Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
Recently married couple Gilbert and Karyna Cruz crossed paths briefly in 2011 as students at South Texas College, unaware that a single class would one day shape their future together.
The couple first met in a Music Literature class, arriving there for different reasons. Gilbert, now 37, a San Juan native, was pursuing a music degree after several years of exploring other fields, including psychology and graphic design. Karyna, now 31, a McAllen native, was taking the course as an elective while working toward her associate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
“If it wasn’t for STC and us being in the same class together, our lives would have gone in completely different directions,” Karyna said. “STC changed my life in more ways than one. It’s where everything began. “It’s crazy to think what would have happened if I hadn’t chosen that elective.”
Karyna said she remembered being interested in him at the time, but nothing happened. It would be years before they reconnected.
Gilbert maintained a close relationship with the college’s music department, working part time for years even as he attended universities outside of the area.
Karyna transferred to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English and later began teaching middle and high school.
Years later, the two reconnected through social media, and by the summer of 2016 began dating, discovering shared values rooted in education, creativity and service to the community.
“STC has always been there for me in one way or another,” Gilbert said. “I started working part time, left to pursue other opportunities and then came back when another position opened. Even when I stepped away again, I eventually returned. STC has always been part of my life, so it makes sense that it’s also where I met my wife.”
In 2017, Gilbert earned his associate degree in Music. He completed a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership in 2019 and later earned two master’s degrees, one in Marketing and one in Business Administration.
He now works at STC as the Open Labs logistics manager, overseeing computer labs and the campus makerspace, a hands-on innovation space where students, faculty and community members can use tools such as 3D printers, virtual reality equipment and recording studios to develop projects and explore emerging technologies.
“STC helped me so much as a student,” Gilbert said. “Now I get to help other students explore their ideas and figure out what’s possible for them.”
Since 2023, Karyna has worked as a career placement specialist at the Health Science Professions campus, helping students prepare for life after graduation through resume writing, interview preparation and career readiness support.
With a background in education and writing, she works closely with students as they navigate career decisions, often supporting those entering the workforce by helping them recognize their strengths and communicate their experiences with confidence.
“It’s really rewarding, especially working with health care students who are preparing to go out and save lives,” Karyna said. “We don’t want a resume or a bad interview to be the thing that holds them back from doing that.”
Last year, the couple married, beginning a new chapter in their lives as they continue to grow together personally and professionally. Gilbert is pursuing a doctorate degree in Business Administration and Management with the goal of teaching at STC, while Karyna is nearing completion of her master’s degree in Creative Writing and working toward her longtime dream of becoming a published author.
As a first-generation college graduate raised by a single mother, Karyna said education has always represented opportunity and stability.
“Education is something no one can ever take away from you,” she said. “We both understand that and encourage each other to pursue our goals, but we also get to grow in a workplace where student success is the priority. As support staff, we help students explore their ideas and prepare for careers.”
Today, they are giving back to the place that first shaped their paths, continuing to build their future together, confident that the institution where their story began will remain part of it.
“STC is such a big part of our lives,” Gilbert said. “Without the support, benefits and encouragement we receive in our roles, we wouldn’t be able to grow, and we get to pass that support on to our students. That’s why we’ve always come back, and we don’t plan on leaving. It’s the best place for us to continue building our future.”
Information source: STC
