“I know what it’s like to work with a good education system,” says Rodriguez, who served on the board of the Sharyland Independent School District for nine years before being elected to the South Texas College board in 2012. “STC had a great reputation, and was growing.”

Through his experience with the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce and various other economic development organizations, the former banking CEO was well aware of South Texas College’s strong presence in the community. Every time a workforce need surfaced, it seemed to Rodriguez, one particular institution was up to the task.

“Invariably, we’d run into areas where STC was a major partner,” says Rodriguez. He has noticed a “night-and-day” change in the economic outlook of the region since STC’s foundation in 1993. “It’s important that we maintain the focus of the college, as quite frankly, an economic engine.”

This Board Appreciation Month, Chairman Rodriguez reflects on what it means to be a board member. Rodriguez currently oversees a busy agenda which includes representing STC in the community and advancing the College’s programs on both economic and political fronts. It is a role that takes passion and grit.

Rodriguez is most proud of three recent accomplishments by the board, which include

saving students and taxpayers millions with pioneering efforts in Early College High School, collaborating with the Texas Workforce Commission on classroom-to-career pathways and apprenticeships, and paving the way for the game-changing Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE).

The RCPSE began as a joint effort with the City of Pharr and Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District, in response to surging demand for law enforcement and public safety professionals. In its first year of operation, the center has expanded to include training for federal agencies, in addition to the local and state bodies it was established to serve.

“It’s really grown significantly before us,” says Rodriguez, who credits the herculean efforts of college, school district, and agency partners for the Center’s quick success.

“The administration was ‘Johnny-on-the-spot’ [and] the partners bellied up to the bar and really made it happen.”

When reflecting on the impact of the board at South Texas College, Rodriguez recalls memories of the region from 50 years ago. He talks of a time when unemployment rates in the Rio Grande Valley exceeded 30 percent, with economic opportunity lagging far behind the big cities. When he returned to the area after his college years, “it was still double-digits.”

But now, with sectors like healthcare, tech, and manufacturing taking hold in South Texas, regional unemployment rates have plummeted to eight percent and lower. According to the chairman, this is definitively “not an accident.”

“When you track the growth of STC and the reduction of the unemployment rate?” states Rodriguez, who then explains that the school districts and economic development commissions in the region played key roles in the region’s economic awakening. “I [was] an economics major — and I never would have imagined single-digit unemployment levels [here].”

The future is bright for the South Texas College board. And the momentum doesn’t stop there, with new developments always on their fingertips. Most recently, the College approved a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing — leading in Texas with five bachelor’s degrees.

“A lot of people were skeptical,” he says about the first-of-this-kind community college Bachelor’s degree pathways. “[Now] we’re up to five programs.”

The Board continues to collaborate with industry leaders and the Texas Workforce Commission to identify new areas for workforce preparedness and economic growth. Currently, Rodriguez and his colleagues are working on a plan to enhance associate degree-level IT offerings, especially in the quickly growing field of cybersecurity.

“Our students are in great demand,” he says about the new Cybersecurity Specialist pathway. “You can get out of that program and they’re waiting for you — in governments, colleges, financial institutions…”

Members of the board work with an urgency forged by their diverse experience and skill sets. Rodriguez is a true believer in the College’s one-of-a-kind ability to embody the traditional “South Texas spirit.”

“There’s no question that the College started out as one thing, and became something else,” he says about STC’s successful transition from trade school to all-out economic engine. “We don't know what we’re going to be looking at in five to 10 years [but] we’re very fortunate to have the leadership we have.”

Luckily, according to South Texas College Department of Kinesiology student and aspiring personal trainer Mark Gonzalez, that’s totally OK! In fact, he says breaking those big fitness objectives into tiny shards is not only healthy, but also essential to maintaining a successful exercise plan.

“You have to make small goals: short-term and long-term goals,” says Gonzalez, currently working toward his professional certification in STC’s brand-new Personal Trainer program—the only one of its kind south of San Antonio. “So when you’re trying to reach your long-term goal, you have your short-term goals that you’re completing as you go to keep you motivated.”

For Gonzalez, conquering his short- and long-term fitness goals is just the beginning as he works toward his dream career. He’s aiming for a Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology so he can one day become a high school coach in his all-time favorite sport, baseball.

South Texas College is helping him achieve that.

Step one is to get his Personal Trainer Certificate at STC under his belt, so he can start working at a gym and hone his professional skills in the field. Step two will be to earn his STC Associate degree in kinesiology.

With a solid plan and a vision for the future, Gonzalez knows he has the muscle and motivation to succeed. It’s that same dedication that pushed him to work hard every day for two years to build up his strength and lose 60 pounds.

“I’ve got to be honest—it was difficult, but I pushed through,” Gonzalez says about his own fitness training. But he never gave up, thanks to the strategies he learned at South Texas College. His secret: he built himself up with short-term goals of shedding the weight and building strength, a little bit at a time. It’s the kind of motivation he plans to begin sharing with his trainees very soon.

It’s the kind of moxie he’s learned from STC Kinesiology instructors like Brent Angangan.

“The idea is to set goals, so that you keep moving slowly and slowly and slowly toward your major goal,” says Angangan. It’s a motto that holds relevance both for working out and advancing careers. That’s why he and his colleague Dr. Rebecca De Los Santos created the Personal Trainer Certificate, giving students more building blocks to reach their long-term career goals.

Because the personal trainer program only takes two semesters, it’s an ideal option for students who want to enter the workforce quickly. It also makes them eligible for a national certification exam, through which they can prove their mastery of the art and science of personal training—a major boost on résumés. With the certificate, students can work in commercial centers and even open their own gyms.

The program is the perfect way to open the door to an entry-level job as a personal trainer. Once graduates like Mark Gonzalez are working in the field, they can recalibrate their goals to include an associate degree in kinesiology—or something more advanced.

“We also want them to get their Bachelor’s in kinesiology,” says Angangan, who suggests that working as a personal trainer can help offset the costs of the degree. “Then they could get the next certification, and they could move up to a strength coach, [which is] basically a personal trainer but for maybe 100 athletes at a time.”

Besides strength coaching, there are a lot of opportunities in the field, according to Angangan. Students can start exploring such avenues in an internship during their second semester, thanks to the department’s robust partnerships with local employers. Students “shadow” personal trainers at one of the many partnering gyms, getting real-life, on-the-job experience working with clients and designing fitness programs.

Many fitness-related business leaders are already on the program’s advisory committee, and they are eager to recruit qualified students for their centers.

“They're the ones that said, ‘yes, if they have this degree, and you send them to us, not only will we intern them, but we will hire them,’” says Angangan about STC‘s regional industry partners. “So the community is behind it, too. We're developing the workforce for them.”

In this area, there is a dire need, says Angangan. “Our area was voted number one in obesity... I would say that there is a health crisis looming.”

He’s referring to a recent study done by WalletHub, which found that the McAllen, Texas metro area had the highest number of obese adults in the country and the highest number of physically inactive adults. In “State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America” by the Trust for America’s Health, Texas was ranked 10^th in the nation for obesity rates.

Part of the problem, according to Angangan, is lack of access to physical education.

“Physical education is not required in the state of Texas,” he says. “Some schools offer it, but most don't. So we're seeing probably two generations of people who don't have basic movement skills.”

And without those skills, people with the best intentions can injure themselves. “They're going into a gym and just using a bunch of machines…and thinking that they're actually improving themselves,” warns Angangan. “And in some instances, they're making it worse.”

The solution is certified personal trainers that meet industry standards. From running assessments to studying a client's gait, trainers can help the health-conscious create and achieve their fitness goals like pros. They can even help with simple things like making sure clients have the right shoes, saving them from preventable ailments like shin splints.

At South Texas College, personal training students are learning every angle of the profession, right down to marketing, legal, and psychology. Meanwhile, they are becoming fitness leaders in their communities.

“That's why we're all in this business,” says Angangan. “One way or another, it’s to help.”

Gonzalez agrees. With the support of faculty like Angangan, Gonzalez is finding his way into the rewarding field of fitness, one small goal at a time.

For more information on STC’s Personal Trainer Program, visit https://catalog.southtexascollege.edu/certificate-associate-degrees/division-liberal-arts-social-sciences/social-behavioral-sciences/trainer/.

This was Noe Cienfuegos’s life. Leaving town every month to check pumps and run shaker screens. Throwing and latching fast-moving, impossibly heavy pipe. Collapsing into camp every evening sapped of every possible muscle fiber and electrolyte.

Then, suddenly, life got harder.

His wife’s health, precarious since her teenage years due to diabetes, took a turn for the worse. Her kidneys shut down, and she began to lose her vision, eventually losing sight completely in her right eye. She began hemodialysis, but the symptoms proved too severe, necessitating a transition to the more complex peritoneal dialysis.

“The unknown will kick you in your knees…and then once you’re on all fours, will kick you in your throat to finish you off,” reflects Cienfuegos, father to an 8-year-old son. “And that is what scared me.”

The new dialysis procedure required a monitor to operate the machines intermittently, throughout the day and night. Cienfuegos was faced with a choice.

“I had to choose to leave work to take care of her or leave her [alone] to continue working and making money,” Cienfuegos recalls. “And, well, now we’re broke, but together.”

Cienfuegos and his wife lost almost everything. A tough but lucrative paycheck that had provided $80,000-plus in annual earnings became $13,000, doing “pretty much anything that I can work around my schedule.” Unable to work a regular shift due to his healthcare duties at home, he began making ends meet doing caterings—he’s something of a BBQ-savant—landscaping, and mechanic work.

“She’s needed…doctors and procedures that the insurance doesn’t pay for,” says Cienfuegos. “So, it’s like I need to pay for this treatment but I also need gas money.

“So…I’ll hustle and get that gas money.”

Cienfuegos wasn’t about to let the unknown finish him off. Inspired by a South Texas College TV commercial, the gears started turning, and he began to develop a long-term plan: turn his innate tech-savvy into a computer science degree, find a job near enough to see his wife and son every day, and earn enough money to hire a home healthcare worker.

The day he stepped foot on the South Texas College campus, Cienfuegos felt something he hadn’t experienced in some time, amid his tumultuous life: a sense of hope.

Though older than the typical college student, Cienfuegos found a welcoming home at South Texas College, connecting with classmates, engaging with instructors, and finding support through the Center for Learning Excellence. With the guidance of his STC professors, he set off on the path to a Computer and Network Specialist degree, and even won an exclusive scholarship to help him on the way.

“I received a scholarship that I had no idea existed if it wasn’t for my professors,” he recalls. “If it wasn’t for them, I would’ve never applied and wouldn’t have gotten blessed with such an honor.

“All the professors are there to help and ensure you graduate.”

It hasn’t been easy. At one point, his wife suffered a stroke as the delayed result of a triple-bypass, losing her speech and movement on the right side of her body. This left Cienfuegos and his family desperate for a good sign—any sign—that things were destined to improve.

That sign came the day that Cienfuegos told his wife he was nominated for the scholarship. Previously unable to muster any words other than “they,” his wife’s vocabulary suddenly included the word “wow,” and with that barrier broken, would soon expand further. Restless one night, Cienfuegos got up to check his email, and everything changed.

“I found out I won the scholarship,” he recalls. “She was awake too, so I said ‘do you want to know some good news?’ and she nodded yes, and I told her. She then said, ‘good.’”

It was progress. But when he returned to the hospital from class the next day, he really began to believe in the power of positivity.

“When I got back in the afternoon, she was a God-sent new person,” remembers Cienfuegos. “More alive and very responsive, saying more words. I [was] so amazed.

“Somehow the good news triggered something in her brain and she has been astonishing everyone. That was when I said: ‘this is cool and needs to continue.’”

Already determined to make a better life for his family, that incident connected the dots for Cienfuegos, providing a much-needed boost to the spirit. Now his South Texas College studies were more than a component of a personal dream. Now his academic successes represented an engine of inspiration, to sustain both his wife’s outlook and his personal drive.

“It’s like, if I quit, she quits,” says Cienfuegos. “So as long as I keep fighting for a better future, she will keep fighting for that next breath with us.”

Cienfuegos draws strength from his South Texas College education, seeing it not only as a path to a brighter future, but as a way of occupying his mind and spirit during a turbulent present. While working on his Computer and Network Specialist degree, he discovered STC’s restaurant management courses, and realized that with the right foundation, his formidable barbecue skills could someday translate to a successful small business.

“[Noe] reminds me that ordinary persons become extraordinary when they encounter struggles that can be overcome through love of family, faith, positive foundations, and a desire to strive for the best,” says South Texas College Trustee Dr. Alejo Salinas, Jr. “It is up to the individual to chart the course that leads to success regardless of trials and tribulations. No obstacle is greater or more powerful than the sum total of the effort that individuals exert to overcome them.

“South Texas College provided Noe Cienfuegos with opportunities to embark on a journey of success,” Salinas says. “He is a testament to his family and community demonstrating that all things are possible. He is commended for his accomplishments, sacrifices, and perseverance. The team that provided him with the opportunity to ‘Experience Excellence’ is also acknowledged; thanks to the faculty, advisors, administrators, support staff, and a supportive Board of Trustees for providing opportunities for success. All is possible and it starts at STC.”

Cienfuegos says his plan after he gets his degree is to work and be a leader, “… and get paid sufficient money so that I can hire someone to do my wife’s treatments.”

“[Then] I can focus on starting up my own business so that I can provide a great life for my family.”

‘Broke, but together.’

For all of the adversity that Cienfuegos and his family have faced in recent years, this holiday season represents a time of optimism. Even as daily, life-and-death challenges persist, hope and higher education are providing the Cienfuegos family a light at the end of the tunnel. And for Noe, that’s a blessing.

“These holidays will definitely make me reflect on these crazy years,” he ruminates. “My 8-year-old asked what I wanted for Christmas, and I said ‘for mommy to get better’ and he replied ‘yeah, I don’t want toys, just for mommy to get better too.’”

“That tore me up.”

A high school dropout at the age of 17, Cuellar said he turned to the military after receiving his GED, and then served as an infantryman and combat medic for 11 years.

As an infantryman, Cuellar said he became fascinated with the role of the medics who became responsible for the health and welfare of the soldiers, which would inspire his own career choice to become a licensed vocational nurse after his service.

“Even after 24 mile roll marches he (medic) still cared about our welfare,” Cuellar said. “That’s where my biggest inspiration came from, and I admired him for his selfless service. After three years I reenlisted to be a combat medic as a way to pay him back.”

Years later, Cuellar is now a part of STC’s first cohort of BSN students. On his journey, Cuellar says STC has assisted with his transition to civilian life, and has played a vital role in his medical career.

“I have decided that I wanted to help other people,” he said. “I want to thank STC and all the staff who have helped me get here because I have been STC loyal.”

Cuellar was in attendance as South Texas College announced the start of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at a special event Nov. 25.

VIPs in attendance at the announcement included Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Vice-chair Dr. Fred Farias III, State Rep. Sergio Munoz Jr., D-Palmview, Hidalgo County Precinct 4 Commissioner Ellie Torres, McAllen ISD trustee and Hidalgo County Precinct 4 External Operations Director Tony Forina, STC Board of Trustees Chairman Paul R. Rodriguez, and board members Dr. Alejo Salinas, and Gary Gurwitz.

STC Dean of Nursing and Allied Health (NAH) Dr. Jayson Valerio gave the welcoming address followed by remarks from Chairman Rodriguez and STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed.

Dr. Christie Candelaria, Program Chair of the Associate Degree Nursing Program and the new BSN program introduced the inaugural cohort of student nurses clad in green scrubs at the announcement.

“I would treat this just like having a family,” Dr. Candelaria said about the start of the BSN program. “We delivered the baby, now we have to take care of it. You have to provide it with all the necessities along with all the love and care so that it can grow and be successful.”

The new cohort of BSN students is comprised of a variety of working professionals, many of whom are former STC graduates.

Among Cuellar’s classmates, include registered nurses and charge nurses from across the region including Knapp Medical Center, Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance, Universal Health Services Inc., Rio Grande Regional Hospital, and the Hidalgo County Health Department.

Continuing with the selection and enrollment process for BSN students, which began in the fall, administrators with STC’s NAH Campus, have announced that its new BSN degree will start with a 30-student cohort this spring.

Dr. Valerio said the start of the BSN answers a call from the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly known as the Institute of Medicine, which is calling for a significant increase in Bachelor-trained nurses by the next decade.

NAM is recommending at least an 80 percent increase in the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce by 2020.

“This BSN will pave the way for a highly educated nursing workforce which is needed in our community and in our region,” said Dr. Valerio. “It feels so surreal, and I thank Dr. Reed and members of the Board of Trustees for the trust they have placed in us, the Division of Nursing and Allied Health, to initiate this program because this is a huge accomplishment.”

The plan is to start an ADN-RN to BSN transition program. Students who completed the Associate Degree in Nursing and who are licensed Registered Nurses, will now have the opportunity to return to South Texas College to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

While an ADN program is tasked with instructing students on nursing and technical aspects, the BSN curriculum will be focused more on leadership, critical thinking, management and supervision as well as research and evidence-based courses.

The BSN program will be comprised of classes that will be a hybrid of online and traditional learning. If a student opts to take the full-time track, courses will operate like mini-mesters for each course, spanning about eight weeks or so. Due to the accelerated pace, full-time students will likely complete their BSN within one year of beginning the program while the part-time track will take 18 months to complete.

The faculty of the BSN program will consist of 10 doctorally prepared faculty, with five more slated to receive their degrees by May, for a total of 15 instructors. Their specialties range from Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and Doctor of Education (EdD).

“The delivery of this program will be a combination of face to face and online learning,” Dr. Candelaria said. “Some of our incoming cohort have fear about the unknown, specifically the fear of navigating the online world so when they learned that this would be a hybrid program; they jumped on it right away.”

STC initially held a media event in 2017 with Valley lawmakers announcing the passage of Texas Senate Bill 2118 during the 85th Legislative Session, which authorized public junior colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs in the fields of applied science, applied technology, and nursing.

Nearly three years later, the program has been approved by its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for authorization as well as by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Board of Nursing to begin the BSN by spring 2020.

With the addition of the BSN degree, STC now offers five baccalaureate degree programs including Technology Management (TMGT) established in 2005, Computer and Information Technologies (CIT) established in 2008, Medical and Health Services Management (MHSSM) established in 2011, and Organizational Leadership-Competency Based (OL) established in 2014.

“We have fought, and we have battled,” Dr. Reed said. “We haven’t drawn blood, but it has been a tough fight with the (Texas) Legislature, and other higher education institutions questioning ‘Should South Texas College offer such a critical degree?’.

A member of the audience robustly answered “yes” to the question by Dr. Reed.

“As part of a very select number of community colleges with the opportunity to offer this baccalaureate degree, we (STC) were front and center, and we have been ready,” Dr. Reed said. “South Texas deserves this level of healthcare for our families.”

For more information about STC’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing, please visit https://nah.southtexascollege.edu/bsn/index.html or contact Griselda Cuellar at 956-872-3097 for more information.

De la garza is one of 19 Dual Enrollment students in the Medical Science Academy at STC that is hunting for new viruses in her very own community as part of the prestigious program, SEA-PHAGES — Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science. If a unique virus is found, it could ultimately be used as an alternative to antibiotics.

SEA-PHAGES is a nationwide collaboration in which undergraduates from 177 institutions search for new bacteriophages, which are viruses that eat bacterial cells.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute established SEA-PHAGES to encourage interest in biological sciences by providing undergraduates with valuable research opportunities. The institute runs the program with the University of Pittsburgh.

STC is the first institution in the Rio Grande Valley to join SEA-PHAGES, says Dr. Maria Y. Cervantes, chair of STC’s Biology Department. The program is a great way to get students involved in research and promote STEM fields.

“We’re very unique especially because we are a border town, so the expectation is that we probably do have bacteriophages that are very unique to the area,” Dr. Cervantes says.

The College’s participation is also significant because there are few laboratory research projects at community colleges. Most of the students in the SEA-PHAGES course at STC are high school juniors and seniors.

“I just thought it was really interesting that we could have the chance to find something ourselves,” says De la garza, who is in the first group of students to take the course at STC. “It’s one thing to hear about discoveries but it’s another thing to be going through it myself.”

The course is designed as an introductory lab course for students, Dr. Cervantes says. The SEA-PHAGES program has found that students who take part in this authentic lab experience are more likely to continue studying the sciences than those who take traditional biology lab courses.

De la garza has always had dreams of working in the healthcare field. “I’ve always wanted to do something medical,” she says. “I’ve always just wanted to help people.”

“The students are going to experience something that is new, something that has not been done here before, with an opportunity to open doors to a life of science,” Dr. Cervantes says.

For those who want to go to medical school, it shows them how science goes hand in hand with that career, she explains. The tools and methods physicians use to treat patients all started in a lab.

“So exposing the students to that very first step in medicine, which is learning how organisms work, how drugs work, is going to hopefully give them a better appreciation for when they become doctors and move onto something bigger and better,” Dr. Cervantes says. “And hopefully the students will be encouraged to not just pursue their associate, but their bachelor’s and then a higher level degree – graduate school, medical school, and the sky’s the limit for them.”

The students’ research so far has exceeded expectations, Dr. Cervantes says. “They told us if you get three students to purify a virus out of a 20, you are doing great. You know what these students did? Fourteen out of the 19 have successfully purified a virus,” she says.

The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria makes this area of study particularly important and timely, Dr. Cervantes says. There are so many viruses being found that the possibility the students have discovered new ones is very high, she says.

Recently, a virus identified by university students in the SEA-PHAGES program helped cure an England girl’s antibiotic-resistant respiratory infection, Dr. Cervantes says. The girl received an injection of a cocktail of three viruses that specifically fought this bacteria.

The potential for STC students to make an impact in microbiology is “phenomenal,” says STC President Shirley A. Reed, who visited the lab to learn about their work. “Just think if we actually could identify a selected virus that would eat bacteria. We wouldn’t be using prescription drugs to kill bacteria,” Dr. Reed says. “And I understand viruses are rather smart critters; they evolve and change. Maybe they can be trained to go after cancer cells.”

Most of the students took soil samples from near their homes during their research. They will find out next semester if their viruses are unique. If so, they will be able to name them and submit them to the depository.

“We’ve got very interesting results,” says Dr. Thomas Ndolo, who teaches the course, adding that the phages students are collecting look very different.

The students are engaged in the research, he says. They are meticulous and some are spending extra time in the laboratory. It took 10 weeks for them to develop their phages.

Students in the class who did not find any phages have teamed up with others who have, says De la garza. They are preparing to send their samples to the University of North Texas, which will use electron microscopes to visualize the viruses and send back photos.

In the spring semester, the STC students will perform DNA sequencing and analyze the genomes through bioinformatics. They will compare their phages to those that are already in the repository to see if they have something unique.

“We’ll be having them use a lot of computer programs, where they’ll be putting in their DNA sequence and comparing it to different databases, sort of like forensic science, but in this case we’re trying to identify the virus and see if it’s something that is worth publishing and looking into,” Dr. Cervantes says.

The students are also getting valuable experience in the long and labor-intensive research process, and the highs and lows that accompany it. “It’s on your way of getting to your destination that you’re learning, that you’re going through trials, that you’re feeling heartbroken and then excited,” Dr. Cervantes says.

They will also have the satisfaction of contributing to an extensive body of knowledge that expands with each addition to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s national library of phages, she says.

“South Texas College encourages the pursuit of the sciences to ensure that our students are prepared for high-demand, high-skilled workforce and academic opportunities in healthcare, research, and related fields,” said Mr. Paul R. Rodriguez, Chairman of the Board.

“The highly competitive Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s (HHMI) SEA PHAGES Program recognizes the quality of our students, faculty and facilities. This is an incredible opportunity to take part in cutting edge research addressing critical issues, and we could not be more proud of our students’ exceptional successes and contributions to this prestigious program.”

But when an injury struck and he was forced to return home after 30 years spanning the globe, Mireles lost his sense of direction.

“I ended up feeling lost,” he recalls.

He tried to become a truck driver, but after eight weeks, he realized it was not for him. When his brother recommended that he go back to college, Mireles wasn’t sure. After all, he had dropped out of high school at 16, becoming a migrant worker to support his family before he joined the service. Beyond that, Mireles was now in his 50s, so returning to school would be a daunting task.

Mireles explored many colleges in the area, but when he found STC, he felt comfortable right away. He knew it was the perfect place to find the support and the fresh start he needed.

“I didn’t want to be just a number,” says Mireles, who cites STC’s smaller class sizes and more personal experience as critical to his choice. “At STC, you’re not just someone who’s taking a seat—you’re a human being. That’s what I really like about STC. They actually care about who you are.”

Mireles enrolled in STC and found a home right away. Returning to school was tough, but with support, Mireles was able to turn it around. When he earned a D- in one of his first classes—one of the lowest grades he had ever received—he didn’t get upset. Instead, he saw his own potential. This moment inspired him to strive for even higher grades throughout his academic career.

“It was hard to come back to school,” says Mireles. “But if it hadn’t been for my psychology teacher who opened my eyes, it would have been a lot harder.”

STC professor Blake Armstrong recommended that Mireles go to the VA to get tested for a learning disability. When it was confirmed, Mireles was finally able to find the support and understanding he needed to earn not one, not two, but three associate degrees!

“If someone else learned something in 10 steps, I was going to have to take 100,” Mireles says about his struggles. “Knowing this has helped me a lot, because if I know I have to study harder, I do not let myself down.”

What matters most to Mireles is not giving up. And ever since that fateful D- that showed him his potential, he’s been a high-achieving student.

"That D- in psychology is what opened every door for me,” says Mireles. “I consider that my best grade.”

For Mireles, what made the difference were teachers like Armstrong, Adolfo Lozano, Cybersecurity Program Chair Francisco Salinas, and many others.

“When you have great teachers and people want to learn, it creates a great equation,” he says.

As a cybersecurity student, Mireles felt welcomed from day one. It was Salinas, he says, who encouraged him to join the very first cohort of the program at STC—one of just four in Texas bearing the National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year (CAE2Y) designation.

Though Mireles was already working on his Computer Specialist degree, he decided to double down with an additional degree in Cybersecurity. Then, when he realized he only needed one class to complete the Networking degree, he signed on for that as well.

“Miguel is an outstanding student,” says Salinas. “His dedication reflects in the three degrees he has earned over the years.”

Mireles is grateful not only to his teachers but also to the Veteran Support Center, where many of the staff are veterans themselves. From making sure he had his classes to filling out documentation, the Center was always there to help guide his next step.

According to Mireles, the staff go out of their way to help veteran students. He is also grateful for the “Fox Hole,” a veterans-only lounge in which students like Mireles can socialize, do homework, and enjoy snacks and coffee.

Many times, when veterans first come to school, they may not know where to start. But at the Veteran Support Center, staff go the extra mile to help students and make sure they get their educational benefits paid from the VA.

“College can be overwhelming for vets,” says Claire Forrester, Coordinator of Veteran Recruitment & Engagement. “We try to step in and provide support for them.”

South Texas College serves almost 900 veterans and dependents, and bears an official Military Friendly™ designation, for demonstrated service to veteran students.

“You’re not going to come to campus and be lost,” says Forrester. “We’re here to help.”

Mireles can attest to that. Next semester, he plans to return to STC to earn his bachelor’s degree.

Thanks to his service and the education he gained at South Texas College, Mireles is now able to pay it forward by working at Endeavors, a nonprofit organization that assists with a variety of services to veterans including housing, supportive employment, and mental health.

As a financial assistance associate at the company, one of Mireles’s tasks is to enter information from case managers and outreach personnel on homeless veteran populations and enter it into databases. This allows Endeavor to communicate with other agencies, coordinate help, and provide critical support to veterans.

“It’s a good job, and I don’t do it just to make money,” says Mireles. “At the end of the day, I feel grateful.”

Once he earns his bachelor’s, he has big plans to become a teacher and to run a finance department.

“Having these degrees will open up many, many doors,” says Mireles. “These degrees aren’t offered in many places, and that’s why STC is ahead of the game.”

“Miguel’s comments reflect the efforts that STC undertakes to serve all students,” said Dr. Alejo Salinas, Jr., Trustee. “Because of extreme hardships experienced by veterans, STC strives to provide guided pathways from initial enrollment to post-graduation. Instructors and support personnel are always ready to help the students.”

Dr. Salinas elaborates, “STC is recognized for its efforts to serve all students in a caring and nurturing environment. They provide one-on-one help to ensure success on the learning journey. Access for equality for all students is guided by “Experience Exceptional.”

Mireles has come a long way from the day he dropped out of high school, and overcome many hardships in life. From joining the Navy in 1985, to completing his Associate degrees in 2018 with plans to return and get a bachelor’s, he is living proof that lifelong learning can be for everyone.

“It’s never too late to accomplish this. I’m 54, and to finish with all these degrees is an accomplishment. It was not easy, but I did it.”

Ernesto Reyes is one South Texas College student who knows plenty about the pesky cattle tick. That’s because the biology scholar has spent the last two years immersed in research focused on controlling the tick population. His research approach has been to control the spread of cattle fever ticks not with chemicals, but with biology.

“Our work revolves around the parasite that emerges from the cattle fever tick,” explains Reyes. “We’re looking at the effects of nematodes [a microscopic worm], which we spray on the ticks. The nematodes then feed on the ticks and in doing so, they kill them.” Reyes has been measuring the effectiveness of different concentrations of nematodes in killing the disease-bearing ticks.

“In all our trials, we’ve noticed a slight decrease in the tick population, but that’s been in a controlled environment,” says Reyes. “Our next step is a longevity trial to get the nematodes to stay active longer in field conditions.” The work has been rewarding so far, but it can also be tricky. The nematodes tend to dry out and die in the hot Texas sun. Reyes is getting his hands dirty working through these complicated issues.

Expanding Opportunities for Students

South Texas College is dedicated to expanding the opportunities it provides for its STEM-focused students. The College has recently partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and several larger universities in a grant program called “Step 2.” The goal is to involve students in research endeavors with local scientists, increasing opportunities to further their education and, eventually, have careers within the USDA.

Reyes began researching in summer 2018, and will now continue his research with the Texas A&M Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. Students in their grant program receive a stipend so they can focus on their field and complete lab work without worrying about finances.

“Through opportunities like this, students learn they must aim high in order to continue in the field,” says Dr. Thomas Ndolo, assistant professor of biology and one of Reyes’ instructors. “They must get a four-year degree, and hopefully go on for a master’s or Ph.D. We help develop that pipeline.”

Reyes says he felt well-prepared to dive into biological and ecological research. “Before I did any field work, I spent two weeks in the biotech workshop, learning about the equipment in the labs and about data collection and analysis. South Texas College did a great job as far as preparing me for whatever we may come across in the field. And I meet with Dr. Ndolo regularly to go over findings from my research.”

It was through the grant that Reyes was able to travel to Washington D.C. to deliver a PowerPoint presentation and poster on his findings to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Those four days meant a lot to the Valley native.

“I met people from all over the country, all presenting on something they’ve studied in a field they enjoy. It was super exciting. I spoke with people with different backgrounds and some who had gone to places like Kenya to continue their work. I would find that so interesting,” he says with enthusiasm.

Reyes has been corresponding with another program attendee who keeps him informed on job and research opportunities in Colorado and other states. Clearly, the world of opportunities is opening up, and the holistic nature of his education—a mix of academics and field work—has been essential in broadening his horizons. He expects to graduate with his associate degree in biology in 2020.

Nurturing a Love of Science

At one time, Reyes thought he might want to be an architect. But his high school environmental science teacher, Ms. Santiago, fostered his love of science. She was also an instructor at South Texas College, where he was taking some classes while still in high school. In addition, Dr. Dan Murray, the principal investigator for the Step 2 grant, has been influential in fanning the flames of his interest in biology.

Dr. Ndolo has no doubt that Reyes will excel in the field. “He’s a very mature student with a good work ethic, and he puts in more than what is needed. Plus he’s done a lot of field work, sometimes under difficult conditions.”

When he graduates from South Texas College, Reyes plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree, perhaps at Texas A&M or the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

“I definitely want to continue with ecology, particularly the study of mammals,” Reyes says. “Disease ecology seems to be growing as well, and that’s also really interesting to me.”

It’s interesting to think his future career in ecology and understanding what makes mammals tick, all began at South Texas College with the study of a pesky tick.

For the 38% of Americans who name beer as their “go-to” after work wind-down, there’s nothing quite like a cold brew at the end of a rough day. And with small-batch brewing now accounting for nearly a quarter of the market share, the craft beer craze has become a way of life. But how much do we really think about the “craft” in craft beer?

At South Texas College, students will be doing more than just thinking about it. Thanks to a unique Texas Workforce Commission-backed partnership with local breweries like Mission’s 5x5 Brewing Co., STC students will have the opportunity to get an education in fermentation. The upcoming program will respond to high demand – the number of craft breweries in Texas has ballooned from 60 to more than 280 in the last eight years, making it one of the state’s fastest-growing industries.

“Brewing science is very much hands-on – you can read it all day long, and not understand it,” says George Rice, Director of Operations and co-owner at 5x5 Brewing Co. “We’re getting the region ready for everything this industry is going to be.”

The Brewery Apprenticeship program will be another one of the College’s unique endeavors in matching regional skills to workforce needs. The College also recently launched highly successful apprenticeship programs in biomedical maintenance, certified nursing, customer service and cybersecurity in partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission. But with no precedent set for the regional brewing industry, the new program will navigate uncharted waters.

“As far as we can tell, South Texas College’s 5x5 Brewery Apprenticeship is the only one of its kind,” says Texas Workforce Commission spokesman Francisco Gamez. “In Texas, apprenticeship programs have traditionally been associated with trades such as construction, electrical and plumbing. South Texas College has listened to industry in their area and implemented a unique program.”

The need for tech-savvy brewing professionals is swelling in Texas. According to the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, the industry accounts for $5.2 billion in annual economic impact, ranking third nationwide. Meanwhile, the number of craft breweries has more than quadrupled in Texas since 2011, creating a dire “skills gap” that threatens to paralyze industry growth.

“We have a skills problem here in the valley,” says Rice. “It’s a specific trade, lots of science and math. We honestly don't have the labor force here for it.”

The Brewery Apprenticeship program will draw from the certification curriculum of the American Brewers Guild, which provides an academic foundation for the complex science of craft brewing. What will really make the program unique, however, is the hands-on experience students will gain through live brew projects at 5x5, using real industry facilities and technology.

“Lots of things go into this process that anyone else would probably overlook – looking at nuances, details, slight differences with consistency,” says Carlos Margo, Associate Dean of Industry Training and Economic Development at South Texas College. “5x5 needed employees to get a little more advanced when it came to tech skills.”

It’s not just the quality of beer that’s rising in South Texas. For career-educated and workforce-trained professionals in the brewing industry, paychecks are skyrocketing as well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, average brewery salaries have increased by 25 percent in the last 10 years, rising to a national average of $67,236. With Texas trailing only California and Colorado in craft beer production, good things are brewing for future STC apprentices.

“They’re going to be getting paid more, with potential to be more marketable,” says Margo. “[5x5] has a good ability to deliver a lot of beer wholesale, and wants to make sure that employees have a consistent education. That’s the goal here.”

With industry demand peaking, implementing a Brewery Apprentice program may seem like a “no-brainer.” But with no regional precedent, the partners at STC, 5x5, and the Texas Workforce Commission knew there would be work involved.

Contact for the project was initiated by Rice, a South Texas College alumnus. Rice had always admired the College’s outcome-focused ideology, which melded with the “painfully blunt” philosophy shared by Rice and his military veteran co-founders.

“I reached out thinking this would be a pretty amazing partnership,” says Rice, who attended the College’s EMT/Paramedic program prior to launching 5x5 Brewing Co. “We need tradesmen in skilled labor. STC is mindful of this stuff.”

Rice reached out to STC Vice President David Plummer, who saw the regional potential in the industry, and began the time-consuming work of connecting existing curriculum, Texas Workforce Commission resources, and STC services with the project. Just last month, 5x5 began sending its first group of employees through STC’s apprenticeship program, as a pilot for the ongoing initiative. As part of the program, students will learn industry techniques directly from 5x5 lead brewer Esteban Phillips.

“I have a lot of admiration for what STC is doing. It’s very much like us as a business,” says Rice. “It made sense that STC would be the best choice.”

“It took lots of commitment from a lot of different people,” adds Margo. “George really initiated everything, and the Texas Workforce Commission has been instrumental in providing support.”

For aspiring professionals in South Texas, the craft beer boom provides a unique, outside-the-box opportunity to turn a passion into a profession. But what kind of person gravitates toward a career in brewing?

“Nerds,” says Rice, in his pointed, military-tempered manner. “A lot of science, math biology, chemistry. Tons of mechanics: hydraulics, fluid dynamics… math and science all play into it.”

According to Rice, the actual brewing accounts for only about 15 percent of a brewer’s job. The rest of the time is spent cleaning, sanitizing, milling and mashing, formulating, and handling finished products. The goal is to cultivate a product that’s not only well-balanced and pleasing to the palette, but consistent between every bottle, can, growler, and pint glass.

“In brewing, it’s all about consistency,” says Rice. “Math needs to be on point. Chemistry needs to be on point.”

“It is very scientific,” adds Margo, who considers brewing very much a STEM career. “There’s the malting process, biochemistry, looking at biochemical change with enzymes, being able to evaluate beer. People make their own beer, but it’s very different – not consistent, not very scientific.”

“I really believe the College has given me the tools I need to carry on with this journey of mine,” says Leija, who admits to being a little nervous and overwhelmed at the changes in her life over the past couple of months. After earning an associate degree, she’s now working toward a bachelor’s degree in architecture with a minor in energy and sustainability.

She didn’t know it at the time, but her father’s work in construction inspired her to begin this journey. As a young girl, she would visit him at work. “I’d go on job sites with him and was amazed by his work. I loved seeing the modern homes, how the space was laid out. It really caught my attention.”

Leija graduated among the top 10 in her high school class and had her pick of several universities. But her mother became ill and Leija, the youngest of four, decided to stay home with her family and do her studies at South Texas College. Though she had a love for design and drawing, she hadn’t considered a career in architecture at first.

“I thought I would go into business, but that was not really my passion,” she says. Fortunately, an advisor suggested she complete an associate degree in interdisciplinary studies to explore her options. Shortly thereafter, she became aware of the South Texas College Architectural and Engineering Design Technologies program.

After one introductory class, she was hooked. “That was it! I knew then that’s what I wanted to pursue,” she says.

Once she entered the architectural program, Leija says she “received help like I never have before. My teachers were so supportive. They really believed I would be an architect. When someone supports your dreams and believes in you, it really means a lot.” Leija earned her associate degree in 2015 and then received certifications in architectural and visual technology as well as architectural and engineering design.

An important factor in student success is often the relationships formed between students and teachers. When Leija was starting her architectural studies, she came to the attention of Program Chair Sara Lozano, who had an open work study position. The two quickly forged a bond that continues to this day.

“Esmer really set the bar high,” remembers Lozano, speaking of the hours Leija worked in the office. “She’s organized and a great student, plus she was eager to learn more. She became part of the team quickly, and would jump in with suggestions. Not only is she talented, she was willing to do presentations, speak to middle school students, and take it upon herself to learn how to use any new programs or equipment we had so she could teach others.”

Essential Experience in Technical Skills

Lozano has been at South Texas College for 13 years, and in that time the program has undergone some major changes.

“We began by focusing on computer-aided draft and design,” she says. “But we realized that students were interested in architecture, so in 2016 we added classes that would give them what they needed to transfer to a bachelor’s program in architecture should they desire to do so.”

One of the ways South Texas College addresses the more extensive needs of the transfer-friendly program is by providing the students with new state-of-the-art equipment. One example is their advanced virtual reality 3D modeling software. Students use it to turn their drawings into virtual 3D spaces that others can “walk” through and explore.

“Even local firms don’t always do this with their drawings,” says Lozano. “We felt it was necessary for students to get ahead of the curve. They have the drafting skills required, and now they can bring something new and innovative to the table.”

“When I got out of school, I didn’t have any of the technical skills we are giving these students,” admits Lozano, who graduated from Yale University’s architectural program.

Lozano and other faculty members are making sure students in the program get as much experience as possible. Leija, for example, worked as a lab assistant. She helped other students with programs including AutoCAD and Revit, worked with the 3D printer and other equipment, and assisted staff and faculty with various projects.

Because of this, Leija was able to land drafting jobs with two firms in the area. This gave her a wealth of experience with the production of construction documents, schematic designs, renderings, 3D models, and weekly field reports. Leija also worked on important collaborative projects with other venues.

One such project came about when Leija was selected as one of four students to collaborate with Mexico’s Instituto Technologico de Reynosa. Their challenge was to design an atrium renovation at the South Texas College Technology Campus.

“We worked in teams to create a design proposal. It taught me so much about how others learn and process information. Together, we had to analyze the problem, collect ideas, and present a model to an audience.”

It was Lozano and the faculty at South Texas College that recommended Leija for her most recent position, a seven-month internship with Negrete & Kolar Architects. “Since she’s left, they’ve requested that we send them ‘someone else like Esmeralda,’” says Lozano.

Moving on Up

“The school has been so important to me,” says Leija. “It’s the reason I’ve had the experience I’ve had. My teachers motivated me. They pushed me. These projects, my work study, and my position as a lab assistant all had a huge impact on me.”

As for Lozano, she says she couldn’t be more proud of Leija, and she’s eager to watch as her future unfolds. “I understand that it’s hard for her family to let her go to Houston, and it really is a big deal for Esmer to leave the Valley. But she’s got a whole lot of potential, and it’s the only way she could achieve her dreams. There’s nothing stopping her!”

As the Drama Department chair at South Texas College, Rodriguez says his approach to the arts has been about cultivating communication among students and looking at theater in a way that is more than just entertainment.

It’s about bringing communities together and opening a dialogue to discuss what happens in those communities, he said. Most importantly, it is about utilizing the power of education, strengthening communities, and using the arts to bridge the gap between them.

Theater after all is about the phenomenon that occurs among relationships with people, and using that to bring about change, Rodriguez said.

“We have seen our graduated students become really successful in what they do, and a lot of it goes back to us getting an understanding that in our field of work, in what we do, everything is about how you are able to work with people,” Rodriguez said. “How is it that you're able to speak with people not just on the creative side, but through their own world perspective?

“We tell students to check their ego and keep their personal stuff outside of the theater because we all have baggage. Focus on the work. Focus on the people, and then go for it,” Rodriguez said.

Originally from Houston, Rodriguez says a career in education has always been his top priority, followed closely by a need to assist people in communities. It’s where his approach to theater derives, he said.

Graduating from the University of St. Thomas in Houston in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, Rodriguez then delved into working for non-profit groups, which were focused more on social issues and public service work.

It was during his undergraduate studies that Rodriguez worked for the Office of Volunteer Opportunities. As a program volunteer and then as volunteer coordinator, Rodriguez said he would contribute for hunger and homelessness programs or HIV/AIDS education programs.

A portion of this volunteer work was also devoted to doing artwork with individuals living in homeless shelters, or assisting with after school programs and mentorship programs for young people in elementary or middle schools.

This job would provide a natural segue into his next role as an educator in the arts, and enabled him to find ajob at Brown University at the Howard Swearer Center for Public Service as their volunteer coordinator for nearly two years.

After Brown, Rodriguez said he worked as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer with Dallas Children's Theater. That job presented him with a full on arts education program that tasked him with incorporating the arts into education in order to enhance the curricula there.

“In some way, shape, or form the arts always came back into the work that I did, but I didn't understand why,” Rodriguez said. “We were really focused on looking at the social studies chapters and bringing those to life using theater, art, dance and every other aspect we could think of.

“What our work showed was that the arts provided that additional boost for excellence for the students,” he said. “It was then that I realized what I wanted to do and ended up going to UT Austin for my Master of Fine Arts degree. When I came on board to the program I was only one of six to get in.”

So finally slowing down from a journey that had him traveling from Houston to Boston, then Providence to Dallas and finally Austin within a span of less than ten years, Rodriguez said he made his way to the Rio Grande Valley in 2003.

He began his career in the Valley teaching Biology and Theater Arts to middle school students, an experience he said was eye opening and terrifying but necessary. It would provide him with the inspiration to finally start his dream career doing what he loves, he said.

“I think my biggest inspiration was taking stock of myself and realizing that for every path I took, I was still doing the work that I was meant to be doing,” he said. “I am committed to public service. I am committed to social change, and theater and art always had a part in that.”

The advent of STC’s Drama Department coincided with the opening of the college’s Cooper Center for Communication Arts in 2008. Both are celebrating their 10th year anniversary this year.

Rodriguez began with the drama department in 2010, following in the footsteps of Dr. Jack Carroll, who was the founding director of the program.

Cooper Center holds anywhere from four to five plays a year which vary from drama, comedy, and musicals with the intent to spark curiosity and appreciation for fine arts for all attendees.

Students will spend roughly six weeks from the beginning of a production to opening night preparing for the plays. During this time, students dedicate their time learning their scripts, getting measured for their outfits, which they make from scratch, and designing their own stage lighting among many other tasks.

There were an estimated 63,000 jobs in the fine arts field as of 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment is expected to grow 12 percent from 2016 to 2026.

Rodriguez says he works with over 100 students every semester and helps propel them into their career paths as drama teachers, actors, and successful fine arts professionals.

“A lot of it goes back to the mentorship that we offer. It's not just the instruction,” said Jason. “It's getting them to understand what the transition's going to be for them from high school theatre to college theatre and what the expectations are.”

“For acting a lot of what we go back to is taking those baby steps to understand how your thoughts, your body, your voice all connect in a way that creates this feeling of being authentic,” expressed Rodriguez.

Jason says he looks to continue bringing culture to the area as well as big city opportunities to small town students.

As the curtains close, and the lights fade, Rodriguez says that while theatre is his calling, he says the bigger picture is life and finding your passion.

“In the end, it’s about building up those successes for students so that when they're finally way up there, they feel like they own the world,” said Rodriguez. “We also look at how we can impact what is going on in the world with the plays we do.”

“I started taking classes in HVAC at South Texas College when I was still in high school, so that by the time I graduated I already had a year of credits under my belt,” Villegas says.

Classes in the program were challenging, he admits, and he’s grateful for the solid preparation he received before he graduated.

“At least half of my instructors were HVAC professionals. They had their own businesses, so they were able to give us a very real-world education. They talked about how to streamline the work, how to deal with customers, [and the] things they had to deal with in their own jobs outside of teaching. That personal experience makes all the difference,” says Villegas.

The Challenges of a Booming Business

As the current service manager for the family business, Villegas is proud of the fact that Frontier Air Conditioning has grown every year. In the first six months of 2019, for example, the company purchased 120% more from their supply house than they did throughout all of the last year. Villegas has also grown the company’s online presence and can say that Frontier is the only HVAC company in the Valley that’s Google Guaranteed, a designation that requires a review of licensure, customer reviews, and ratings.

That’s where Villegas’ business background comes in handy. In addition to his Associate degree in HVAC, he earned an additional Associate degree in business management from South Texas College. His coursework taught him the economics of the business, how to bring his company to a higher level of efficiency, and how to estimate productivity.

In fact, the only thing keeping the company from expanding further is the scarcity of trained HVAC technicians. “There’s a huge market for HVAC technicians, and a small pool to choose from,” he says. “I have to turn down work because I don’t have enough people to handle it all.”

Pulse on the Profession

In hopes of bringing more attention to this reliable career path, Villegas works with Jorge Martinez, HVAC program coordinator at South Texas College. Their goal is to attract new students and retain those currently enrolled in the program.

“I invited Jay Villegas to be part of our advisory committee,” says Martinez. “He’s in a position to hire, so his feedback on the way we educate students is valuable. We’ll talk about the new tools coming on the scene, skills that he thinks graduates will need, and anything that is new in the industry. Then, it’s up to us at the College to make the needed changes to better prepare students.”

Martinez has redesigned some of the lab equipment to mirror the tools that students will actually be working with in the field. The HVAC electrical class previously worked on outdated electric board trainers, for example, but now students practice their skills on the same equipment they will use on site.

The HVAC profession remains in need of new personnel because it has not been adversely affected by automation, unlike many other technical fields. Skilled human hands are still needed to install, diagnose and fix equipment.

South Texas College offers a certificate program in HVAC, as well as an Associate degree. Technicians looking to advance in a company or work with building automation most often need an Associate degree, says Martinez.

Drawing on Exceptional Experience

Villegas will visit South Texas College this fall to talk to students about the profession, provide mentoring sessions, and give them a sense of what the day-to-day work is all about. “Sure, part of the job is fixing an air conditioner. But just as important are the other parts, such as business ethics, building your reputation in the community, getting insurance on your van, and dealing with online reviews,” he says. In other words, the nitty-gritty things that might not come up in the classroom.

Attracting the right students to the HVAC program is one thing; retaining them is another. Martinez has made it a point to show students the broad field of opportunities available to them.

“Installing or servicing a residential air conditioner is just one avenue,” he explains, “but HVAC technicians are needed in schools and hospital buildings as well. They also work with building automation controls to ensure that sensors and sequence of operations are accurate. They can do airflow tests and balancing or even become product specialists, which is basically a sales job. Since contractors are always looking for HVAC technicians, it’s a great field for men and women of any age.”

For more information on the HVAC program, visit https://bt.southtexascollege.edu/hvacr/index.html.

HVAC Fast Facts

• The national median annual salary is $47,610 in 2018.
• The expected job growth from 2016 to 2026 in the U.S. is 15 percent (higher than average).
• The U.S. is expected to add 48,800 HVAC jobs by 2026.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

First, a definition. Cloud computing is a service that allows individuals and companies to “rent” space on a remote data server—rather than on a local server or personal computer—and access their data via the internet. Google, Microsoft, and IBM, for example, store, manage, and process data for many companies. If you’ve ever streamed a movie from Netflix, stored your photos on SmugMug, or played videogames online, you’ve used cloud computing technology.

For companies big and small, the advantages of using cloud computing are many. “Companies save money by pushing their tech onto the web,” explains Meliton Hinojosa, chairman of the Computer and Advanced Technologies Department. “Instead of purchasing a multitude of programs, their employees or customers can access the information on the drive. Plus, it’s easy to add memory, unlike years ago when growing companies had to buy new servers in order to expand. With cloud computing, they can grow more nimbly than in the past.”

If a company has an active website, for example, hosting that site on the cloud will ensure that it will function smoothly regardless of how many visitors log on to it at one time. And if a computer crashes, the cloud will safely retain the information that was uploaded.

Another big plus: “Companies mitigate their own risk by offloading data to the cloud provider, who handles the security,” Hinojosa. The server will continually scan the computers within the network for viruses or vulnerabilities, then send reports to the administrator, explains Hinojosa. For companies with an international reach, the European Union’s new regulations aimed at tightening security for online data have also increased the need for the safety and security of cloud computing.

Exceptional Student Experience

For students in the South Texas College Cloud Computing and Virtualization Specialist program, the experience is exceptional. “The program combines both knowledge in hardware (CPUs, computer architecture, etc.) and computer virtualization, which allows them to run application servers,” explains Hinojosa. And that combination of skills is a win-win for those who complete the program, positioning them to be well-prepared for the job market, particularly in the telecommunications industry. Graduates often support Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems, or work in networking or with broadband services.

South Texas College is an Authorized Academy Partner of CompTIA, the trade association for various IT certifications, such as Security+ and Network+. The association provides valuable tools and resources to assist schools in recruiting, training, certifying, and upgrading the skills of their students in IT, and helps schools enhance student career opportunities.

The Cloud Computing Program represents 25 credit hours and was established about three years ago. Students often combine that certificate with other complementary certificates within the Computer and Advanced Technologies Department, says Hinojosa. For example, cybersecurity is hot right now, as companies are always wary of data breaches. But the most popular tech program at South Texas College is Computer Maintenance Technology, where students learn computer architecture, installation, and troubleshooting. Credits earned in any of these programs can then be applied toward a bachelor’s degree.

Students who complete a certificate in cloud computing can choose to work at one of the big data centers in San Antonio or elsewhere…or they can opt to work remotely from a home office.

“Many of these students are hired by hospitals and school systems. They don’t have to move elsewhere, and that’s a plus for those who want to stay in the area,” notes Hinojosa.

Fun Facts

• The median annual salary for cloud computing professionals in the U.S. was $116,448, according to job search engine ZipRecruiter.
• Cloud computing is expected to be a $300 billion business by 2021.
• Employer interest for candidates with cloud computing skills rose 33 percent from 2015 to 2018, according to the job-search website Indeed. 
• Computer and information technology jobs are projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average. These jobs will have a greater emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security.

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/

Being battle-hardened in the industry however doesn’t mean much if you can’t pass your knowledge on to students who have the same desire to succeed as professionals, creators, and especially as artists, Guerra said.

“When you wake up in the morning, if you are not thinking that you have the ability to make a difference, or if you are not thinking that your voice matters, then you are doing something wrong,” she said. “I think that my journey in education has supplemented my journey in the industry so much in my ability to take my practical experience and really teach students; to deliver the message better.

“There's a difference between doing and teaching,” she said. “My education has really helped me in the practice of delivery, and helped me understand diversity.”

Guerra said she discovered a love for cooking very early in life. A friend of the family operated a small Greek-inspired restaurant next door to the store her mother operated in a suburb of Chicago, and she started busing tables at the age of 12. It only took her one week until she was working in the kitchen, Guerra said.

By the time she was in high school, Guerra said she was putting in full-time hours at the restaurant while learning her craft.

“Before I even finished high school, I became a supervisor and a chef's assistant, so I basically had a semi-management position,” she said. “I worked full-time through high school, not because I needed to, but because I loved it. I loved everything about it.”

Her passion would enable her to attend the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York right after high school to begin her formal education. Her first experience in college was humbling and often intimidating, she said.

The Culinary Institute of America has been providing the world's best professional culinary education for more than seventy years. While the school currently has a makeup that is 50 percent male and 50 percent female, that wasn’t always the case, Guerra said.

“The chefs there would actually take bets on when girls were going to drop out, and they would give us tasks that were very physically demanding,” Guerra said. “When we were instructed to serve other students as part of the program, I was often given the chef’s table, and they would stack 16 plates on a tray.

“You would see them all throw their money into the middle of the table to see who was going to drop the tray,” Guerra said. “Things like that did not break me. Things like that made me prove them wrong. Truth be told, there were times when I was in that program that I was ready to say ‘I'm done’ but the more people told me I couldn't, the more I proved them wrong.”

After two years, Guerra received her Associate degree in Culinary Arts from CIA and then immediately went to work in the industry. While in the industry she has held a variety of positions including executive chef, general manager, and director of kitchen operations as well as owning her own business.

Then an opportunity for a career change changed her life forever. In 2011, she became a judge for a cooking competition that was being held on campus at STC, and she soon discovered that the college had a culinary program.

The process was gradual at first, but she fell in love with teaching from then on, she said.

“The chair at the time asked me if I wanted to come teach, but I wasn't sure that it was for me because I'd always seen myself in a restaurant environment,” she said. “I still worked at the restaurant part-time to start but after that first semester I knew this as the direction for me.

“I just fell in love with teaching, and it has been an awesome experience of personal growth,” she said.

She also returned to college after working for years in the industry. She received her bachelor degree in Organizational Leadership from South Texas College and then received her Master’s Degree in Education from George Washington University.

She is currently working on her doctorate in education from Baylor University.

“I think that the years in the industry helped me to know what they (students) are really going to face,” she said. “We can fill ourselves with all sorts of theory and belief of what an industry holds, but until you've actually been in the thick of it do you understand what it really takes.”

As demand for culinary arts professionals continues to grow across the country, programs like STC’s play a critical role in making sure regional employers have the professionals they need to prosper. Texas is the fourth largest employer of chefs and head cooks in the nation, and demand is projected to grow at a rate of 10 percent by 2026, according to the U.S Department of Labor.

Since her start at STC in 2011, Guerra said the program has worked hard to revise the curriculum within Culinary Arts to better meet the needs of the region and its students, or what she calls “knives in hands and fire under pans.”

The program has added numerous courses for students including a new Associate in Applied Science with a specialization in Baking and Pastry Arts. For fall 2019, students can look ahead to four new courses including Meat Preparation and Cooking, Professional Kitchen Essentials, Cake Baking and Production, and Quantity Bakeshop Production.

When asked to put into words what facets of her life have driven her to succeed not only as a professional chef, but as an instructor later in life, Guerra says nothing could have happened without the passion to achieve anything she set her mind to.

Whether through good food, teaching, or the great family she found in the Rio Grande Valley, Guerra says nothing compares to the power you have to change something for the better.

“I tell my students that they have to get in there,” Guerra said. “I think that all the years in the industry helped me develop some thick skin, and some belief that you've got to push for the things that you want,” she said. “When you're out there, the kitchen environment is not something that just hands things over very easily and I don't think people realize how competitive the industry is.

“Students are going to get some bumps and bruises as they work their way up, but if this is what they really want, then they have got to push through, they just have to keep proving themselves out there,” Guerra said.

As the Department Chair for the Associate Degree Nursing Program, Dr. Candelaria says being a role model for student success is her priority.

“I feel that a part of me is with that person, even if it's only one semester that I touched that person’s life, I’m a part of that,” expressed Dr. Candelaria. “The self-fulfillment and legacy that I see in the people that I have educated is priceless.”

“We have graduates who advance their education to be nurse practitioners and certified nurse anesthetists. Some of them are working in management positions now and then they look back and see me, and say ‘Hi, you were my professor,’ and that is a legacy.”

Despite her many successes, Dr. Candelaria says she will always stay grounded and remember her roots in the Philippines. Being raised in a family of ten, in a third world country, Candelaria said there was no financial help available for an education.

“Our parents would send us to school and pay money out of their own pockets,” explained Candelaria. “I've always wanted to be an alumnus of something great other than the schools that I've been to.”

Candelaria started her academic journey in the Philippines where she spent five years studying to be a bachelor’s prepared registered nurse. With a vision to attend an Ivy League University, she refused to let her struggles bring her down.

“I realized that it wasn’t impossible. I applied to come over to the United States,” said Dr. Candelaria. “My primary goal was of course, to work and to help my family out, but the second goal was to go to school.”

With bags in hand ready to board a plane to New York, Dr. Candelaria says Columbia University was in her sights.

“My goal was set, Columbia University, and why? It was my chance to fulfill a dream.”

In the process, Dr. Candelaria said she was eager to pursue her master’s degree in nursing education at the Teachers College of Columbia University which has graduated more than 13,000 nurses since its founding in 1982. The University is also well known for attracting international students like Dr. Candelaria.

Upon acceptance into Columbia University, Dr. Candelaria said she wasted no time in starting classes. She was delighted to see that the class sizes were small because there was more one-on-one experiences with professors.

“What helped me out was the fact that the class sizes were only about 12 students,” explained Dr. Candelaria. “Since classes were small, everyone was always engaged in the conversation so it was hard not to talk or participate. The professors were very encouraging and excellence is the norm.”

Dr. Candelaria says moving from a university in the Philippines to Columbia University was very different as classes were structured differently.

“At Columbia, I was expected to be more focused on evidence-based practice and research,” said Dr. Candelaria. “We did not adhere to textbooks. We were given autonomy to choose our projects, most of which focused on the community.”

“Attending Columbia University was challenging since it is a huge university,” expressed Dr. Candelaria. “However, it felt amazing to be in a university where I was surrounded by students and faculty from all over the world.”

With Columbia University now under her belt, Candelaria says she looks to share the lessons she has learned with students and staff of STC. She encourages students never to settle in their education.

“I want the students to always keep moving forward and to keep learning,” expressed Dr. Candelaria.

“STC recognizes talent and graduates about 250 students with ADN degrees annually,” explained Candelaria. "I never stopped being a real nurse by being an educator. Come to think of it, when I'm working at the bedside, I am only one RN. But by being an academic nurse educator, I am helping produce more qualified RNs for the various healthcare facilities in the RGV.”

With hard work and dedication, Dr. Candelaria has been the recipient of many accolades including the Distinguished Teaching and Learning Award for South Texas College Hall of Fame, National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development Award (NISOD), and the Jaguar award.

Much like caring for a patient, Dr. Candelaria says she will continue to keep the nursing program at STC healthy and vibrant for years to come.

“I do the best that I can every day in whatever capacity I am in when I come to work. The knowledge, skills, and attitudes I obtained at Columbia University is the foundation of who I am at STC.”

Among the program’s many successful alumni, Hilda Pedraza says her career choice stems from a life devoted to public service. A long-time employee for the City of Pharr, Pedraza said her job as City Clerk required the proper education and experience in order to effectively manage the various municipal laws and procedures.

Returning to college after nearly 30 years, Pedraza said she took advantage of night and online courses at South Texas College, which enabled her to manage a high-paced career along with her goals for higher education.

Through sheer resilience and tenacity, she earned an associate degree in Public Administration in December 2018 despite a full-time work schedule with the City of Pharr.

“I didn't have the opportunity to go back to college thirty years ago so when I started working for the city 18 years ago I told myself ‘You know what, it's time for me to further my career’,” Hilda said. “Earning my degree helped with my current job because this position requires a lot of education and a lot of experience. We attend a lot of conferences because we have to keep updated with the laws and what we do.”

The Associates of Applied Science degree in Public Administration prepares students for career opportunities in the public sector including government, social service organizations, and community agencies.

The program includes a Capstone: Co-op in Public Administration designed to give students real-world experience related to the area of their career interest. Faculty says there a variety of positions available in the public sector for those with Public Administration degrees.

“There’s a need for talent in public finance, IT, public works, transportation, human resources, and communications,” said Diana Lucio, Department Chair for STC’s Public Administration Program.

“The Public Administration Program at STC includes courses in all these areas to provide students a well- rounded learning experience for public sector work,” Lucio said. “There is likely a job in the public sector to fit your interest. We encourage students to be a part of their community and serve their community while building on their careers.”

Public sector jobs are among the top three in jobs in Texas, according to a report by Texas Workforce Commission.

On a national level, a study by the National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA) reports that state government jobs rose 11 percent from 2013 to 2017.

At STC, the program enables students to understand the political, legal, ethical and social context of public administration and includes areas such as public sector management, budgeting, ethics, and supervision. The program includes a three credit hour practicum designed to give the student real-world experience related to the area of their career interest.

Pedraza says the program has ensured she is ready to complete a bachelor degree in Organizational Leadership or Business Management.

“I love what I do. It's never too late for people to go back to school and get an education,” Hilda said. “Nowadays, it's very important to get your education and STC has great programs, great teachers, and my overall experience here has been great.

“The opportunity is here. Everything is in your own hands,” she said. “We just need to learn to take advantage of those opportunities.”

STC has been bestowed the inaugural “Seal of Excelencia” by Washington D.C.-based Excelencia in Education.

The College was the only higher education institution in the Valley to receive the designation and demonstrates a significant success in serving Latino students according to the organization, which announced STC as the Seal’s recipient June 20.

Excelencia created the seal of approval last year to challenge colleges to increase Latino enrollment and improve student retention rates and faculty representation on their campuses. The Seal confirms STC has demonstrated outstanding success in helping Latino students attend college and graduate.

The designation of the Seal of Excellencia followed a critical review of integrated elements from the institution that set a strong national model for what all institutions can do to intentionally serve Latino students.

“Twenty-five years ago, South Texas College embarked on a journey to create a college-going culture for the predominately Hispanic population of the Rio Grande Valley; whereby going to and completing college was possible, affordable, and expected for all Hispanic students,” said STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed. “This Seal of Excelencia confirms South Texas College has achieved its commitment to serve the Hispanic population of the Rio Grande Valley with unparalleled success.”

Pictured from left to right: Mario Reyna, STC Dean of Business, Public Safety and Technology; Rose Benavides, Vice Chair, South Texas College Board of Trustees; Deborah Santiago, CEO, Excelencia in Education and Wanda Garza, Executive Officer for External Relations.

Excelencia, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve education outcomes for Latino college students, announced its initial 20 finalists for the recognition on May 23. Prior to that, the organization named STC among the top institutions in the nation for outstanding, evidence-based results for improving Latino student success in higher education in 2017.

The Advisory Council reviewed STC for several elements including positive momentum in the data for Latino students, evidence of effectiveness and intentionality in institutional practices serving Latino students, alignment of data and practice in serving Latino students, and strategies in leadership that clearly articulate institutional focus on advancing Latino student success.

Members of the Seal of Excelencia’s Advisory Council were comprised of leaders with expertise in postsecondary education and large-scale change arenas. Members include J. Noah Brown, who is President and CEO of the Association of Community College Trustees; Danette Howard, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of the Lumina Foundation; William Moses, Managing Director of the Education Program for the Kresge Foundation; Lisette Nieves, Director of Educational Leadership and Clinical Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at New York University Steinhardt; and Havidan Rodriguez, President, University at Albany, SUNY.

“The Seal of Excelencia documents that South Texas College has intentionally implemented evidence-based practices to achieve and exceed the success metrics for all Hispanic students,” Dr. Reed said.

A 2017 report from CNN Money uncovered some startling statistics: many community college graduates are out-earning those with four-year degrees. In fact, data from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce showed that almost 30 percent of two-year graduates out-earned four-year graduates. That fact held true in a number of fields.

Some of the reasons are obvious. Those graduating with bachelor’s degrees that are not in demand (think psychology, English literature, or art history) are likely to earn less over the course of their careers.

Plus, many graduates of four-year schools incur a tremendous debt load, thereby reducing their ROI.

Community college graduates, on the other hand, often leave school with little to no debt. Students transferring from a community college to a four-year school are typically in a better financial position than their peers who spend four years or more at a university. And because most Continuing Professional and Workforce Education programs at South Texas College are targeted to the needs of the regional job market, students take courses specific to the field they want and that are generally sought-after. They leave school with job-ready skills. And when they need another certificate or license in order to move up the ladder, it’s South Texas College that offers those courses. Once completed, students often see a nice jump in pay.

Expanding Healthcare Careers

Take healthcare, for example. Every area of the field is growing, especially in the Rio Grande Valley, says Olivia de la Rosa, director of Continuing Professional and Workforce Education at South Texas College. The college meets that growing need with certificate programs in phlebotomy, billing and coding, health records, and pharmacy tech, to name just a few.

In 2017-18, students in the Health Information Technology program reported a 94% satisfactory score in the quality of preparation the program provided for the job market.[1] The salaries they can expect to make upon completion vary according to their specialty. Medical coding specialists, for example, can expect to earn anywhere from $35,000 to $60,000, while the median annual salary for a pharmacy tech in Texas is about $32,000.

Phlebotomy programs are run several times a month, and many students are ultimately hired by the hospital or facility where they did their clinicals, according to Elias Hernandez, program developer and coordinator.

Where the Jobs Are

As in much of the country, there’s been an ongoing need for skilled workers such as certified welders and machinists, says de la Rosa. With the next few years, two large companies are expected to move to the area, both of which will require welders.

To keep up with demand, South Texas College has a new welding facility on its Technology Campus. As is true for all programs, instructors have real-world experience working in the field or owning their own shops. “If they don’t have that experience, they wouldn’t be effective teachers,” adds de la Rosa.

Also in demand: licensed truck and bus drivers. With a pulse on business community needs, South Texas College runs classes in defensive driving, public transit bus driving, school bus driving, and truck driving as often as every two weeks. “We take about 20 students per month into the trucking program,” says Hernandez. “The need is great because the economy has improved, especially across manufacturing.”

Successful completion of the truck driving course leads to CDL (commercial driver’s license) certification. The bus driving course leads to Class B licensure and Passenger Endorsement, both of which are necessary to get hired.

The earning potential is solid, says Hernandez. School bus drivers might start out at $14 per hour, with benefits. Truckers can make as much as $90,000 working in the oil industry or doing long distance driving.

Truckers who choose to work at a local plant might make less, adds Hernandez, but they can remain closer to home to spend more time with their families, rather than being on the road for days or weeks at a time.

Experience Success

Mary Lou Henry is a real estate broker in McAllen and an instructor in the Real Estate program at South Texas College. She earned her license about 25 years ago and is now one of the area’s leading real estate agents. For students wishing to go into real estate, there’s no question the return on their investment at South Texas College is positive, she says.

“The state requires six classes, then additional classes over a two-year period after sitting for an exam,” Henry explains. “Those classes, plus books and fees, might be a few thousand dollars.” As sales agents, graduates can make that back quickly.

“I’ve been teaching here about 20 years, and the majority of my former students are still in the business and have gone on to get a broker’s license,” she says. They wouldn’t continue in the profession if they weren’t successful, she notes.

Continuing Professional and Workforce Education programs offer the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to advance careers and experience success.

Genaro, originally from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico was raised in General Bravo, Nuevo Leon. He came to the United States for a better life. Being the son of immigrants, he and his parents were always traveling.

“When I used to live in Mexico with my parents, we would go back and forth all the time,” said Genaro. “My parents would work in the fields in California and Texas.”

Growing up, Genaro always dreamed of being a television anchor and says he knew exactly how he would make it happen.

“I remember as a kid, I would tell myself ‘Im going to move to the United States, learn English, and become an anchor one day,’” said Genaro. “I knew it was going to be a tough goal to reach, but I was motivated to make it happen.”

Genaro’s journey of being an anchor started at the age of 16 where he attended the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon. There, he received first place in the National Science Competition “VII World Science for all 2001-2002” and had the chance to visit the President of Mexico, Vicente Fox Quezada.

Genaro migrated to the United States at the age of 18. It was then that he enrolled at South Texas College, where he decided to pursue a Bachelors of Applied Technology Degree in Technology Management (BAT).

The BAT program at STC educates, trains, and develops successful supervisors who will be prepared to utilize technology to create a competitive advantage for their company.

“I enjoyed being in the BAT program. One of my biggest mentors was Dr. Ali Esmaeili,” explained Genaro. “When I graduated, I graduated with four different honor societies that include the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success, Kappa Beta Honor Society, English Honor Society, and the Vice President Honor Society.”

Soon after graduating from STC, Genaro found himself in the spotlight, landing several jobs including Telemundo 40 in McAllen, Entravision in McAllen, and Telemundo 60 in San Antonio.

“One of the things I remember working with these different companies, is that I got to interview people like Beto O’ Rourke, Julian Castro, and Ted Cruz,” said Genaro.

Genaro is now breaking the mold by making his dream a reality working for Univision in Philadelphia as a bilingual journalist.

“I work in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware,” said Genaro. “Some of the things my job consists of is working with the community, covering breaking news stories, and writing in English and Spanish."

Genaro feels like he has learned a lot being able to cover news in different states and says the experience has been amazing.

“My experience in these different states has been a rewarding experience,” expressed Genaro.

“Two weeks ago, I received an email that I was selected as top journalist of the year by the National Association of Top Professionals from New York,” said Genaro.

While receiving the award, Genaro says he was overwhelmed with emotions and was taken back to his childhood.

“I had a flashback when I opened the award,” explained Genaro. “It took me back to those times growing up in Mexico when I was poor and didn’t have much. I looked back to where I started to where I am now.”

Genaro thanks South Texas College for the path he is on, and says he is proud of where he started.

“I am always going to be proud to be a Jaguar from South Texas College,” said Genaro. “South Texas College is an excellent college that taught me everything I needed to know.”

With the press of a button, Genaro is now on camera. He says that hard work pays off and says he wants to continue moving forward.

“As a son of immigrants, I came to America to have a better life, and I think I am achieving that slowly but surely,” expressed Genaro.

“I am very motivated to continue moving forward,” said Genaro. “I see the suffering of those individuals trying to cross for a better life and I want to do this for them.”

Gilbert, originally from Mission, Texas, is a six-year military veteran who has traveled across the country during his time in the military.

“I went to Fort Polk, Louisiana for basic training, from there I went to Fort Lewis in Washington where I worked for six months, and then California,” explained Gilbert. “It was definitely a learning experience.”

Gilbert says after his time in the Army, he found a job as an electrician, but soon after, lost his job due to a work accident and couldn’t afford necessities.

“I was living in my car for about three months up in Austin, Texas,” said Gilbert. “I wasn’t scared or anything, it was just hard. I never thought I would end up homeless.”

“I would get jobs for a day or two just to have money to eat, but that was about it,” explained Gilbert. “I just did the best I could, but it just seems like I had no let out.”

It was soon after he had moved back to the Rio Grande Valley that Gilbert decided to turn his life around and enrolled at South Texas College in the spring of 2016.

“I knew getting my education would help me get my life back on track. I was told to follow my dreams and come back to school, so that's what I did,” said Gilbert.

Gilbert is now a student at STC pursuing an Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Technology.

The electrical technology program at STC will prepare students to install, connect, test, and maintain electrical systems for a variety of purposes, including climate control, security and communications.

Electrician instructor at STC, Felix Sandoval, says the electrical technology field provides students with a steady income that they can rely on.

“These jobs are in high demand right now,” explained Sandoval. “Salaries can range anywhere from $12-$50 an hour.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of electricians is projected to grow nine percent from 2016 to 2026.

“I chose the electrician technology field because of my strong background and I know the jobs in the field pay well so I won’t have to worry about going homeless again,” said Gilbert.

Gilbert is a lot closer to achieving his dream of graduating this May and says he would like to get his masters electricians license.

“I hope to take the test to be a general electrician this summer. Hopefully with that master’s electrician license, I can possibly start my own business.”

Gilbert says he is now charged up and ready to look forward to a brighter future.

“I have come a long way since living in my car, I am ready for new beginnings,” expressed Gilbert.

Gilbert says he wants to set an example for not only students, but many other military veterans who are struggling or going through the same situation.

“We all have our own mountains and valleys to go through, but it’s important to keep pushing forward to get where we want to be,” said Gilbert. “I can say that it’s getting better for me. I’m up on that mountain and I’m almost to the top.”

In South Texas and beyond, women in technology-focused careers are smashing old stigmas and opening new doors. It’s not just a moment, but a movement… and career education is on the front lines.

“The bridge of success for STEM careers is not only for males anymore,” says South Texas College Manufacturing Tech graduate Samantha Salazar, now succeeding as a Machinist for Priority Tooling Solutions in McAllen. “These women have shown it can be done.”

Salazar is one of many STC alums breaking barriers in the dynamic world of high-tech. With technology driving the new economy, demand for career-educated professionals in future-focused fields like engineering, manufacturing and IT is reaching critical mass… and STC grads are stepping up to the challenge.

“A lot of people think that only men can do the job, but there are a lot of women in technology fields -- and not just office jobs,” says Regal Beloit’s Jessica Adame, who, like Salazar, parlayed her STC degree into a rewarding – if “non-traditional” – living in a tech-focused career. “I’m proud that I’m a girl doing this job.”

As tech-heavy careers in South Texas become more dependent on higher education – not to mention higher-paying – the “dirty jobs” stigma surrounding tech-focused careers has begun to erode. Meanwhile, a national effort to introduce female students to technology-intensive “STEM” careers at a younger age has set a foundation for a seismic shift in the way that young women perceive these careers.

“Females in particular don’t always feel like they fit in when they are outnumbered,” explains Erika Guerra, Advanced Manufacturing Tech instructor at STC. “As a young female student in the STEM field, I did not see many female classmates that I could relate to. … Now that I teach, I still see some of the same statistics with students entering these STEM programs.

“When it comes to helping break stereotypes, I’m all in.”

South Texas College has made a mission of boosting opportunities for female professionals in tech fields, through its Technology Campus. In February, the College hosted its annual “Wonder Women in the Making” event, which invited 170 fifth- and sixth-graders from local school districts to participate. The event included live demonstrations and speakers, covering tech-focused fields like welding, manufacturing, robotics, and more.

This month, STC will host its ninth-annual “Women in Technology Expo,” featuring guest speakers, entertainment, live tech demonstrations, and an awards presentation honoring industry leaders. The event will again incorporate the full resources of career education programs.

“The purpose of the Women in Technology event is to promote careers that are not traditionally pursued by females,” says Angelita Teniente, faculty member in the Information Technology department at STC. “In addition to showcasing the various programs … another component of the event is dedicated to honoring and celebrating women from the community who exemplify the movement toward ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ by excelling in careers normally dominated by their male counterparts.”

Among the surprises for Expo attendees will be mini-cupcakes, baked by the Culinary Arts department, a 3-D printing demo, courtesy of STC Manufacturing Tech students, and even a career education “fashion show,” featuring Fire Science, Police Academy, and Welding students (among others) trolling the runway in full program gear. By seeing other young women succeeding in tech programs, Guerra hopes that the next generation of South Texas professionals will be inspired.

“In order for women to be successful in these fields, they need to be introduced to the opportunities early enough to spark their interest, and they need to be shown that they have an entire support system to help them succeed,” says Sara Lozano, Chair of the Architectural and Engineering Design department at STC. “As a woman and a leader in this field, it is my responsibility to open those doors, especially for women.”

“It’s an amazing event,” adds Dr. Esmeralda Adame, Assistant Dean of STC's Business, Public Safety and Technology Division. “We’ve put a lot more effort into trying to raise the awareness, to educate local females on what tech really is.

“Changing minds, little-by-little, we’re getting there.”

Aside from the obvious benefit of earlier exposure to tech-related opportunities, STC Technology Campus administrators see the annual Expo as a way to raise the profile of specific programs, particularly those seeing sharp increases in workforce demand. These programs include, among others: Computer and Networking Specialists (expected to see an 11% boost in job openings by 2026, with an average annual salary of $52,810); Architectural and Civil Engineering Techs (9% growth / $51,620 average salary); and Emergency Medical Technicians (15% / $33,380).

According to Dr. Adame, who works with local industries to hone her department’s curriculum on an ongoing basis, the key to responding to workforce needs in these critical fields is not being afraid to listen.

“We work very closely with our partners and we listen — they’re the ones that are going to hire our students,” says Adame, who has already seen evidence of the success of STC’s efforts in local hiring. “Everyone is asking: ‘Did you go to South Texas College? … Because we kind of want you to have hands-on experience.’”

Every day, new success stories are surfacing. There’s Christina Aguilar, graduate of the Electrician Technology program and prior Women in Technology Expo attendee, who is now a faculty member at STC, paying her knowledge and inspiration forward. From the Networking Specialists program, there’s Veronica Gonzalez, a U.S. military veteran who has parlayed her tech-focused STC education into a career with a prominent network technologies company. And with more female students connecting to STEM opportunities through events like the Women in Technology Expo and Wonder Women in the Making, the future of South Texas industry will inevitably be driven by tech-savvy women.

“We definitely feel a great responsibility to be part of the STEM movement for women,” says Teniente. “One of our core values at South Texas College is to provide opportunity through access and support for students to achieve their academic and career goals, so we are very committed to supporting and providing success to careers in the STEM fields.”

Salazar agrees, but says there remains work to be done.

“The next stigma that we as women should overcome is the ‘female engineer,’ the ‘female machinist,’ the “female scientist,” suggests Salazar. “As proud as I am for being able to partake in a movement like this, I would like to see it just become a ‘machinist,’ ‘engineer,’ ‘scientist.’

“I chose STC for this project due to working with STC in the past and getting to know Dean Mario Reyna,” says Edinburg Chief of Police Cesar Torres. “The STC Welding program is organized and the projects completed in the past have exceeded my expectations. It is Edinburg Police Department’s honor to have younger students to be part of this.”

When Dean Reyna of South Texas College’s Division of Business, Public Safety, and Technology brought the project to Sara Lozano, Program Chair of the Architectural, Engineering, and Design Technology Program, she and her faculty jumped at the chance.

“We are always looking for opportunities like these,” says Lozano. “It’s really powerful for students to get hands-on experience working on projects that have an impact on the community, so they’re not just reading from a book about a fictional project. These types of projects have a lasting impact on them.”

Today, STC’s Architectural & Engineering Design Technology, Automotive/Diesel, Advanced Manufacturing, and Welding programs are learning a lesson in real-world collaboration as they actively retrofit the vehicle for urban use by the heroic SWAT members whose lives may one day depend on it.

Esmeralda Leija, an AEDT student who aspires to become a licensed architect, explains the value of such collaborations: “Being in the architectural industry means you have to have knowledge in many fields and be able to work with different components,” she says. “So the ability to learn what it’s like to work on different projects is very useful. The SWAT retrofitting project will allow us as students to gain practical experience by applying our knowledge of the technology we are learning in the classroom.”

This knowledge is especially important as the green revolution and the development of new technologies continue to drive demand for qualified employees within the engineering, automotive, advanced manufacturing, and welding industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this demand is why experienced workers in these fields can command salaries of up to $99,000 per year, with the right credentials.

According to Lozano, who grew up in Edcouch-Elsa where her father was a business owner and her mother a teacher, collaborating with regional businesses teaches students important lessons not just about working together, but about the impact that their work has on their community.

“That’s something all of our programs in this division have in common—we have a direct impact on the world around us,” says Lozano. “We want our students to all leave with some kind of external experience on a project that has gotten them involved with the community.”

Last semester, AEDT students partnered with STC’s Construction Supervision program to design a life-size cadet-training cityscape for STC’s new Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence. After completing designs, students discussed materials, hypothetical budgets, and various other real-world complications that are endemic to such projects.

Leija describes another collaborative project, in which STC students partnered with students from the Instituto Tecnológico de Reynosa in Mexico to create a design proposal for a renovation of STC’s Technology Campus atrium in McAllen: “The fact that we were able to collaborate to share our knowledge of different software and design processes allowed us as students to gain experience writing an architecture design proposal, despite the boundaries like speaking different languages and living in different countries.”

For the SWAT vehicle project, faculty developed a set of departmental responsibilities that mimicked the kind of work students might be called on to do in the real world.

Selected students from the AEDT department are in charge of taking measurements and creating blueprints using AutoCAD, the industry-standard drafting software. When those blueprints are complete, Advanced Manufacturing will take them and, along with Welding, fabricate and attach the necessary parts. And when the replacement parts come in, the Automotive/Diesel program will apply their skills to fixing the A/C issue.

The final product, which Lozano hopes will be finished by the end of Spring 2019, will include new skirt rails for team members to stand on, bench seats to replace the less space-efficient bucket seats, a new A/C system, and a front push ram.

As for the future, Lozano is hoping for more of the same.

“Our faculty are always thinking in these terms. They take the initiative and run with it,” she says. “After Dean Reyna brought the SWAT project to us, I took it to my faculty and laid out the opportunity we’d been given and they jumped on it… Basically, we try to practice what we preach when it comes to collaboration. I love our faculty. This is what makes our team unique!”

For more information about the many workforce-ready programs within STC’s Division of Business, Public Safety, and Technology, please visit https://bt.southtexascollege.edu/

How?

Through the arts.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be at a college that understands the power of the arts to connect us,” says William Buhidar, Music Department chair and assistant dean of the Fine & Performing Arts Division at South Texas College. “When I was brought on, my focus was to do just that. To use our music, drama and visual arts programs to engage the public, to entertain them, to challenge them, and to show them that STC was not just an important educational institution but also a part of the community.”

Founded in 1993, South Texas College now serves more than 34,000 students, offers more than 120 degree & certificate options, and is the only community college in the State of Texas to offer four baccalaureate degrees. Despite this growth, STC remains firmly rooted in the culture of South Texas and takes great pride in serving and connecting to the community which it serves.

“Community is at the nucleus of who we are and you can’t ignore that,” says Joel J. Rodriguez, chair of STC’s Drama Department. “Especially in Drama. What we do and how we do it always involves community members not only as the audience but as people we hire in. We rely on the community—our performances aren’t something we do on our own, they’re something we do together.”

For Buhidar, this “bringing together” is at the heart of the important role that the arts play in society. “The arts are for everyone. They have a way of bringing everything to the level of conversation. It’s the bridge. Whether it’s music, or drama, or the visual arts, it connects us to one another. This is important, especially today.”

When it comes to building connections, Rodriguez likes thinking in terms of dialogue—not just the kind that happens on stage, but the kind that happens with an audience. “When we think of what performances we’re going to do, we are always thinking about how to make theater relevant to what is going on now. In 2016, we decided to have an ongoing discussion about understanding people that are different than us, about kindness, and about being civil. So we chose productions that allowed us to engage those ideas.”

“The arts, at their core, are about more than just entertainment,” continues Rodriguez. “They’re a tool for community dialogue and change.”

Charles Neumann, chair of the Fine Arts Department, sees this community-focus as also highlighting the role that the arts are supposed to play in society.

“Some people think it’s just art, it’s just pretty,” says Neumann. “But that’s just part of it. We’re supposed to question things, to create that dialogue and communication through our artwork. That’s the role of being an artist. This outreach and engagement teaches an important lesson about the larger role that arts plays in society. It teaches us to look at the world holistically, to ask questions, and to be independent thinkers.”

While critics of the arts often question their practicality, mounting evidence suggests that the role of the arts in society is actually quite significant, especially when it comes to training the kind of well-rounded workforce the jobs of the future will require.

Over the last several years, there has been a growing movement among scientists and artists across the country to revise the educational focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) to a focus on STEAM. Significantly, the “A” stands for the “Arts” and highlights the creative-thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills they bring to the table.

According to Buhidar, it is the ability of the arts to teach these elusive “soft skills” that makes them a strong and smart choice for not just artists, but future scientists and entrepreneurs alike.

“There’s a lot of research on this now,” says Buhidar. “The best STEM students often have an arts background. The arts make for a much more well-rounded individual that can not only connect the dots in their field, but actually work with other people.”

In a survey of 500 U.S. senior executives by Adecco, one of the world’s largest staffing firms, 44% of them believed American workers lacked such soft skills as communication, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Similarly, in an April 2018 CNBC interview, LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner pointed to the same skills gap, saying “somewhat surprisingly, some people may not realize [that] interpersonal skills are where we’re seeing the biggest imbalance.”

For Buhidar, Rodriguez, and Neumann, “working with other people,” and the skills required to do so, are a critical part of what they teach and what they do as artists.

“We are in the business of relationships,” says Rodriguez. “Especially in the theater, you can’t put on a strong production if you don’t have those skills. How do you talk to people, how do you handle conflict, how do you disagree, how do you negotiate or compromise. Those are key ideas.”

These are lessons that are naturally taught in the various ensembles that STC’s Music Department maintains. As students complete their AA in Music, which provides the practical and theoretical foundation they need to transfer to a 4-year college or university, they are encouraged to participate in ensembles as a way to develop their skills and learn how to behave and work in a group.

In STC’s Drama department, those lessons are taught to students as they work together to put on several, often sold-out, productions a year. Compared to larger 4-year programs, the intimate size of STC’s Drama program means that students are able to assume key roles designing, performing, directing, promoting and managing all aspects of the production.

“When our students transfer, they’re stars,” says Rodriguez. “We completely rely on them for these productions. At larger 4-years, all the big roles go to the seniors or the MFA students. Here, they actually get hands-on experience right away. When they transfer, professors recognize that.”

In the Fine Arts program, students have a choice between focusing on the Visual Arts, for students who want traditional training in the arts, or Graphic Arts, which prepares students for careers as graphic designers and the like.

Regardless of a student’s track, collaboration is emphasized throughout his or her studies, and especially in the service-learning component of the student’s final class, or capstone. In it, students not only learn what it takes to be a working professional but must also fulfill a service-learning requirement that puts them to work for a local, art-based non-profit.

“It not only connects them to the local art community, but it connects them to the workforce,” says Neumann. “They learn what it means to be a professional, what the workforce actually looks like, what day-to-day operations are, and how to organize and set goals to be successful.”

But Buhidar, Rodriguez, and Neumann don’t just teach collaboration, they practice it as well.

“We’re kind of our own little support group for the arts,” laughs Neumann. “We have regular meetings and we talk about what’s coming up and how we can help each other out.

When the Drama Department decided to produce a musical for the first time in several years, they consulted with the Music department, which helped them secure musicians and even supplied a student of their own for the production.

Similarly, for a production of August Strindberg’s surrealist, one-act play, A Dream Play, Neumann was tapped to help design the set dressing upon which digital images would be projected, while Assistant Dean of Humanities Christopher Nelson, Ph.D., served as the production’s dramaturge.

As for the future, Buhidar, Neumann and Rodriguez are excited about more collaboration, more conversation, and of course, more community.

“Whether it’s music, drama, or the visual arts, we want what we do to make you think,” reflects Buhidar. “To think about your own opinion, to get perspective on your own ideas. Doesn’t matter who you are, we want you here to experience what we’re putting on. Regardless of your culture, background, we want you here because maybe we can touch your life in a way that is meaningful. But it all starts with those conversations. You have to get people to talk, not yell, but to talk to one another.”

Talking is, after all, where all relationships start. And that means, at least at STC, it’s also where all community begins.

For institutions of higher learning, providing an agile response to fast-changing workforce needs is like turning a ship. Difficult and cumbersome for an aircraft carrier, but potentially faster and more graceful for a sleeker craft.

So, when it came to maneuvering the waters of the state’s churning tech industries in the early 2000s, the Texas legislature chose three speedboats.

“Imagine: community colleges for the first time offering bachelor’s degrees,” recalls Dr. Ali Esmaeili, Dean of Math, Science and Bachelor’s Programs at South Texas College, one of just three two-year colleges in Texas to be given such authorization in 2003. “For almost two or three weeks, I couldn’t sleep… how to get this started?

“Finally, one night it clicked… the rest is history.”

From the maiden voyage of the initial program – the Bachelor of Applied Technology: Technology Management degree in 2005 -- to the legislative launch of its fourth bachelor’s degree program in 2014, South Texas College’s bold experiment has kept a course of success. Between 2007 and 2017, more than 1,400 students earned bachelor’s degrees through the four available programs, with approximately 80 percent finding degree-relevant employment.

“It was like a tsunami,” says Esmaeili, who credits the “energy” of South Texas College, as well as the foresight and cooperation of the local business community for the success of that first program. “A lot of students really took that degree as a cost-effective way for them to move forward.”

With demand for tech-savvy professionals higher than ever, it’s hard to say who benefits more: the students building workforce-ready career skills, or the local economies that depend on them. STC’s bachelor’s degree programs are carefully curated to fill gaps in the workforce, usually in response to glaring regional need.

“We are obligated to our community,” explains Esmaeili. “The mayor of our city said to me: as you graduate them, I’m going to hire them.”

Massive Demand for Health Services Managers

Opportunities are legion for graduates of the unique programs, with demand continuing to outpace supply of qualified professionals in critical sectors like healthcare. In a region bearing some of the highest levels of obesity in the U.S. (McAllen ranks #3, according to WalletHub’s 2018 report), the education and training of medical services managers has become a priority.

South Texas College’s Medical & Health Services Management program, launched in 2011, has seen its enrollment jump from 45 students that first year, to 234 in 2017. Focusing on the career skills required by managers in the healthcare industry, the MHSM program covers the software and systems used in real-world medical billing, record-keeping, electronic storage and other technological aspects of the industry.

“Wherever those students go, they'll have the preparation and skills to succeed and thrive,” says Dr. Hilaire Saint Pierre, Department Chair and faculty for the Medical Health Services Management program.

“The need for medical and health services is one of the fastest-growing areas,” adds Esmaeili. “[We’ve had] great success -- we are ahead of our projection.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for health services managers is climbing at a staggering rate of 20 percent -- far above the national average for all careers. Salaries are keeping pace, with the average bachelor’s degree-holding medical and health services manager earning $98,350 per year.

“The jobs are there”, says Saint Pierre, who fields calls relating to local industry staffing needs on a near-constant basis. According to the professor, South Texas College’s reputation for producing qualified professionals puts his program at the top of call sheet for local healthcare businesses.

“The community and workforce reach out to us when they need help,” says Saint Pierre. “Last semester, the hospice needed help with its HR department -- they hired one of our grads. Yesterday, I received a call from a local dentist.”

“They know when they need healthcare managers, we’re here at South Texas College.”

STC’s close relationship with the community – and particularly its busiest industries – has engendered not only a sense of trust, but a commitment to cooperation. Each of the four South Texas College bachelor’s degree programs is guided by an advisory committee, featuring education leaders and industry experts from the public and private sectors. By soliciting advice and information directly from the business community, STC is able to keep its coursework current, cutting-edge, and in line with regional demand.

“Our grads are really energizing us, with business and industry guiding us,” says Esmaeili.

South Texas College’s groundbreaking work, along with that of co-pioneers Midland and Brazosport, has helped bring community college bachelor programs in Texas from wild experiment to legitimate classroom-to-career pathway. The passage of Senate Bill 2118 in June 2018 opened the door for more two-year colleges in the state to offer bachelor’s degrees in high-demand fields like applied technology, applied science and nursing. Meanwhile STC has cleared legislative hurdles to launch its fifth bachelor’s degree program, in Nursing.

“It’s incredible what’s happening,” says Esmaeili. “No community college in Texas is doing what we do here.”

To find out more information about STC’s Bachelor Programs visit https://bachelors.southtexascollege.edu/.

He greets his fellow classmates, puts on his gear, and settles into his assigned station.

"I like the Higher Education Center," said Olivares. "Here you get your own welding work space; this is your station throughout the semester."

STC’s Higher Education Center at La Joya presents a number of opportunities for students interested in learning new trades. With new state-of-the-art science labs, lecture classrooms, and welding stations, the center has resources that students like Olivares find favorable.

Olivares, 41, enrolled at South Texas College to change his career trajectory.

As a veteran who already earned a bachelor's degree in international business, Olivares started up his education career once more to obtain an associate degree in combined welding last December.

"I left to the army, when I came back I started working on my bachelor's degree, I was 20-years- old," explained Olivares. "I just took this as a new experience, I wanted to learn the welding trade and took advantage of the higher education program at STC. I like to create things and be very inventive. Now, I’m thinking of setting up a fabrication shop.”

STC’s Welding Program prepares students like Olivares for the workforce. Students learn four processes of welding including Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, and Flux Cored Arc Welding. Students also learn blueprint reading and graduate candidates are eligible to take a welding performance qualification test in accordance with the American Welding Society (AWS) standards.

The college offers certificate options in combination welding and structural welding, and the Welding Associate of Applied Science degree.

Olivares plans to use his degree to advance his new career goals. He says the welding program was challenging for him, as he is also a father, but was worth it.

“As any other degree, the welding career is a very complicated one but on top of that, due to the fact that I have two kids, a three-year-old and five-year-old, I knew I had two hats to wear,” said Olivares. “I had to play the part of a student and a parent as soon as I got home.”

As a disabled Veteran, Olivares says the Veteran's Affairs office at South Texas College also gave him direction and helped him continue his education and grow.

STC’s Veteran’s Affairs prides itself on being an information hub for veterans who are seeking higher education opportunities. The STC VA works to find eligible benefits and programs veterans may benefit from including the GI Bill.

Olivares says inquiring led him to classes available at the Higher Education Center at La Joya.

"I've always wanted to learn the welding trade,” said Olivares. "The Veteran's department has different programs that fit my needs and they're helping me achieve my goals."

Victor Montalvo, STC welding instructor, takes pride in guiding his students through the advanced welding class, he says what they’re doing at the center is teaching students how to be marketable.

"We don't just teach them how to weld," said Montalvo. "We teach them the proper work ethic that they need to apply out there in the work industry, we teach them how to be real professionals."

The center offers a variety of courses designed to get students on the right track to earning higher paying jobs including classes in criminal justice, education, and welding.

Olivares says the proximity of the center to his home was another big factor in the decision to go back to school at STC.

“When I started I didn't know about this area at first. I got very acquainted with it and very used to it because it's brand new,” said Olivares who resides in Mission, TX.

“The installations are very comfortable and the instructors are very knowledgeable, the people here are helpful, they know what you can do and what you’re capable of. They can even connect you with the right people to get you the job, but for now I want to try my own business. It’s good that you always have the backup, that card up your sleeve to go and work at several companies.”

Olivares says his decision to go back to school and graduate with an associate degree in welding has boosted his confidence knowing the many opportunities available in the welding industry.

“Now that I’ve gone through the program, even friends my own age are like 'Why did you go back to school?' I tell them it fit my needs; it fit my schedule so I might as well take it."

Olivares looks forward to his future in welding; nonetheless he says he enjoyed the pace he took in being a father as well as a student at STC’s Higher Education Center at La Joya.

“They offered a very flexible schedule, for me it fit better to come in the morning because my kids were at school. I would wake up and put my student mask on and when I got home, I put my dad mask on, it worked.”

To find out more information about the classes available at the STC Higher Education Center at La Joya visit: https://campuses.southtexascollege.edu/lajoya/index.html.

But according to STC Culinary Arts Program Chair Jennifer Guerra, cooking the perfect dish isn’t about what comes out of the oven, but what goes into the dish.

“Cooking for someone is a great expression of love,” says Guerra. “I don’t think it matters if it is super simple or super intricate, as long as you’ve put yourself out there and given someone your time and put your heart into it. That’s what makes it special, no matter what you cook. That, and cleaning up after.”

Guerra has been passionate about food since she was a young girl, and it is this passion that she most enjoys sharing with her students.

“You have to have a passion for what you do,” says Guerra. “To go to work and be excited about getting better every day… that’s what separates people from being good to being great.”

Housed at STC’s Pecan Campus, the Culinary Arts program offers four industry-focused degree and certificate programs that provide students the practical skills they need to meet the workforce requirements of regional and national employers.

As demand for culinary arts professionals continues to grow across the country, programs like STC’s play a critical role in making sure regional employers have the professionals they need to prosper. Not only is Texas the fourth largest employer of chefs and head cooks in the nation, demand is projected to grow at a rate of 10% by 2026, faster than the national average for all jobs.

As Guerra points out, addressing these national and regional needs is a hallmark of the program’s approach to career education.

“We work very closely with our community through an advisory board,” explains Guerra, who is also owner of Bread and Butter, a bakery and cafe located in McAllen.

“We meet at least once a semester to talk about what they need from us and because that relationship is so close, our graduates come out with the skills that the industry is looking for.”

Based on feedback from this advisory board, Culinary Arts is currently revising its curriculum to better meet the needs of the region and its students.

“One discussion revealed that the industry was looking for stronger knife skills in the workforce in general,” says Guerra. “So, we took that information and now we’re adding courses that will give students more time with ‘knives in hands and fire under pans’.”

In addition to listening to regional stakeholders, the program is also responsive to students—the new Associate in Applied Science with a specialization in Baking and Pastry Arts is a case in point.

“The Baking and Pastry Arts specialization started as a certificate program,” says Guerra. “It was extremely popular and so many of these students wanted more that we decided to develop it into a two-year degree. I love thinking that our students are not just employed but doing something they have amazing passion about.”

As local Cynthia Cakes owner Cynthia Ebrom knows, that passion not only makes for great cooks, it also makes for great employees. Ebrom, whose famous cakes have been sold around the world, hires only STC Culinary Arts graduates. Why? Because in addition to their professionalism and skill, they are passionate about what they do.

“What we do is art,” says Ebrom, whose website features an image of Hilary Clinton admiring one of her cakes. “And making good art can be very challenging and tedious. We work long hours focusing on tiny details. That’s hard to do if you don’t love what you’re doing. I can tell if an employee isn’t putting their heart into a design, and so can the clients.”

One of those hires is STC alumna Rosabel Alvarez, who graduated in 2015 with a Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Baking and was Ebrom’s first STC hire. Like many career education graduates, Alvarez came to STC because it offered her quick and affordable entry into the workforce.

“My son was very sick at the time and I needed to find work to help support my family,” remembers Alvarez. “All culinary students have to do an internship, and I did one with Ms. Cynthia and I ended up being one of the first STC graduates she hired. Now, there are 4 of us here.

“STC opened the door for me and I’m really grateful to them and Ms. Cynthia for giving me a chance.”

Jaime Martinez, another STC graduate and owner of Sweet Blessings Cheesecakes in La Feria, is similarly grateful. After a severe condition that required a kidney transplant forced him to quit his full-time job at AT&T, Martinez returned to school and completed a certificate in commercial cooking.

Five years after his transplant, Jaime opened Sweet Blessings, a dessert catering business that offers over 40 cheesecake options for events of all types. Martinez credits his success to his training and his passion for what he does.

“For anyone who would like to go into business, I say, ‘Go for it!’” said Martinez in a letter to La Feria News on November 11, 2016. “Make sure it is something you love doing.”

For Guerra, who herself has held every imaginable restaurant position throughout her career, giving students the skills they need to be successful is what career education is all about.

“Our instructors are extraordinarily passionate not just about food but about helping students on their own ‘food’ journeys and giving them the opportunity to be their best,” says Guerra. “Give students some knowledge. Teach them some skills. Then stand back and see what they can do because they always surprise me.”

Over the next year, Culinary Arts will be adding a new lab and two new instructional kitchens to expand its ability to help more students find work in this ever-growing industry. But as Guerra emphasizes, her goal as an educator is not only to help students find jobs, but to find something more.

“I think our instructors are exceptionally good at motivating students to want to be better,” says Guerra. “Our program gives students a taste of a lot of different areas in the industry and it gives them the opportunity to discover what their true love is.”

This Valentine’s Day, whether you find true love or just a dessert you really like, this much is true: STC’s Culinary Arts program will continue to take great pride in turning the passionate students of today into the skilled professionals of tomorrow.

To find out more information about STC’s Culinary Program visit https://bt.southtexascollege.edu/culinary/index.html.

source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes351011.htm#st; https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/chefs-and-head-cooks.htm

She’s only 20, but already, she’s got stories. Stories from Yale University, where she’s pursuing a double-major in History and East Asian Studies. Stories from South Korea, where she’s currently living as she studies Korean Language and Culture at Seoul National University on a “gap year.” Not to mention her own origin story – an ambitious Mexican-American woman from a poor and underserved county who never stopped, never slept, and never forgot the support and inspiration of her community.

But for Quintanilla, it’s less about the success stories, and more about what’s left to be accomplished. In South Texas, and across the world.

“Growing up on the border and seeing immigration issues and how that affects daily lives, I was interested to see how North Korean refugees adjust in South Korea,” says Quintanilla, who received two fellowships to pursue her studies. “To me, that was an important thing to understand more about.”

The topic of adjusting to a completely new environment was familiar to Quintanilla, whose rare path from South Texas to New Haven came with a few instances of culture shock – not the least of which was the very un-Texas weather.

“It gets cold up there -- my first snow was wild to me,” she recalls. “At the end of the day, remembering where I came from and knowing there's a community behind me really helps support me through any hard times.”

Quintanilla’s globe-trotting story began in San Juan, Texas, where as a gifted and hard-working high school student, she earned access to the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Early College program. With the backing of the PSJA counseling and support staff, she was soon not only handling the rigors of college coursework, but charging hard toward a double-major in Independent Studies and Mathematics at South Texas College.

“There was a strong bond between STC and PSJA ISD,” she reflects. “I wanted to learn at a different level, because I knew that I did want to go to college, and the earlier, the better.”

Her experience at South Texas College – particularly the direct access to faculty mentors – gave her the confidence she needed to take her aspirations even higher. Like her father, also an STC grad who continued down the four-year university path, she was determined to build the skills she would need to achieve her goals, even before she was sure exactly what those goals were. For an ambitious young academic looking to build confidence, South Texas College represented a golden opportunity.

“I was able to take a variety of courses that were taught in different styles that I think really allowed me to get a grasp of how to work with different types of people, different kinds of interests … just really explore to the fullest extent all my different pathways,” says Quintanilla. “And that's something I don't think I could have found really anywhere else.”

By now, she’s used to the double-take when she mentions her community college-to-Ivy League trajectory. Nevertheless, Quintanilla is quick to credit her “home college” with providing a road map for academic success.

“I think what's really special about STC is the fact that it gave me the foundation, the soft skills particularly, to really prepare myself for, not only college, but just regular work life in general.”

That foundation has held steady through two years, and tens of thousands of miles, between South Korea, South Connecticut and South Texas. Quintanilla’s interest in using her education to improve the lives of social minorities worldwide has ensured not only a full class schedule, but a full travel itinerary, as well.

And don’t expect it to stop after college. Upon graduation, Quintanilla hopes to return to Korea in a professional capacity, working with a non-governmental organization (NGO) to promote human rights and ultimately, build opportunity for underserved populations all over the world.

“That's something that I can't forget, and I think it's always kind of pushed me to continue to do what I do.”

“It’s the number of people that STC has trained or introduced to higher education that would not otherwise have gotten their degrees or a certificate that I think about,” says Gurwitz, who has been on STC’s Board of Trustees since its inception. “Think about all the STC students over the years that otherwise would not have gotten the education they needed. I think that’s a tremendous accomplishment.”

As STC celebrates its 25^th anniversary, there is perhaps no one more qualified to reflect on STC’s accomplishments. Gurwitz, who received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1959, has practiced in McAllen ever since. He has also remained active on STC’s Board of Trustees, which he joined shortly after its foundation.

“When we first started, we held classes anywhere we could,” reflects Gurwitz. “Some of our first classes were in old laundromats. And for a while, we couldn’t make payroll. One thing we did do right was hire Dr. Shirley Reed. She really knew what she was doing and the trustees considered and supported her programs.

“I guess that worked out pretty well for everyone.”

Under Dr. Reed’s leadership, STC has come a long way from those early classrooms. With nearly 34,000 students, a faculty and staff of more than 1,600, over 120 different degree and certificate programs, and several state-of-the-art campuses and higher education centers, STC has become a hub for industry training and workforce development in the region.

“If you talk to the head of our economic development council, our mayor, any of our elected officials, they will tell you that the single most important thing that has happened to our region in the last 25 years is STC,” says Gurwitz.

Over his time as a trustee, Gurwitz has watched the Rio Grande Valley transform from a mostly agrarian culture, with unemployment rates nearing 20 percent, to a bustling destination for families and businesses of all types. Throughout it all, STC’s role has been critical.

“Education is the foundation or catalyst or main ingredient to everything,” says Gurwitz. “You’re not going to improve your community as a whole without it. You have to have education to get any employment, to educate our community, it had to be convenient, reasonably priced, and that wasn’t readily available back then.”

In addition to providing affordable and convenient access to education and career training, Gurwitz notes that STC’s impact extends beyond the degrees and certificates it grants.

“Before, the ‘college-going mentality’ wasn’t there or it was limited,” says Gurwitz. “People didn’t think college was an option. But STC changed that because it was affordable, and you could tailor your program to your particular circumstances. You should see these families at graduation nowadays. They’re just so proud. We finally had to outlaw air horns.”

Nurturing this “college-going mentality” is one aspect of STC’s widely successful dual-enrollment program, another accomplishment that Gurwitz takes special pride in.

“It was a new idea when we got involved,” says Gurwitz. “Now, it’s in vogue because people are seeing how successful our program is, how beneficial for the students and the community.”

Founded in 2003, STC’s Dual Enrollment program has allowed an estimated 95,000 students to attend college, tuition-free, while finishing their high school diplomas. This has saved families more than $180 million, according to estimates. At the same time, STC’s program has become one of the largest in the state and is often cited as a model of collaboration and success at the national level.

Gurwitz, for his role in STC’s success, has received many honors, including the prestigious M. Dale Ensign Leadership Award from the Association of Community College Trustees. Still, Gurwitz remains humble about his achievements, seeing STC’s growth not as evidence of any one person’s efforts, but as proof that its core mission is sound.

“I don’t think STC changed,” says Gurwitz. “I think what we were doing to begin with, we’re still doing. It’s just the scale that’s changed. More programs. More faculty. More facilities. But the point is still the same: give people the education they need to be successful.”

As for the future of STC, Gurwitz sees more of the same. At least that’s what he hopes.

“What does the future hold? I don’t know. But I do believe STC will be involved… That’s always been STC’s goal. And that’s not something that will ever change.”

Samuel says he looks back on a college career built on hard work but impacted by tragedy as he sought to compete among his peers.

Shortly before starting his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas in Austin, Samuel said he endured a hard time when his father passed away. His family, which included his mother Irma and his brother Ricco, were left picking up the pieces and trying to formulate the best plan for college.

Entering South Texas College was the answer, he said. A former dual enrollment student, Samuel says STC enabled him to get ahead of the curve and adjust to college work while still being in a small classroom setting.

Years later and now a best-selling author, political columnist, and soon-to-be graduate from Harvard Law, Samuel credits STC with laying the foundation for his success.

Taking courses as a dual enrollment student saved him thousands. A summer semester's worth of tuition and textbook costs, which were usually included in high school classes for about four or five classes at the time ran anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000, he said.

“Right before I went to undergrad my father passed away and we were pretty short on money,” he said. “Had I not been enrolled as a dual student I would have likely had to take a number of summer classes at UT my sophomore or junior year, which would have probably ran me thousands of dollars alone.”

Dual Credit Programs at South Texas College collaborate with 23 school districts and 78 high schools across the Valley, and are supported by more than 200 college faculty and over 300 dual credit faculty across Hidalgo and Starr Counties. To date, Dual Credit Programs at STC have served over 106,300 dual credit students like Samuel and awarded over 9,800 certificate and/or associate degrees.

“There are actually things that happen strategically when you take classes at STC,” he said. “I could go into things I thought were interesting, and it allowed me to explore my future career as a lawyer. These were all luxuries that were afforded to me because I took classes at STC.”

A native of the Rio Grande Valley, Samuel attended STC from 2011 to 2012 as a dual enrollment student and took summer classes before he attended UT. Within one year at UT, Sammy said he entered the university’s Business Honors Program and then graduated from UT’s McCombs Business School before entering Harvard.

It was at Harvard that Samuel said he found the urge to write as a way to supplement his education there.

He penned a book with his brother Ricco “How a Goat Was Elected Mayor and the Political Spring That Followed” that eventually debuted as a #1 bestseller on Amazon in both the Local U.S. Politics and Communication Policy categories and claimed the #1 New Release spot in Local U.S. Politics.

Samuel says the desire to write came from a deep need to express himself while developing his expertise in law school. Despite not coming from a writing background, Samuel says his inspiration amounted to simply finding interesting things and putting them down on paper.

“The reason I started though is because I finally felt like I was writing about something that was worth reading,” he said. “The first book was kind of figuring out ways to fight rural poverty in the Rio Grande Valley and that’s something I cared about. Caring about something is often enough to write something down.

“I have the luxury to write about things I care about so I write about immigration and fighting poverty in the Valley,” he said. “Education is great and you learn about a lot of things but it doesn’t always fit in neatly with what you are interested in as a person so I have been using the writing I have done on the side to supplement my own education and learn more than I ever thought I could at school.”

While attending Harvard, Samuel has written pieces on immigration for the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Austin American Statesman, the Texas Tribune, and Forbes.

His work and involvement on campus earned the admiration of his peers who selected him as Class Marshal, which will enable him to speak at his graduation ceremony representing his entire law school class in May 2019.

Class Marshals represent their class at the Harvard Law School Class Day and University Commencement. They are also responsible for organizing social and graduation related events throughout the year, including Class Day and Barristers’ Ball. Harvard Law School Class Marshals are selected by a vote of their class.

Samuel said his selection as Marshal has enabled him to begin informing people about the Valley and its culture.

“It is such a great honor to be selected,” he said. “I feel like there is a duty to do the things I am doing, and write about the Valley in a way that shows the truth about the region,” he said. “Most people come from areas they might not have to defend, New York for example, but since I come from the border they think I come from an episode of Narcos, which is not true.”

Upon graduation, Samuel says he has already taken a job with Debevoise and Plimpton LLP, an international law firm based in New York ranked as one of the most prestigious in the world.

“I am well aware that I had to compete with these kids who were coming from Houston or Dallas and these massively souped-up high schools, and the whole time they are getting ready for college,” Samuel said. “But by taking dual enrollment from STC, I was able to get ahead of the curve and adjust to college work while still being in small classroom setting.”

Replace the squad car with a souped-up laptop, the clever one-liners with cunning lines of code, and the sunglasses with a sharp, situation-trained eye for danger, and you’re closer to the modern law enforcement professionals that drive the in-demand field of Cybersecurity.

In an increasingly technology-dependent world, cyber attacks have become not just common, but constant. From personal identity fraud, to e-retail theft and even hacking of corporate and government networks, cyber-crime has surged at a rate far faster than the tech and manpower needed to fight it. And Texas is not immune – according to the personal finance website SmartAsset, the Lone Star State ranks 10^th, nationally, in prevalence of identity theft.

“It is very often that we hear on the news about cyber attacks, and how these big-name companies are getting their systems compromised,” says Francisco Salinas, chair of the Cybersecurity department at South Texas College. “Cybersecurity has become more popular over the last couple of years in part because of [these] events.

“Now is the time to earn a degree in Cybersecurity.”

With its new, National Security Agency-certified Cybersecurity Specialist program, South Texas College is helping lead the charge against cybercrime in Texas, and beyond. STC’s program, launched in the Fall of 2017, is one of just four in Texas bearing the National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year (CAE2Y) designation – and the only program of its type in South Texas.

The high-tech and hands-on curriculum provides real world-relevant training in network protection and monitoring, incident response, and other aspects of cyber defense. Originally configured as a “Digital Forensics” career certificate, STC’s Cybersecurity Specialist Associate degree program was born in 2017, out of the NSA/Homeland Security designation as well as critical workforce demand for college-educated Cybersecurity professionals.

“It is an honor to be one of the few in Texas to offer our community an opportunity to earn a formal education in cybersecurity,” says Salinas. “We take pride in utilizing state-of-the-art technologies to teach our students skill sets that are very relevant in the IT industry.”

With the start of the holiday retail season comes an increased focus on cyber crimes, such as identity theft and credit card fraud. As hackers – and hacking tools – become more sophisticated, Cybersecurity professionals are commanding more demand than ever, saving businesses billions of dollars, while helping keep the public safe from data leaks, online retail fraud, and more. They’re accomplishing this by designing smarter and more secure systems, and improving their capacity to identify and battle imminent threats.

According to Salinas, South Texas College’s program is geared toward preparing future professionals for a wide array of in-demand Cybersecurity positions, from forensic analysts, to engineers, testers, data professionals, and more. “There are many job opportunities in this field. I truly believe that a career in cybersecurity is very rewarding.”

Cybersecurity students at South Texas College and beyond tend to share core attributes, like tech-savvy, an eye for detail, and an interest in justice. But the field is far from a clique. Rather, it attracts an independent and diverse array of personalities, with many prospects finding their Cybersecurity calling later in life.

“We have many veterans that after serving this great country, they come back and want to get an education in cybersecurity,” says Salinas. “We have students that are fresh out of high school and learned about cybersecurity from one of their teachers or counselors.

“We have a little bit of everything.”

Graduates of the South Texas College Cybersecurity Specialist program are entering a literal world of opportunity, with demand surfacing in virtually every part of the globe. Locally, Cyberseek.org estimates that there are 20,000 vacant cybersecurity positions in Texas alone, with more than 300,000 available nationally.

As long as technology keeps advancing, and the world keeps turning, it’s hard to imagine Cybersecurity going out of style.

To learn more about South Texas College’s NSA-certified Cybersecurity Specialist program, visit SouthTexasCollege.edu/Cybersecurity.

STC Cybersecurity Presents…

Tips to keep your data safe!

With 57%* of consumers planning to do their holiday shopping online this year, it’s more important than ever to keep our data safe, whether on a laptop, tablet or mobile device.

#1. Power Up Your Password:

It’s easy as “1-2-3” for online thieves to crack a simple password. Make it long and unwieldy, like a Burmese python. Also consider “multi-factor authentication” (aka “Two-Factor Identification” or “2FA”), wherein the user attaches an extra security question to protect logins for popular apps and websites.

#2. Power Down Your Bluetooth:

Cybersecurity experts work every day to identify new vulnerabilities and threats, but the surest way to keep your data safe is to limit its exposure to prying eyes. When you switch off your Bluetooth network when you're not using it, you send hackers a clear message: … Actually, you don't send them anything at all… which is exactly the point.

#3. Wi-Fi? Because-Fi.

Be wary of public wi-fi spots, even when they’re password-protected. Weak encryption and rogue networks (in which hackers “eavesdrop” on your device’s communication to trusted networks) combine to conjure a widely publicized but little understood cybersecurity nightmare. Avoid online shopping, banking, or anything that involves your personal information when using a public Wi-Fi network. That game-worn JJ Watt shin guard will still be on auction when you get home.

#4. The Updating Game.

The software update for your laptop and mobile device always seems to pop up right at the busiest possible time. This is a feature designed to frustrate you so that you will smash your device in anger, and be forced to purchase a new one, driving mobile tech stocks ever higher. OK, not really… Actually, heeding these annoying update reminders are a great way to avoid getting ripped off. In the world of cybersecurity, threats regenerate on a weekly, and even daily, basis. When you keep your devices up-to-date, it’ll be the hackers that are left frustrated.

#5. Stay Sharp While Shopping.

The holiday shopping season is a time of joy, peace and cheer. For hackers. For the rest of us, it’s a time of vigilance and mistrust. Shop only on trusted sites and apps, using trusted networks. Don’t respond to emails or texts advertising products, even if they appear to originate from trusted sources. Consider designating a single credit card for use online, so purchases (and potential fraud) will be easier to track. And never forget that old chestnut from your Dad: If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is.

*https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/insights/us/articles/4737_2018-holiday-survey/2018DeloitteHolidayReportResults.pdf

Graduating at the same time and with the same bachelor degree in Organizational Leadership on Dec. 1, Garcia and Castro say they motivated each other to succeed even when life got in the way.

“All sacrifices are well worth it to show your children it’s never too late to make a change and get an education,” Jose said. “I owe it to the mindset I had because I knew it could be done no matter what age I was.”

Jose said he graduated high school in 1999 but opted to forgo college in order to begin his career and start a family. An expert with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Jose said he came back to school to further his career.

He returned to STC in 2014 and over the course of four years received an Associate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Aimee, who is currently an administrative assistant with STC’s President’s Office - External Affairs, said she began her career working for over a decade as a state employee but became a stay-at-home mother in 2014 once her children were born.

“I realized right away that the college was here to support me in any way possible so I could succeed,” said Aimee. “Once my brother and I had that leverage that enabled us to succeed, all that was left was just the willingness of the heart to go and get the degree we wanted.”

STC conferred 2,194 degrees in two ceremonies on Dec 1. The college awarded 182 Bachelor’s degrees, 581 degrees from the Business, Public Safety, and Technology Division, and 398 from Nursing and Allied Health. The college is one of the only two-year institutions in the nation to offer bachelor degrees to students.

During the afternoon ceremony, STC conferred 872 degrees from the Division of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and 161 graduates from the Division of Math and Sciences.

“This is the day we honor you, our graduates. We are here to celebrate your graduation from South Texas College. All of us at South Texas College, the Board of Trustees, our outstanding faculty, staff and administration all join me in extending this welcome,” STC President Dr. Shirley A Reed told graduates.

“Graduating from a college or university is an honor few receive,” Dr. Reed said. “Many of you are the first in your family to earn a college degree. That dream and the desire to go to college is appreciated by all of us here.

“We were there to support you on your journey to graduation, and we all know that it wasn’t an easy journey. There were lots of trials and tribulations, but you persevered and you are here celebrating your graduation,” Dr. Reed said. “We are very proud of each and every one of you.”

Also at graduation, Graciela Diaz and her son Nick Arredondo both celebrated achieving their Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Organizational Leadership at the same time. Graciela said she is especially proud of her son, who comes from a family of migrants on his father’s side, to be the first in their family to graduate college.

Nick said the experience of finishing his degree with his mother brought them closer together despite each having full-time jobs.

“My mother is not only my parent, she’s my motivator,” Nick said. “We helped each other with our homework and we studied together. Even though we had eight to five jobs, I would still go to her house, we would have dinner, and we just bonded through that.”

“My husband is really proud of Nick because he is the first one from their migrant family to graduate,” Graciela said. “It was never in their vision, for them it was always about working in the fields but his grandfather would always tell them that they had to go to school.”

Faces in the crowd:

Ilissa Valencina, a former Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy (DEMSA) student, previously obtained her Associate degree in biology and returned to STC to receive her bachelor’s degree in Medical and Health Services Management.

“I feel like the hard work paid off. Right now I am teaching and I hope to start in a master’s program in the spring and I will see how that goes for me,” Valenciana said. “To students I would tell them to never give up. No matter how hard it gets, take it day by day.”

Adam Torres is a student veteran receiving his associate degree in Biology. Serving eight years in the Texas Army National Guard, Torres says he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, and was inspired by mentors within the US Department of Agriculture once he returned home.

“The veteran services organization here at STC is fantastic, everybody wants to help everybody and you feel like part of a family,” Torres said. “I want to continue my education and hopefully obtain a bachelor degree in micro-biology, and then maybe one day come back and give back to the college.”

Diana Morales graduated with associate degree in Criminal Justice and plans to transfer to UTRGV to obtain a bachelor degree in Criminal Justice and minor in Psychology with the hopes of entering a career with US Customs and Border Protection.

“I loved the environment here at STC and I loved the one on one communication with professors so I decided to finish my degree here,” she said. “To future graduates, I would like to tell them that anything is possible with the right mentality and determination.”

That’s why, in addition to offering specialized programs in 12 different nursing and allied health fields, South Texas College’s Nursing and Allied Health faculty also teaches students how to work together in cohesive and effective teams, like they would in an actual hospital.

“Collaboration is a critical part of our profession, which is why it has to be an important part of the way we teach,” says Respiratory Therapy Program Chair Gabriel Peña. “It’s important for students to understand that successful patient outcomes almost always depend on the expertise of many different health professionals, all working together towards the same goal.”

But collaboration of this nature can’t be taught in a classroom. Fortunately, the new Nursing and Allied Health expansion was designed with this purpose in mind. Funded by a 2013 bond, this new, four-story, 93,000-square-foot complex includes a new library as well as such cutting-edge equipment as a BD Pyxis MedStation, an industry-standard, automated medication dispensing system, and more than a dozen SimMan 3Gs, high-fidelity mannequins that can simulate a range of neurological and physiological symptoms.

Together, these additions make up a state-of-the-art simulation hospital where students will soon be gaining experience working with other healthcare professionals in simulated, “real-world” scenarios.

“This is how healthcare works in reality,” explains Dr. Theresa Garza, Pharmacy Program Chair at South Texas College. “You have EMTs bringing in patients. Respiratory Therapists and LVNs attend to them. On-site pharmacies provide necessary medications and guidance. Later on, they might see an Occupational Therapy Assistant to help them recover.

“No matter where a student wants to work in the health profession, we have a program for them… This really is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for our students.”

Established in 1998, STC’s NAH division boasts 12 accredited programs, providing career-focused training in a variety of professions across the allied healthcare spectrum.

For instance, NAH’s Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) Program gives students the cognitive, physical, and behavioral skills they need to be emergency responders and paramedics. Alternately, students who prefer the front lines of a hospital to the front lines of the streets, might look into the Respiratory Therapy Program, where they learn how to treat acute and chronic respiratory dysfunction.

Similarly, those excited about providing basic patient care in a more structured setting, or who want to quickly start a career in nursing, might consider the Vocational Nursing program, an intensive, three-semester investment that can lead to jobs paying more than $45,000 per year, on average, in Texas.

An ongoing nursing shortage exists not only in Rio Grande Valley, but nationwide. The Associate Degree Nursing Program is a rigorous, four-semester program that when successfully completed can qualify graduates to sit for the licensure examination and become registered nurses. The average income for registered nurses is $73,550 annually or an average of $36.00 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Occupational Therapy gives students the skills they need to work in both in- and out-patient settings, providing services with the ultimate goal of increasing the independence and daily functioning of patients in need.

NAH’s ability to prepare successful candidates is especially important considering the speed at which the need for health professionals is growing. According to the US Department of Labor, the healthcare profession is growing at a rate of 18 percent, more than double the rate of all other occupations. In Texas alone, 6 out of the 10 fastest growing occupations are healthcare-related.

In addition to preparing students for jobs that are in-demand across the country, Peña is quick to point out their local impact, as well. “Before we established the Respiratory Therapy program, local hospitals had to go out-of-state to find qualified candidates. Not only is this expensive, but you end up with candidates that aren’t necessarily planning on staying here. Now, local hospitals come to us for candidates.”

This isn’t surprising when you consider that five out of NAH’s 12 programs have impressive, 100 percent licensure pass rates.

Recently, Peña watched 11 students secure jobs at the University Medical Center in Lubbock. “We have great placement rates and most of our students find jobs within months after graduating,” says Peña. “What was fun in this case was that they graduated on a Saturday and had those jobs by the following Monday!”

Like Peña, Garza is proud of what STC students are accomplishing, and excited about what the future holds for the NAH division.

“Not only are these students finding jobs, they’re finding ‘head of household’-level jobs,” says Garza. “This is a win-win for everyone. Our students find jobs, local healthcare facilities get high-quality candidates, and the local economy gets another successful citizen.”

That’s a healthy result, not only for students, but for the South Texas communities of which STC is so proud to be a part.

For more information about STC’s Nursing and Allied Health programs, visit https://nah.southtexascollege.edu/.

He just didn’t know it, yet.

“Throughout the service, we were taught to always be prepared, be on time, be a team player and a leader, stay proactive, find solutions and ‘never-give-up’ state of mind,” says Cervantes, a graduate of STC’s Occupational Therapy Assistance program. “Military life and training that has been instilled has made me a better college student.”

Cervantes’ path mirrors the experience of so many South Texas veterans: Fresh out of the service, bearing high-level life, work and collaboration skills, but often lacking a clear career direction, not to mention the higher education necessary to find it.

“It’s like being fired from a job, it’s not easy,” says Jessie Luna, Coordinator of Veterans Enrollment Services at South Texas College. “We like to emphasize that the skills they develop … those are the skills we’re looking for – determined and motivated, just like in the military.”

Proudly bearing an official Military Friendly™ designation, South Texas College has made higher education access to military families a priority. That important edict starts with the proper application of benefits and the development of an educational plan, and continues with high-touch support efforts, covering both general and veteran-specific aspects of the college experience.

“STC really represents the military-friendly mantra we carry,” says Luna. “We don’t just send them to class and forget about them.”

Cervantes knows firsthand the struggles of navigating the higher education quagmire. His initial attempt at college, at a four-year institution, was thwarted by miscommunications, bureaucracy, and other barriers typical to the experience of many college-bound veterans.

“I originally did not know just how vet-friendly South Texas College was,” says Cervantes. “I … hit many roadblocks and headaches and naturally assumed all colleges were alike.

“I soon realized just how much STC does for the veteran community.”

Today, Cervantes is continuing his educational journey by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership at South Texas College. The college was the first in the State of Texas to offer a Competency-Based Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership, which allows students to apply prior learning experience to complete the program faster.

STC’s commitment to South Texas veterans encompasses a wide range of services, both in and out of the classroom. Upon enrollment, veteran students work with a dedicated counselor to determine eligibility for benefits, such as those provided by the federal GI Bill and Reserve Educational Assistance Program, and the state-level Hazelwood Act.

“As a veteran enters [STC], we try to determine what they’re trying to do with higher education so we can guide them,” says Luna.

Much like in the military, that support endures long past “basic training.” Once all benefits are processed and the veteran begins making the transition to college, STC’s Veterans Affairs department remains active, providing assistance with basic needs, mental health, tutoring, career planning, and more.

According to Cervantes, it was this support system that set South Texas College apart from his previous attempt at higher education.

“It is a little frustrating at times when classes and homework becomes overwhelming, but with the help of the resources like the fox-hole at STC, school has been bearable,” he says. “The amount of support from other veterans at campus also helps tremendously.”

“Veterans helping veterans” is a recurring theme at STC, as the college’s reputation continues to foster a cooperative community for military families. Through its “Operation Mayday” program, STC student vets provide critical services to struggling veterans in the community, all while completing degree-relevant coursework. The program works by identifying needs in the local veteran community, and customizing discipline-specific student projects to meet those needs.

“The Veteran student needs a capstone project to get that certificate,” says Luna of the initiative is being done in coordination with the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing. “They’re projects to support the needs of veterans in crisis AND fulfill project requirements for STC career ed students.”

South Texas College serves almost 900 veterans and dependents annually, with more departing out of Afghanistan and Iraq every day. STC is proud of its “military friendly” moniker, and continues to work to improve services to transition heroes in the region. For more information about support and services for Veteran students at STC, visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/veterans/

Austreberto Gomez believes he has come a long way from working in his mother’s papelaria, a small office supply store, as a teenager in Mexico.

Running her business from a storefront in Reynosa, Austreberto said his mother had also set up a makeshift cyber café, where paying customers could rent time on any one of the several computers available in order to complete projects or just surf the web.

When his parents hired technicians to oversee the computers Austreberto, who was 13 at the time, said he would shadow them as they completed their work and immediately became fascinated with the job.

“I wanted to get more involved with computers even though I didn't know anything at the time,” he said. “When I entered high school in Mexico, I didn't know anything about coding or programming, but I had one professor who really made me feel like I was meant for it.”

Austreberto said he completed most of his schooling in Reynosa and decided to attend college in Monterrey, but left after one year in order to begin working in a factory with more than 3,000 employees.

It was here that he was introduced to work in Information Technology (IT), and he said it shaped his career choice from then on. After seven months in the factory, Austreberto said it was time to pursue his dream for a better life in the United States, and the decision to move led him to South Texas College in 2016.

Austreberto said faculty at STC guided him through the basics of IT, and enabled him to focus on his career goals. He said he benefitted from STC and the real-world expertise of its professors and staff.

“Working in the real world changed my whole mind. Now I have a clear idea of what I want to do after I finish college, and now I have a goal in life,” he said. “Courses at STC showed me the fundamentals of programming, and enabled me to become familiar with the entire scope of computation inside and out.”

Austreberto said he studied in order to earn his associate degree in Computer Science, which he received in May 2018. Now more than two years later after arriving in the US, he says he is now working for his Bachelor of Applied Technology in Computer and Information Technologies (BAT-CIT) with the hopes of entering a career in full-stack web development.

The BAT-IT Program at STC prepares students for successful careers in the field of Computer Information Technology. In the program, students are exposed to everything from the development of web-based applications, computer network and convergent technologies, securing network infrastructures, designing databases, and coding.

“These are the people who create web applications. It’s called full-stack because it touches the back and the front end of whole applications,” he said. “STC gave me the foundation so I have the freedom to choose what I want to do as a career.

“If you don’t have the fundamentals, you won’t be able to choose the job you want,” he said. “STC offers this, and it has all of the elements you need to continue learning.”

As he prepares for his future, Austreberto says he will never forget where his roots are. Deep down, he says he is still that same teenager who would constantly crash his parent’s computer at home. STC however has given him the opportunity to succeed by putting him in touch with the right professors and industry leaders in order to make the most out of his education.

“Now I see that my classes are just one more stage of my life,” he said. “I want to offer thanks to STC for giving me the confidence to go out and get the job I want. For me, the opportunity to start my education at South Texas College was the smartest choice I could have made.”

For more information on BAT-CIT please visit https://bachelors.southtexascollege.edu/cit/index.html or call 956-872-7278.