Academic Affairs Highlights
September 2013
The following is an overview of highlights pertaining to the Academic Affairs Division:
Sept 11 Starr County Campus 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Sept 13 Vocal Quartet: An Evening of Opera and French Art Songs Sept 13 17th Annual Valley Scholars Banquet
Sept 15 STC Ballet Folklorico Performance
Sept 19 Celeste De Luna, Artist – Napantla: From the Four Corners of the Valley
Sept 19 ECHS Learning Tour with Alamo Colleges/Somerset ISD/New Frontiers Academy Sept 20 Grand Opening of University Relations, Transfer & Ariculation Center
Sept 20 20th Anniversary Celebration Professional Development
Sept 27 Inno 2013 Bi-national Innovation Conference: Innovation and Technology for Cross-Border Development
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: Academic Affairs
Department: Starr County Campus
Highlight: Starr County Campus 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
On September 11, 2013, the Starr County Campus held a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony to honor the lives lost in the 9/11 tragedy. Local first responders were honored as well as the U.S. Flag was lowered to half-mast. Over fourteen first responder agencies were present as well as city and county leaders. State Representative Ryan Guillen was present and spoke to the
audience. Overall nearly 200 attendees enjoyed the ceremony with refreshments and light snacks following.
The dignitaries along with the State Representatives included Rio Grande City and Roma City Mayor, County Judge, Police Chiefs from several cities and the County Sherriff.
TX Representative Ryan Guillen Starr County Leaders & First Responders
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Department: Music
Highlight: Vocal Quartet: An Evening of Opera and French Art Songs
The Music Department opened its 2013-14 season with a concert of opera music and French art songs. The concert featured STC music faculty members Sharon O’Leary, soprano and Alfonso Lopez, bass. Guest artists included Esperanza Medina-Aldava, mezzo-soprano and Rene Sandoval, Jr., tenor. Accompanying the singers was pianist and music faculty member Daniel Cather.
The soothing sounds of classical vocal music are heard in a concert at the Cooper Center Auditorium as soprano Sharon O’Leary, mezzo-soprano Esperanza Medina-Aladava, tenor Rene Sandoval, Jr. and bass Alfonso Lopez entertain an opening night crowd on September 13, 2013. The concert was a big success with audience members who gave the quartet a rousing applause at the concert’s end.
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: Academic Advancement
Department: Academic Excellence
Highlight: 17th Annual Valley Scholars Banquet
The Valley Scholars Program welcomed its newest class of students on Friday, September 13, 2013. The banquet honored twenty-five new students from Hidalgo and Starr Counties who graduated within the top 10% of their high school class or earned a GPA of 90 or above. The students will receive scholarship funding, academic support services, and leadership development as part of the Valley Scholars Program.
The banquet provided parents of the students an opportunity to learn more about the Valley Scholars Program and South Texas College. Each student was awarded a certificate of recognition and formally welcomed into Class 17 of the Valley Scholars Program. South Texas College Psychology Instructor and Valley Scholars Alumni, Alexandro Sarabia, served as the keynote speaker for the evening.
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Department: Center for Mexican American Studies Highlight: STC Ballet Folklorico Performance
On September 15, 2013, STC Ballet Folklorico visits Austin for an “Fiesta de El Grito Independencia” performance under the leadership of Victor Gomez, Full Time History Faculty.
A huge crowd (10,000 people) showed up to witness three performances (Tamaulipas, Tabasco, and Baja California) of our STC Ballet Folklorico organized
by Univision in Austin. Dancers are partly our
students, partly UTPA alumni and some are community. The Ballet Folklorico falls under the Center for Mexican American Studies and is increasingly popular. They are invited on a monthly basis to perform at community events throughout the state of Texas.
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Department: Visual Arts
Highlight: Celeste De Luna, Artist – Napantla: From the Four Corners of the Valley
The Visual Arts Department Gallery opened its 2013-14 season with an exhibition honoring Hispanic Heritage Month. The exhibit featured the works Valley native Celeste De Luna and focused on the immigration issues affecting our local Hispanic population.
Celeste De Luna shares her artistic vision with STC students at lectures presented in the library Rainbow Room and in the Visual Arts Gallery on September 19, 2013.
The Art Gallery will present several exhibits throughout the 2013-14 season that will include STC Faculty and visiting artists.
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: High School Programs & Services
Department: Early College High Schools / Dual Enrollment
Highlight: ECHS Learning Tour with Alamo Colleges/Somerset ISD/New Frontiers Academy
Representatives from the Alamo Colleges System, Somerset ISD and New Frontiers Academy in San
Antonio visited South Texas College on September 19, 2013 for information on best practices and lessons learned in providing dual enrollment and establishing an Early College High School. The Alamo Colleges System currently partners with three Early College High Schools and each is designated to one of their colleges within the five partner system. The group was impressed with how large our dual enrollment and early college high school partnerships are and had very good questions about our processes and collaborations.
The contingent from San Antonio included the following: Dr. Mike Flores, President, Palo Alto College (PAC)
Dr. Robert Garza, Vice President for Student Success, Palo Alto College Dr. Beatriz Joseph, Vice President of College Services, Palo Alto College James Shelman, Academic Dean, Palo Alto College
Abel R. Gonzalez, ECHS Director, Palo Alto College
Michelle Perales, District Director of Community Partnerships, Alamo Colleges Jeff Flores, ECHS Principal, New Frontiers Academy
Alfredo Segura, Superintendent, New Frontiers Academy
Melissa Holguin, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, New Frontiers Academy Mario Mendiola, Director of Operations, New Frontiers Academy
Kriesti Bunch, Director of Professional Development, Somerset ISD
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: Math, Science, & Bachelor Programs
Department: University Relations, Transfer & Articulation Center
Highlight: Grand Opening of University Relations, Transfer & Ariculation Center
Center Goals
Articulations
• Assist students to seamlessly transition to next educational institution upon graduation from STC.
• Review articulations currently in place to ensure they are current with institutions such as UTPA, Texas
A&M Kingsville, Texas State, UTSA, and Western Governors.
• Recruit additional programs and universities as partners
• Expand the variety of educational opportunities for faculty, staff and students by exposing them to
various opportunities for Master and Doctoral level programs Partner Services
• Centralize the services related to transfer to one location to streamline the process of offering
educational opportunities to our faculty, staff and students
• Provide space for our educational partners to meet with, advise, test, register, etc. our students that are
graduating from STC and continuing their educational journey
• Work with other institutions on new, innovative opportunities for our faculty, staff and students
OnSeptember 20, 2013, the University Relations, Transfer & Articulation Center held a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on the South Texas College Professional Development Day. This center will tie together all the elements to help our faculty, staff and students continue on and meet their educational goals.
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: Business & Technology
Department: Culinary Arts
Highlight: 20th Anniversary Celebration Professional Development
On September 20, 2013, STC Culinary Arts Department showcased the skills and talents the program has to offer. The students provided the faculty and staff with over 1,000 pan de polvo cookies, 1,000 cupcakes plus,
the 20th Anniversary cake. We also had a special appearance of our program mascot, Chef Jerry the Jaguar, who
had the honor of taking a picture with Dr. Shirley Reed.
On behalf of the Culinary Art instructors we would like to thank the culinary arts students and the South Texas Chefs Club members for helping during this event. Once again their skills and talent was shown on the jaguar and tree center piece.
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: Academic Advancement
Department: Office of Professional & Organizational Development
Highlight: College-Wide Professional & Organizational Development Day
This year’s College-Wide Professional & Organizational Development Day, held on September 20, 2013, celebrated 20 years of excellence
at South Texas College with 1,072 faculty, staff, and administrators in attendance at the McAllen Convention Center. The day had a very celebratory atmosphere featuring the STC Percussion Ensemble, the Ballet Folklórico South Texas College and Employee Service Pin Ceremony. The program also emphasized the importance of voter registration, new opportunities for STC, a new strategic plan and completion week activities. The afternoon program highlighted more
than 30 different breakout sessions topics on organizational, professional and personal development.
Registration & Breakfast
STC Percussion Ensemble: Under the Direction of Ron Schermerhorn
Welcome & Introductions
Lee H. Etheridge, Director of Professional & Organizational Development
Now is the Time
Dr. Shirley A. Reed, President Networking Break
Ballet Folklórico South Texas College Center for Mexican American Studies
Better & Better: Re-Imagining a ‘Better Quality of Life’ José Cruz, Vice President for Information Services, Planning & Strategic Initiatives
Discussion of Completion Week Activities Kim Brumfield, Student Activities Specialist Service Pin Recognition
Lunch On Your Own
Service Pin Pickup 1:00 p.m. Pecan Campus, Student Lounge
Afternoon Breakout Sessions 1:30 p.m. Afternoon Break
Cafeteria
University Relations, Transfer & Articulation Center Ribbon Cutting 2:30 p.m. H105
Afternoon Breakout Sessions 3:00 p.m. Adjourn4:00 p.m.
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: Business & Technology
Department: Business Administration
Highlight: Inno 2013 Bi-national Innovation Conference: Innovation and Technology for Cross-Border Development
OnSeptember 27, 2013, The Division of Business
&Technology hosted a Bi-national Innovation Conference. The purpose of the conference was to highlight the economic boom that could potentially arise from the completion of the Puente Baluarte linking the Pacific Coasts of Mexico and Latin America to the Atlantic Coast of the United States.
Over 200 people attended this event. Experts from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the University of
Texas at San Antonio, and the presidents and CEO’s of the local EDC’s from McAllen, Mission, Edinburg, Pharr, and Starr County discussed the various projects that will impact our region. These include the residual economic benefits from the Eagle Ford Shale just North of the Valley and the creation of a local distribution hub for products that will result from the completion of Puente Baluarte.
Keynote Speaker, Bret Erickson, the President & CEO of TIPA (Texas International Produce Association) outlined the state of our local economy and the important role that produce and agriculture play at the local, state, and national levels. He discussed the importance of how innovations such as the Puente Baluarte will greatly impact our region.
The final panel discussion brought Lic. Ismael Quintanilla Acosta, the Attorney General from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, and our Hidalgo County District Attorney, Mr. Rene Guerra to discuss public safety in our area. Questions focused on dealing with border violence and the impact that it has on the everyday lives of citizens.
EDC Panelists: Keith Patridge, Rose Benavidez, Gus Garcia, and Alex Meade
Speakers and Topics
8:30 am Welcome Dr. Shirley A. Reed,
President, South Texas College
8:45 am The Economic Outlook for the Region Jesus Cañas,
Business Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
9:30 am Panel Discussion:
Financing International Projects
Roy Cantu,
Director, EB-5 Regional Center Karlo Morgado,
Sr. Vice President, Capital Markets Frost Bank
10:30 am Networking Break
10:45 am Panel Discussion: Eagle Ford Shale Dr. Thomas Tunstall
Director, Center for Community and Business Research, UTSA Leodoro Martinez, Jr.,
Chairman, Eagle Ford Shale Consortium
12:00 noon Keynote Speaker /
Lunch
Bret Erickson,
President & CEO, Texas International Produce Association (TIPA)
1:00 pm Cross-Border Training Joseph Olmeda,
President, INDEX
1:45 pm Panel Discussion:
Economic Development Innovations
Keith Patridge,
President & CEO, McAllen EDC Alex Meade,
CEO, Mission EDC Agustin “Gus” Garcia,
Executive Director, Edinburg EDC Fred Sandoval,
Pharr City Manager Rose Benavidez
CEO/President, Starr County Industrial Foundation
3:00 pm Public Safety in Our Region Cynthia Leon, Chair for the Department of Public Safety
Rene Guerra, District Attorney Lic. Ismael Quintanilla Acosta, Attorney General, Tamulipas, MX
4:00 pm Closing Remarks Mario Reyna,
Dean, Business & Technology, South Texas College
IIES (Instituto de Estudios Superiores) students attended the conference and actively participated in the Q & A for the panel discussions. Approximately 50 students made the trek from Reynosa. IIES and South Texas College coordinated this Bi-National event. IIES had their event the previous day.
Academic Affairs Highlights September 2013 Division: Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Department: Visual Arts
Highlight: New STC art Exhibit examines dangers, subtext of life along the border.
Article published in The Monitor Friday, September 27, 2013.
Nothing to Declare but the Clothes On Our Backs
South Texas College will display the work of three artists in a new exhibit, Nothing to Declare but the Clothes On Our Backs, a collaborative installation that examines the challenges and pitfalls that come with living in proximity to the border wall. The exhibit will be on view through Friday, Dec. 6, at the STC Library Rainbow Room.
The artists, Phyllis Evans, David Freeman and Leila
Hernandez, use various mediums to send their messages.
Evans documents the divisive political atmosphere surrounding the wall through photography and Xerox fabric transfers.
Freeman uses the same media to create conceptual “trophies” based on the dangers of the border wall, such as “coyotes,” drug runners and would-be immigrants. Hernandez creates dolls (muñecas de trapo) in a traditional fashion using fabric from used clothing stores, representing the immigrants seeking employment as maids, gardeners and field workers.
“This work manages to touch on the biggest issues that plague our area, while still maintaining an overall playful and tactile quality,” said STC Art Gallery Associate Dawn Haughey. “The printed scenes of barbed wire, labor workers and large machinery on colorful flowered bed sheets, produces a visually satisfying juxtaposition of imagery.”
