandemic, can stop the department from showcasing its students’ artwork. TSC Art Instructor Robert Andes said he is thankful for the support the department has received with the TSC Fine Arts Show. “Naturally…