Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
MCALLEN, Texas – For Reynosa native Monica Salinas, crossing the border every day to attend South Texas College’s Technology campus in McAllen is a journey to becoming an architect rooted in family, service, sustainability and above all community.
Salinas is part of STC’s first-ever Architecture program cohort, a historic milestone for both her and the institution and an achievement she describes as transformative for herself and her peers.
But beyond the classroom, Salinas is already applying her skills in the professional world. Currently employed at Gignac Architects, a well-established local firm in McAllen where she contributes to drafting and interior design, Salinas said she is immersed in tasks that have given her hands-on insight into real-world architectural practices.
Salinas’ story is not just one of academic success—it’s one of impact.
“Architecture isn’t just about buildings,” she said. “It’s about the people who use them, the community they shape, and the future we’re building together.”
The Architecture program at STC is designed to prepare students for transfer into four-year institutions accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), a requirement for professional licensure.
STC’s curriculum emphasizes design principles, architectural history, sustainability and building technology, all while ensuring seamless transferability through the statewide Architecture Field of Study.
It’s already attracting students like Salinas who are filled with inspiration, who are seeking involvement and who have the desire to change their communities.
Salinas’ inspiration didn’t just come from childhood dreams—it came later, through travel and family. Though she comes from a family of architects, she found her own passion while visiting places like Rome, Florence and Venice, where centuries-old buildings ignited something within her.
She recently attended “La Biennale Architettura” in Venice independently, exploring global trends in architecture and seeing firsthand how design varies across cultures.
“It was a dream,” she said. “To see innovations from all over the world—it gave me so many ideas.”
Through her courses, Salinas participated in a historic restoration project and later collaborated on a master plan for the South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association. Her proposal for a children’s summer camp was selected as the preferred vision and is set to shape the organization’s development efforts going forward.
Salinas also serves as Vice President of STC’s newly established chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), where she helps link students with local architects and supports service-based design projects.
Once she made the effort to get involved, Salinas said more opportunities came and she began to develop professional connections as a student.
“Community work is where we really learn the most,” Salinas said. “You absorb more information, more design techniques and the community teaches you even when you don’t ask for it. I met project managers and lead architects through school events. I quickly learned that networking was everything. They really helped me grow.”
Looking ahead, Salinas plans to transfer to Texas A&M University to pursue her bachelor’s degree, a step required on the path to licensure. She hopes to eventually return to the Rio Grande Valley and contribute to a more walkable, sustainable urban environment
Her advice to future architecture students, “Focus on your own growth.”
“It’s important to stay involved,” she said. “Through AIAS and STC, we’ve built a network. We’re already connected to people who can help us grow. Not everyone comes back after graduating, but I want to come back and make a difference.”
As STC’s inaugural class of architecture students prepares to move forward, Salinas and her achievements at STC stand as a testament to the program’s mission: fostering academic excellence, leadership and a deep commitment to community.
“Just be your best every day,” Salinas said when asked about her personal philosophy. “Maybe today your work isn’t the best, but tomorrow it might be number one. Be proud of your ideas.”
For more information on STC’s new Architecture program visit www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/architecture/.
Information source: STC
