Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
Students from South Texas College’s Architecture program stepped beyond the classroom recently with a goal to catch a glimpse of their future careers during Architecture Engineering Construction (AEC) Day hosted by Millenium Engineers Group in Pharr.
Designed to connect aspiring professionals with experts actively shaping communities, the event brought together students and leaders from across industries.
STC students joined their peers from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas A&M and Texas Southmost College for a day of mentorship, networking and inspiration.
More than 20 participating agencies and organizations were in attendance including local municipalities, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT), SpawGlass, D. Wilson Construction, Garver, DBR Engineering, RIKE Architects, Orangemade Architects, Halff Associates, Lainez Architects, Rio Delta Engineering and VMK Materials.
For STC faculty like Mario Serna, the experience reflects the program’s commitment to preparing students not just academically, but professionally.
“This is a mentorship day, and the students really get to connect with industry professionals,” Serna said. “At the end of the day, we always tell students it’s about collaboration. We don’t design buildings by ourselves. It takes working with engineers, construction teams and others to bring ideas to life.”
As AEC continues to grow, it stands as a reminder for STC students that a path to a career in Architecture begins not just with learning, but with opportunity, connection and the confidence to imagine what is possible.
Serna said opportunities like AEC Day are essential in helping students see beyond the classroom and envision themselves in the field.
“We always try to give student exposure to real-world experiences,” he said. “This is where they begin to build those connections, and hopefully those connections turn into opportunities.”
STC Architecture student Hannah Cantu said she is in her second semester and the connections she is making in the industry is already making a lasting impression.
She was among the students chosen to participate in the event’s student speaker showcase, which she described as both humbling and motivating.
“It was such a blessing. I felt honored to be chosen to compete,” Cantu said. “I haven’t really been exposed to people in the field yet, so getting to meet professionals and present to them was an amazing experience.”
After initially pursuing a degree in the health care field, Cantu said discovering Architecture gave her a renewed sense of purpose.
“When I found Architecture, everything just clicked,” she said. “It gave me the creative outlet I was looking for, and now I feel like I’m doing what I am meant to do.”
Architecture student Natalia Cardenas said she was participating in AEC Day for the second consecutive year. Her continued involvement highlights the importance of showing up, building relationships and growing within the field.
For Cardenas, the journey means more than just networking. It’s about becoming more confident within the industry and embracing the path ahead, she said.
“It’s really important because the more they see you, the more they will recognize you,” Cardenas said. “It benefits you now as a student and later as a professional.”
Industry leaders at the event echoed Cardenas’s message.
Hugo Avila of DBR Engineering, who serves on an advisory board for multiple STC programs including Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) and Architectural Engineering Design Technology (AEDT), emphasized that success is built through persistence and guidance.
“The more time you put into it, the better the results are going to be,” Avila said. “I didn’t always have that mentorship growing up, so now I want to be that person for students. I want to help them take that next step.”
For more information on STC’s Architecture program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/architecture/.
