Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – For the first time in its 20-year history, Navy Week made its way to the Rio Grande Valley with South Texas College serving as host for a historic celebration honoring service, sacrifice and community partnership.
Held recently at STC’s Cooper Center for Performing Arts, the event featured remarks from college leadership along with a visit from Navy Rear Admiral David J. Faehnle, commandant from Naval District Washington as well as a performance from the U.S. Navy Southeast Brass Band.
The event was part of a weeklong series of outreach efforts across the entire Rio Grande Valley that brought more than 70 sailors to the region.
“It’s such an honor to be part of Navy Week and to celebrate the importance of the United States Navy,” said STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D., in his address to visitors. Solis welcome attendees by highlighting the college’s role as one of the largest institutions of higher education in south Texas, serving more than 40,000 students annually across six campuses.
Solis also noted that as a Gold Military Friendly and Military Spouse Friendly institution, STC serves more than 800 veterans, active-duty service members and dependents through its Office of Student Veterans Affairs.
“The Navy not only protects our nation, but it supports commerce, humanitarian aid and global stability,” Solis said. “We are proud to stand in partnership.”
STC’s Cooper Center was a fitting venue for the Navy celebration. The facility is named in honor of Edinburg native U.S. Navy Lt. Edward “Ned” Pillow Cooper, and commemorates the Vietnam-era navigator who was killed in 1971 when his aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in the Philippines.
Decades later, his mother Edwynne Cooper, made a significant gift to STC to ensure her son’s legacy would inspire future generations.
“When the U.S. Navy reached out to collaborate on Navy Week, we could think of no better venue than the Cooper Center,” said Javier Cardenas, STC Veterans Affairs certifying official. “This space represents service, sacrifice and a deep connection between the Nay and our community.”
U.S. Navy Capt. (Ret.) Mery-Angela Katson, director of Training and Education Requirements for the Chief of Naval Personnel, emphasized the Navy’s deep ties to Texas and its future-focused mission.
“Over 40,000 sailors in our Navy today come from the state of Texas,” Katson said. “As we celebrate 250 years of service, we are modernizing our fleet, embracing new technology and investing in the future – we cannot do that alone. It takes partners like South Texas College and communities like the Rio Grande Valley.”
Katson highlighted the Navy’s role in safeguarding global commerce, noting that 90% of trade travels by sea and encouraged students to explore opportunities in both uniformed and civilian service.
As the brass band’s final notes echoed through the Cooper Center, the event served as both a tribute to the past and a bridge to the future.
For STC’s Music students, the performance offered more than entertainment. The event honored local sacrifice while inspiring a new generation to serve.
“It was just an amazing performance,” said STC Music Department Chair Daniel Cather, D.M.E. “Many students don’t realize that they can audition for professional military ensembles and travel while serving. It opens their eyes to possibilities they may have not considered.”
