September 2013 - Academic Affairs

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
Sept 27
New STC art Exhibit examines dangers, subtext of life along the border.
Academic Affairs Highlights
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September 2013
Academic Affairs
Starr County Campus
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.
Starr County Leaders & First Responders
TX Representative Ryan Guillen
Academic Affairs Highlights
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September 2013
Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Music
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.
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September 2013
Academic Advancement
Academic Excellence
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.
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September 2013
Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Center for Mexican American Studies
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.
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September 2013
Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Visual Arts
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.
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September 2013
High School Programs & Services
Early College High Schools / Dual Enrollment
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
Sheila Collazo, Associate Superintendent of Instruction
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September 2013
Math, Science, & Bachelor Programs
University Relations, Transfer & Articulation Center
Grand Opening of University Relations, Transfer & Ariculation Center
On September 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.
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
Academic Affairs Highlights
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September 2013
Business & Technology
Culinary Arts
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.
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September 2013
Academic Advancement
Office of Professional & Organizational Development
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.
Adjourn 4:00 p.m.
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September 2013
Business & Technology
Business Administration
Inno 2013 Bi-national Innovation Conference: Innovation and Technology for Cross-Border
Development
On September 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
8:45 am
The Economic Outlook for the Region
9:30 am
Panel Discussion:
Financing International Projects
10:30 am
10:45 am
Networking Break
Panel Discussion: Eagle Ford Shale
12:00 noon
Keynote Speaker /
Lunch
Cross-Border Training
1:00 pm
1:45 pm
Panel Discussion:
Economic Development Innovations
3:00 pm
Public Safety in Our Region
4:00 pm
Closing Remarks
Dr. Shirley A. Reed,
President, South Texas College
Jesus Cañas,
Business Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Roy Cantu,
Director, EB-5 Regional Center
Karlo Morgado,
Sr. Vice President, Capital Markets Frost Bank
Dr. Thomas Tunstall
Director, Center for Community and Business Research, UTSA
Leodoro Martinez, Jr.,
Chairman, Eagle Ford Shale Consortium
Bret Erickson,
President & CEO, Texas International Produce Association (TIPA)
Joseph Olmeda,
President, INDEX
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
Cynthia Leon, Chair for the Department of Public Safety
Rene Guerra, District Attorney
Lic. Ismael Quintanilla Acosta,
Attorney General, Tamulipas, MX
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
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September 2013
Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Visual Arts
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.”