Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
McAllen, TX – Francisco Castellanos, Chick-fil-A operator in Harlingen, encouraged the 2026 VAMOS scholarship recipients to pursue ambitious goals, remain resilient through adversity, and take advantage of the support available through the Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS) during the organization’s 30th Annual Scholarship Banquet.
Representing presenting sponsor Chick-fil-A Rio Grande Valley, Castellanos told students that success is not determined by where they begin in life.
“Regardless of where you come from, regardless of the things that have happened, where you started, it does not determine where you can be,” Castellanos said. “So, you might have a start that was filled with adversity, or you might have a start that came from a tougher background, but I want you to dream big.”
Castellanos said Chick-fil-A values partnerships that extend beyond business operations and invest in the communities they serve. He said education is one of the company’s priorities and praised VAMOS for providing long-term support to scholarship recipients.
“For the kids that are here, typically you get a scholarship. When high school’s done, there’s nobody else following you to see if you’re successful or not,” he said. “But to truly have an organization like VAMOS that is going to be with you, not just when you graduate high school, but to be there for all the right reasons and support you for the next four years, that’s an awesome responsibility.”
During his address, Castellanos shared his life story, describing how he was born in Teocuitatlán de Corona, Jalisco, Mexico, moved to the United States at age 6, later returned to Mexico, and eventually returned to the United States to live with his brother in Los Angeles. He spoke about leaving home at 16, not graduating from high school, becoming a father at 19, and later joining the U.S. Army.
He said military service enabled him to complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree while laying the foundation for his professional career.
“If something doesn’t go right, how do you fix it?” Castellanos said. “You fix it by accepting that situation and then making the choices that you need to make in order to put that behind you and replace it with opportunities and wins.”
Castellanos also encouraged students to establish goals and pursue them with discipline and consistency.
Quoting actor Denzel Washington, he said, “Dreams without goals remain dreams and often fuel disappointment,” adding that success requires “discipline and consistency with a plan.”
Addressing parents in attendance, Castellanos reinforced the importance of encouraging students to think beyond their current circumstances.
“One of the things I told them is that you have to dream big—really big,” he said. “I came from Mexico without knowing how to speak English, and now I’m in the position I’m in today. Those are the kinds of examples I share with them to encourage them to keep moving forward.”
Earlier in the evening, Dr. Annabelle Palomo, VAMOS board member, president, and founder of Rio Grande Valley College, delivered the invocation, emphasizing the organization’s mission to expand educational opportunity.
“We are committed to coming alongside every student and ensuring that financial limitations never become an obstacle to their dreams and potential,” Palomo said.
The VAMOS Scholarship Program provides four-year, renewable scholarships and offers mentoring and ongoing support to students throughout their college careers. During the banquet, the organization celebrated its 30th anniversary, recognized its 2026 class of scholarship recipients, and awarded $1 million in four-year renewable scholarships to students from across the Rio Grande Valley.
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