Tag Archives: South Texas College

Creating a Better Community VIDA

Rebecca Gutierrez

McAllen resident Rebecca Gutierrez always had career goals, but barricades kept getting in her way. “It was always financial challenges of either paying bills or paying for school,” Gutierrez said. “I was not able to do both, at times.” Gutierrez is a Valley native. She is also one of six children who witnessed their parents perform the grueling labor only migrant farm workers know. “My parents both worked hard for…

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STC Announces Significant Numbers Of Employed Students

STC Workforce Summit 2022

More than one-third of all South Texas College graduates who will walk across the stage for commencement are already employed or have jobs waiting for them once the celebrating is over, according to STC leadership. Announcing the latest graduation numbers at the college’s first-ever Workforce Summit on May 5, STC President Ricardo J. Solis said the graduate figures are proof that the college’s role is increasing. He also says the…

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Finding Another Family In VIDA

Vanessa Mendoza

Pharr resident Vanessa Mendoza’s parents did not have the opportunity to go to college and get their “dream careers.” However, she said, they stressed the importance of college to their children. “My parents were humble and gave us what we needed,” Mendoza said. “They motivated me and my siblings to do well in school so we would be able to go to college to have a good job and a…

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Hidalgo County Pledges $2 Million to STC Nursing

(photo STC)

Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez and the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court have pledged $2 million to fund salaries for South Texas Colleges Nursing and Allied Health nursing instructors. The funding is an effort to increase enrollment while also doubling the number of nurses graduating from STC. Cortez and others gathered Feb. 14 at STC’s Nursing and Allied Health Campus to celebrate the funding. Joining Cortez for the check signing were…

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Mercedes RN Stayed The Course With VIDA

Angela Saenz

Life looked good for Angela Saenz of Mercedes. She had earned the title of licensed vocational nurse and had a job in the field. “Going to college was something that was always embedded in me by my parents because they didn’t get to go to college,” Saenz said. She realized the value of having parents who instilled in her the importance of education. Saenz also understood how fortunate she was…

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STC Respiratory Therapy Program Re-Accredited

STC Respiratory Therapy

The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care has reaffirmed South Texas College’s Respiratory Therapy Program accreditation for the next 10 years. Following a thorough review, CoARC determined that Respiratory Therapy met all national established accreditation standards. It commended the program for its continuous quality in education. The reaffirmation was essential for the college so it can continue awarding its Respiratory Therapy Associate of Applied Science degree. Accreditation by CoARC provides assurance…

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Local College, ISDs Part of $10.3-Million TWC Grants

JET grant

The Texas Workforce Commission has awarded 41 grants totaling $10,379,293 to multiple public community colleges, public technical institutes, public state college and independent school districts for programs that focus on supporting high-demand occupations through the Jobs and Education for Texans grant program. Locally, recipients include South Texas College as well as Brownsville, Harlingen, La Joya and South Texas ISDs. The JET grant program focuses on projects that develop training programs to…

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Another Journey Begins With VIDA

Mariana Lozano

Growing up, Donna resident Mariana Lozano watched how hard her parents worked and yet how they struggled just to make ends meet. As she watched, she made plans. Her plans were to finish college so she could help them as her family’s first college graduate. “A friend told me I needed to apply to VIDA,” Lozano said.  VIDA is the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement. The nonprofit organization was…

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STC and Trancasa To Roll Out New CDL Program

South Texas College, in partnership with international ground transportation leader Trancasa, has set in motion a new commercial driver’s license program that will address a growing demand for drivers in the industry. “This is a classic example of South Texas College reskilling and upskilling through education and training to meet regional and local labor demands,” said South Texas College president Dr. Ricardo J. Solis who brokered the partnership with Trancasa.…

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