Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Texas Border Business
South Texas College (STC) celebrated a significant milestone with the groundbreaking of its new Kinesiology & Wellness Center at the Pecan Campus, a project years in the making. The 16,715-square-foot facility, with a construction cost of $7.7 million and a total cost of just over $8 million, will expand academic programs, wellness initiatives, and opportunities for students pursuing careers in health and science fields.
“This is the day that our program for Kinesiology and Wellness Center was waiting for many, many years,” said Dr. Anahid Petrosian, Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs & Economic Development. “That was a dream for many years, thanks to Dr. Solis’ vision. Now, we are going to see that coming through.”
STC President Dr. Ricardo J. Solis described the facility as both “symbolic and important,” situating it within the college’s broader vision of creating pathways for students. “Although it’s kinesiology, which you all think is exercise science, it’s also a wellness facility. There will be classrooms there,” Solis said. “It provides a pathway, an opportunity for students who really are not sure what they want to go into, but it provides them that opportunity to become confident in the sciences, especially the STEM areas.”
The project has been on the college’s agenda for more than a decade. According to Dr. Eric Reittinger, Dean of Social & Behavioral Sciences, the wait was worth it. “This is a building that’s been 15 years in the making. We just had to wait our turn,” Reittinger said. “It started with a $5 million budget, and it went up over time to $8.7 million. It would’ve been very easy for them to say no, but this is an important, important building.”
The new facility will increase classroom capacity from one to four and support three program tracks: coaching and education, exercise science, and a personal training certificate. “This isn’t a building just for kinesiology majors. This is a building for all students to come and exercise and feel good about who they are,” Reittinger added.
The Board of Trustees played a pivotal role in advancing the project. Chair Dr. Alejo Salinas Jr. reflected on the significance of the facility, noting its potential to attract students back to campus. “A college is not complete unless you have a physical education facility, which is what we’re getting this year,” Salinas said. He also emphasized STC’s national recognition as the number one community college serving Hispanics, calling it “a tremendous honor for all of us.”
Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services Mary G. Del Paz highlighted the work of the project team, including STC’s facilities staff, architects Bob Boltinghouse and John Gates, and Tri Construction contractors. “Your vision and craftsmanship have created a space that will not only support our academic excellence, but also our wellness,” she said.
Local and state leaders joined in recognizing the project’s impact. Texas State Representative Terry Canales praised the investment, stating, “Every opportunity that we have to expand higher education is a chance to move our community forward. Education is like turning a mirror into a window—you’re able to look beyond yourself into what you can do for your community.”
Dr. Solis emphasized that the center is part of STC’s strategy to quickly adapt to the needs of students and industry. “It’s about providing, turning higher education into opportunities,” he said. He noted that STC’s programs have achieved a 98 to 100 percent passing rate on certification exams, particularly in health-related fields. “That is how you measure the quality of a program, and that’s what we’re so proud of.”
The president also announced new partnerships, including an upcoming meeting with SpaceX recruiters at STC’s Technology Campus. “They hear about what STC is doing. They see all the innovation,” Solis said.
The groundbreaking concluded with recognition of the college’s commitment to innovation and community collaboration. As Salinas noted, “This is what South Texas College is all about. It’s about students, about success. And for that, we thank everybody that is here.”
