Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
McALLEN, Texas – In a momentous event hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, South Texas College Board of Trustee Chair Rose Benavidez and Associate Professor of Manufacturing Technology Esmeralda Adame, Ph.D., were honored as Women of Distinction for their work in education and their communities.
The RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce promotes economic development & assists businesses with access to the Hispanic market through networking, promoting education and nurturing leadership and annually recognizes women who have excelled throughout their careers, while also being involved in community building.
Benavidez and Adame are part of the group of nine women recognized this year during a dinner hosted by the RGV Hispanic Chamber and represent the government and education sectors, respectively.
Both women agree that this honor confirms the work they do is having a meaningful impact in the communities they serve.
“It’s acknowledgements like these that validate the work we do,” said Benavidez. “It’s an honor joining an elite group of women who have received and will receive this award.”
Since her election to the STC Board of Trustees in 2009, Benavidez, who is also the first female president of the Starr County Industrial Foundation, has been instrumental in the expansion of innovative programming including dual enrollment, early college high schools and industry-driven baccalaureate degrees that have created a cost-saving college-going culture in the region.
She has dedicated her professional career to developing the local economy and has improved access to education and creating job opportunities.
“My never-ending goal is to ensure that everyone who wants an education has access to it,” she said. “Education transforms lives, leads to gainful employment and wages that can support a family. Everyone deserves a chance, and I will never stop fighting for that.”
Benavidez is also an elected chair of the Executive Committee for the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), where she has successfully participated in advocating for increased federal funds for higher education, alignment of skills training with meaningful wage employment and the promotion of student success across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Pacific Islands.
For her contributions and work, Benavidez has also been inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame and has received the “State of Texas Women of Distinction Award” from the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC).
Adame, a distinguished professor and alumna of STC, shares the same sentiment and said that it’s not only an honor being given this recognition, but it’s an honor that the recognition is for serving STC and its students, an ongoing commitment to education she started nearly 18 years ago.
“This distinction not only belongs to me; it’s an honor I share with colleagues who also serve and dedicate themselves to our students,” said Adame. “It’s been a privilege to touch so many hearts and hopefully serve as a role model for my students. This is my passion and it’s humbling being recognized for it.”
Adame added she understands the struggle of her students. She was only 8 years old when her mom brought her to the United States from Mexico knowing little to no English. She said like many of her students, she knows what it’s like not having a car, or having a car but not having money for gas and relying on friends to get her to school.
“I’ve been where many of these students are at, and I can relate closely to them,” she said. “STC jump-started my career and as a faculty member, I know I have the responsibility of being my students’ biggest mentor and I hope if they take away anything, it’s my ‘si se puede’ mentality.”
Adame has also received the STC 2019 Faculty of the Year Award and a recognition from the Texas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as a female business owner.
STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D., said it’s amazing to see STC faculty and his colleagues being recognized for their dedication not only to the college, but to their students and communities they serve.
“Everyone at STC works so hard to make the college successful and to ensure our students are successful,” he said. “Madam Chair Rose Benavidez and Dr. Adame deserve this recognition and I’m so happy for them. They represent us well and represent what our faculty and staff are all about. Congratulations to them, and to everyone who was honored with this distinction.”
