On the site of former farmland, STC Board members say they now harvest dreams
Texas Border Business
McAllen, Texas – Even with the addition of brand new facilities at South Texas College’s Starr County Campus, it is not difficult for Board Trustee Rose Benavidez to see the remnants of what it used to be.
Benavidez, the daughter of a founding board member for the college; the late Manuel Benavidez, and whose district includes Starr County, says she remembers the smell of the cantaloupe fields on which the campus now sits. In the early days, she recalls students attending classes in local laundromats because of the lack of space and resources.
“If you look around the campus, there are still areas that have the remnants of what this used to be, it used to be a melon field, and they harvested crops but what we do now is we harvest success, and we harvest dreams,” Benavidez said. “What we are doing now is affording the people to do it in facilities that match those aspirations.”
South Texas College (STC) celebrated the opening of numerous facilities at its Starr County Campus on April 5. STC Board of Trustees, staff, and faculty were on hand for the official ribbon cutting of buildings they say will influence the community and students for generations to come.
Attendees at the event included Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City; Starr County Judge Eloy Vera; Rio Grande City Mayor Joel Villarreal; and Roma Mayor Roberto “Bobby” Salinas. U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-TX, offered his congratulations from Washington.
STC Board Trustees at the ribbon cutting included Benavidez, Board Chair Dr. Alejo Salinas, Gary Gurwitz, Vice-Chair Graciela Farias, and Paul Rodriguez.
“I see this being a stepping stone into a much larger campus with a lot more programming that is directly tied to the industry that we have in the community and the region,” Benavidez said. “More importantly, I see this as a barometer where children can look and say ‘Hey, I can go to college. I can do better, and I’m doing it because it’s available’. As Board Trustees, we are making decisions that are impactful not just to our budget but the lives of people, and I think it’s very clear that up to this point that has happened.”
As a result of a $24 million expansion, the Starr County Campus now contains an expanded Student Services Building, a thermal storage plant, and a new 18,000 square foot library that is double the size of the former facility. The previous library has been renovated into a cultural arts center.
New construction also includes a new 55,000 square foot Health Professions Science Center that houses biology and chemistry labs, computer facilities as well as simulation and skill labs for health professions.
“They’re going to have access to two brand new buildings, a new library, new health professions and science building, expansion of the student activities area, student services area and more parking,” said STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed. “It’s a beautiful facility. It is very warm, welcoming, and very state-of-the-art. We will be able to provide first class quality training in these facilities. We have new chemistry and biology labs. Students interested in the sciences, what a perfect option for them to come spend two years at South Texas College and then transfer anywhere they want to go.”
South Texas College sees its campus construction projects come to light made possible by the voter-approved $159 million bond passed in 2013. Among its five campuses, South Texas College welcomes the expansion of new facilities designed to serve students for generations to come. The expansion will enable the college to accommodate its growing student enrollment and demands for workforce development by local employers.
“STC has transformed the landscape of Starr County,” said Rio Grande City Mayor Villarreal. “When you’re looking at the impact of South Texas College you have to see the capital assets, human capital, long-term investments, economic growth and prosperity, and the salaries and benefits of graduates past and future.”
“I mean, you’re looking at a contribution from the standpoint of economic growth that’s incredible, and you see it all around us,” Villarreal said. “STC has had a tremendous impact, and it’s an invaluable partnership and collaboration that we have with the college, and I certainly look forward to continued partnership.”
