Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
At the 2025 RSTEF Annual Awards Ceremony, held March 13 at the Radisson Hotel in the Rio South Texas Region, Adam Gonzalez, CEO of COSTEP and the Rio South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation (RSTEF), proudly announced a $216,750 grant award to Cameron County Education Initiative (CCEI) for its Medical Careers Training and Apprenticeship Program.
As Gonzalez addressed the audience, he reflected on the continued mission of RSTEF. “The foundation has always given back to the community,” he said, emphasizing that this year’s $2.9 million in awards will generate a total impact of $5.8 million through matching funds. Gonzalez praised programs like CCEI for their workforce development and post-secondary education efforts. “It’s a great honor to serve this organization,” he said during his opening remarks. “We’re proud to support programs helping our residents thrive.”
Dr. Rita Hernandez, Executive Director, delivered a deeply personal message of appreciation. “First of all, thank you so much, and what an amazing history you’ve had,” she began, recognizing the shared legacy among the region’s educational institutions. “Speaking of history, there’s so much here in the room. I went to school at TSC. You started me off; I played volleyball for you guys. I know it doesn’t look like it, but back then, I could do the…,” she said with a smile, drawing warm laughter from the crowd.
Dr. Hernandez reflected on her educational journey that spanned local institutions and all partners in the region’s education ecosystem. “Then I went off to Texas A&M and graduated from there. Then, I became a teacher and was trained at Region One. I mean, it’s just a big family of one another supporting each other,” she shared. “I’m so honored to be in your presence and grateful to each of you in your organizations.”
She went on to highlight the mission of CCEI. “CCEI is a small nonprofit career school. We like to say we help families thrive. We happen to do it through career training.” Dr. Hernandez also acknowledged the founder of the organization. “Mike Hernandez, my cousin and regent now at Texas A&M, started the school in 2017,” she noted, proudly tying her journey and her family’s commitment to regional education and economic development.
The grant to CCEI will further its mission by expanding access to medical career pathways and apprenticeships, helping students gain the skills needed to fill critical roles in healthcare—a sector of growing demand in Rio South Texas.
This moment at the RSTEF Annual Awards Ceremony was more than a grant announcement—it celebrated legacy. Dr. Hernandez’s remarks captured the attention of all educators in the room. “I’m so honored,” she said, summing up the sentiment shared by many in the room.
See related stories:
