Texas Border Business
Originally published by South Texas College News on October 24, 2012.
Three distinguished supporters of higher education were honored by community leaders during the seventh annual South Texas College Valley Scholars Program’s “A Night with the Stars” on Oct. 4, 2012 at Kalos Events Center in Mission. Attendees enjoyed a night of dining and entertainment as the college saluted Wells Fargo, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, and Texas Border Business.
“It’s in the vision and values of Wells Fargo to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life in the communities, and the best ways to do that is to support education,” said Wells Fargo Area President for South Texas Alma Ortega. “We really need talent and skill sets. In the workforce, we are hiring people and we need them to be prepared. We need them to be educated in order for them to really advance in the company and we need to take them to the next level, and the only way to do that is through education.”
“I was deeply honored and humbled to be recognized by STC for the McAllen Chamber’s support of the Valley Scholars Program,” added President and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce Steve Ahlenius. “STC is a vital part of our region’s success. They play a critical role in workforce development, higher education, and making our region competitive.”
STC raised more than $90,000 in cash and in-kind donations through the event. Net proceeds benefit the college’s Valley Scholars Program. The program was founded in 1997 and it provides financial assistance, academic support and leadership development to academically gifted and highly motivated students.
“It’s an honor to celebrate another year of A Night with the Stars. It’s been a privilege to be a part of this event because it’s about education, and I’m an advocate of education,” said Texas Border Business President Roberto H. Gonzalez. “I believe 150 percent that education makes a difference. I love STC, I love everyone involved, and I know that everyone there puts a lot of effort to make it happen. A college is a very difficult thing to build and the people that have done it, have done a wonderful job.”
More than 680 program students have participated and gone on to study at premier universities around the nation to become doctors, lawyers, teachers and other professionals. During the annual event, nine Valley Scholars alumni were honored as a testament of the program’s success over the course of its 15-year history.
“As a first generation college student, the Valley Scholars Program helped me and my family navigate through the college admissions process,” said Larry Barroso, who earned his Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from STC and his Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior from The University of North Texas. He is currently the STC Coordinator of College Access.
“The program gave me the opportunity to focus on my education and to be matched with a mentor who provided great advice and insight regarding the ‘real world,’” he added. “I was challenged on a day to day basis in my classes, and was well prepared when I transferred to the University of North Texas for my BBA. As a graduate of Class Two, it is great to see how the program has evolved and how it continues to give many other students the same opportunity I was afforded. The Valley Scholars Program gave me the confidence to believe in myself, and to know that I could be successful in whatever I did and wherever I went.”
For additional information about the Valley Scholars Program or the annual event, visit https://nightwithstars.southtexascollege.edu or call (956) 872-2621.
