Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
On Thursday, March 13, 2025, the Rio South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation (RSTEF) held its second Annual Awards Ceremony at the Radisson Hotel. The evening, hosted by Adam Gonzalez, CEO and President of both COSTEP (Council for South Texas Economic Progress) and RSTEF, gathered educators, nonprofit partners, board members, and community leaders to celebrate initiatives shaping Rio South Texas’s educational and workforce landscape.
Gonzalez welcomed attendees with a message of reflection and pride. “It’s a great honor to serve this organization,” he said. He recounted the foundation’s beginnings in 1974 as a secondary student loan market that helped students by offering interest rate reductions of up to 3%. “The foundation has always given back to the community,” Gonzalez noted, sharing that at one time, the organization supported more than 45% of higher education students in the region.
In a particularly powerful moment during the evening, Marisa Falcon, administrator for the Educator Preparation and Development Program at Region One ESC, took the podium to speak about the transformative power of the grant they received and what it meant for the future of teacher development.
“Good evening, and thank you for welcoming us to the family,” she began. “So, I heard earlier that we are like a family, and yes, I agree. My name is Marisa Falcon, and I represent Region One. I’m the administrator for the Educator Preparation and Development Program.”
Falcon recalled her first week on the job and how it coincided with applying for RSTEF funding. “When we first applied for this grant, this was my second day on the job, by the way. Dr. King said, ‘Marisa, I need you to attend this meeting.’ I said, ‘Sure, what will I be doing?’ And he says, ‘Asking for $119,000.’ I said, ‘Well, thank you, sir.’ And I did it with great pleasure.”
She then turned to a memory that continued to motivate her work: observing a classroom where the teacher was not certified. “It broke my heart to see that if only the teacher had been prepared with a high-quality program, all the students in that classroom would’ve been learning at the level they needed to.”
Now, with the support of RSTEF, Falcon sees the opportunity for real impact. “Coming into this job and being one of the leaders for our teacher program where we certify teachers in our alternative program, I told myself, ‘Marisa, this is your chance to take a team of people to the next level with our Region One partners.’”
She shared her bold vision directly with Gonzalez: “When I pitched to him, I said, ‘There are three things we’ll do. We’re gonna grow like you’ve not seen before. We’re gonna be great like you haven’t seen greatness before. And we’re gonna have an impact in our community—because our children deserve it.’”
Falcon closed her remarks by expressing sincere gratitude. “Thank you so much for the $119,000, and thank you to all who also put forth your leadership, skills, and care for our community. Thank you so much.”
In 2019, the foundation officially transitioned into RSTEF with a refined mission: “To ensure residents acquire skills and knowledge and have access to economic opportunities to enable them to pursue meaningful careers and live prosperous lives in Rio South Texas.” This mission now works jointly with COSTEP’s economic development vision.
During the ceremony, RSTEF honored its Board of Directors—nine individuals whose leadership has guided the foundation’s growth and outreach.
Gonzalez also emphasized the measurable impact of RSTEF across its seven-county service area. Since 2019, RSTEF has awarded $9.4 million in grants, creating a total investment of $18.8 million when matched by additional funding. The foundation has supported 26 programs, with many continuing for multiple years. These initiatives address vital areas such as:
- Advanced Industrial Robotics
- Credit Recovery for At-Risk High School Students
- Biomedical Equipment Access
- Healthcare Career Pathways
- STEM Tutoring
- Healthcare Apprenticeships
- Teacher Training Programs
- Registered Nurse Certifications
- CTE (Career and Technical Education) Pipeline Development
- Scholarships and Endowments in fields such as Computer Engineering, Construction Science, and Banking
The 2025 RSTEF Annual Awards Ceremony celebrated past achievements and the growing momentum of a region unified by purpose. Through leadership, strategic funding, and programs driven by passion and accountability, RSTEF continues to fuel a brighter, more equitable future for Rio South Texas.
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