by Legislative Media | Jun 14, 2018 | Politics

Featured: The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce celebrated Leadership Edinburg Class XXIX graduation on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. Eleven graduates from the city’s business community were honored for completing the nine-month program. From left: Johnny Rodríguez (Bert Ogden Auto Group–Public Relations); Abel Garza (Wells Fargo); Marivel Valdez (Open Range Enterprises); Nydia M. Treviño (Memorial Funeral Home); Erica Pérez (RGV Town Planner); Mónica Ann Vega (Oceangate Hospitality); Robert C. Vackar (Bert Ogden Auto Group); Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina; Mary Lou Escobedo (Escobedo & Cárdenas, LLP); Maricruz Z. Nieto (Townplace Suites by Marriott); Priscilla C. Whiteaker (Farmers Insurance); Joe A. Delgado (Halff Associates); and John Mark Atchley (South Texas Health System Edinburg). Vackar and Molina were special guests for the graduation ceremony.
Photograph By RONNIE LARRALDE
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by Legislative Media | Jun 8, 2018 | Politics

Featured, from left: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley education students Jimena Gamboa of La Feria, Clarissa Rodríguez of Weslaco, Kasandra Salinas of La Feria, and Clarissa Guerra of Edinburg, are among seven UTRGV students named recipients of the Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers, under the Raise Your Hand Foundation. For this inaugural cohort, 100 students from 10 partnering universities in Texas were chosen from a pool of 350 candidates by means of a competitive selection process, which included a written application, interviews, group activities and demonstration of a teaching lesson. Each student receives an $8,000 scholarship each year for up to four years, as well as ongoing training, mentorship and networking opportunities facilitated by the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation. Not shown are recipients Raquel Pérez of Edinburg, Brenda Olvera of Brownsville, and Cristina Ortiz of Laredo. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.
Photograph By PAUL CHOUY
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by Legislative Media | May 28, 2018 | Politics

The UTRGV HEB Planetarium celebrated its 55th Anniversary with staff, faculty, and guests, along with Ms. Yvonne Loflin from HEB.
A presentation within the planetarium was followed by entertainment by the UTRGV Pep Band and refreshments.
Ms. Loflin videos the UTRGV Pep Band as she exits the planetarium.
UTRGV Photo by David Pike
Featured: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley H-E-B Planetarium in Edinburg celebrated its 55th anniversary with a celebration on April 27, 2018, attended by staff, faculty and guests and Yvonne Loflin, Public Affairs Specialist representing H-E-B, shown here shooting video of the UTRGV Pep Band in front of the planetarium. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.
Photograph By DAVID PIKE
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by Legislative Media | May 27, 2018 | Politics

Featured: Dr. William F. Strong, Communications Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and creator of the radio program “Stories from Texas,” is currently adapting “Stories” into a book. The audiobook is currently in production, and the radio show continues to air on 88FM (the Rio Grande Valley’s National Public Radio affiliate), as well as on other NPR and cable stations. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.
Photograph by DAVID PIKE
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by Legislative Media | May 24, 2018 | Politics

Featured: Sixteen University of Texas Rio Grande Valley students have been awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships this year that will take them around the world for Study Abroad courses this summer. The students are from across the Valley. Countries in this year’s studies abroad include Ireland, Brazil, Germany, China, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Peru and the United Kingdom. Shown are UTRGV Gilman recipients, professors and program administrators. From left, front row: Dr. Yanina Hernández, Lecturer, Writing & Language Studies; Lizette Leal, Specialist, International Programs & Partnerships; Raisa Ramírez; Alexandra Torres; Dr. Ping Xu, Assistant Professor of Art; Dr. Robert Gilbert, Associate Professor of art; Emily Rivas; Stephanie Torres; Myrine Barreiro-Arévalo; and Lorelei López. From left, back row: Maraya García; Samantha Bustillos; Dr. Robert Bradley, Associate Professor of Art; Gerardo Segundo; Alan Earhart, Director of International Programs & Partnerships; Ricardo Carrillo; Omar Nedzelsky Jr; Samuel Cavazos; and Dr. Robert Hoppens, Associate Professor of History. Not pictured are Gilman recipients Kristopher Price, Valeria Treviño, Jose García and Raul Martínez. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.
Photograph By PAUL CHOUY
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by Legislative Media | May 17, 2018 | Politics

Featured: Med Care EMS (https://www.facebook.com/medcare911/) holds transportation contracts for major hospital systems in deep South Texas, including Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, South Texas Health Systems, Mission Regional Medical Center, and Knapp Medical Center.
Image Courtesy of MED CARE EMS
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by Legislative Media | May 14, 2018 | Politics

Featured, from left: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley students and triplets Zachary, Victoria and Joshua Pérez from Edinburg who have shared every graduation since kindergarten. But their Saturday, May 12, 2018 commencement ceremony probably was their last together. All three are biology majors, but each had chosen a different path for the future. Zachary is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Biology at UTRGV; Victoria will continue at UTRGV to pursue a Master’s Degree in Manufacturing Engineering; and Joshua will attend the UT-Austin College of Pharmacy. On Friday, May 11, 2018 and Saturday, May 12, 2018, UTRGV held two days of the Spring 2018 Commencement ceremonies honoring 3,100 graduates. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.
Photograph By PAUL CHOUY
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by Legislative Media | May 11, 2018 | Politics

Featured, from left: Danny Díaz, Financial Aid Specialist, La Joya Independent School District; Myriam Téllez, Director, Guidance and Counseling Program, La Joya Independent School District; Rep. Sergio Muñoz, D-Mission; and Steve Chapa, Director, Student Outreach, the University of Texas at Austin. The House 36 state legislator was participating in Decision Day on Friday, May 4, 2018 at Palmview High School, where seniors were committing to attend colleges or universities of their choice.
Photograph By PETER SALINAS
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by Legislative Media | May 9, 2018 | Politics

Featured: Mayor Richard Molina shows off a championship boxing belt during his State of the City Address, held on Thursday, April 19, 2017 at the Edinburg Auditorium, in part to symbolize the power of the city’s economy. “Here’s the bottom line: more people are moving to Edinburg,” the mayor proclaimed. “They know this is the best place to live, work and learn. We expect the population to continue to grow because of everything this city has to offer.”
Photograph By LUIS LARRAGA
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by Legislative Media | May 4, 2018 | Politics

Featured, from left: Alfredo Álvarez, President, Texas State Teachers Association Region 6 and Donna TSTA Treasurer; René Zamora, President, Edinburg Texas State Teachers Association; Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg; and María “Maggie” Inglett, President, Harlingen Texas State Teachers Association, and Officer, TSTA Region 6. On Wednesday, April 28, 2018, in the First National Bank Ballroom in Mercedes, Canales, the House District 40 leader, was the only Rio Grande Valley member of the Texas Legislature who received the prestigious “Friend of Education” award by the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) – Region 6.
Photograph By ALEX RÍOS (more…)