Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – A long-standing and historic partnership between South Texas College’s Dual Credit Programs and Rio Grande City Grulla ISD is preparing students for careers in manufacturing and industry.
As the Dual Credit Program celebrates 25 years in 2025, its partnership with the district is a testament to the amazing impact the program has had in preparing young students for rewarding careers before they even graduate high school.
Sixteen students from Rio Grande City High School are among those taking dual credit courses in Advanced Manufacturing Technology at STC’s Starr County campus.
Senior Alejandro Chapa, 18, said once he became a junior, he jumped at the chance to begin earning college credit.
Now, Chapa said an opportunity to learn a trade in manufacturing is an opportunity to change people’s lives as he considers a future as an entrepreneur and inventor.
Currently set to graduate this May with a certificate in Precision Manufacturing, Chapa said the skills he has acquired, from drafting parts and seeing them come to life through technology, is inspiring him to make a difference in the world. He plans to come back to STC and get his associate degree while also finding experience in the field.
“This is important to me because I enjoy the pursuit of progress and innovation. I am just fascinated by all the things we can accomplish in this world, and I want to be a part of that change. I want to be able to make a difference in people’s lives with what I do,” Chapa said. “With my experience here at STC, I am able to create my ideas using technology and then bring them to life with the skills the college has given me. This has been a great experience. It’s all hands-on and you get to learn so much in the process. It’s such an amazing opportunity to be able to earn college credit, graduate from STC and maybe even find a career right out of high school.”
Twenty-five years ago, STC introduced its Dual Credit Programs to the Rio Grande Valley community. Today, the program has emerged as a national leader and the only in Texas to be accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) serving 21 partnering school districts and students from more than 70 partnering schools like Rio Grande City Grulla ISD.
Across more than two decades of excellence, STC’s Dual Credit program has served more than 145,000 students and saved RGV families over $450 million dollars in tuition.
“The partnership between the South Texas College Dual Credit Programs and Rio Grande City Grulla ISD exemplifies our commitment to providing students with valuable educational opportunities,” said Associate Vice President of Dual Credit Programs and School District Partnerships Rebecca De Leon, Ed.D. “This collaboration allows us to equip dual credit students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in today’s competitive job market. By fostering such partnerships, we pave the way for a brighter future for our students and community.”
Dual Credit Programs students taking Advanced Manufacturing at STC are all on track to receive a certificate in Precision Manufacturing Technology once they graduate from high school and are then able to return to STC to complete their Precision Manufacturing Technology Associate of Applied Science within a year.
While taking classes at STC, students learn marketable skills including blueprint reading, mill and lathe work and the understanding of the mathematics behind the trade.
“We are incredibly proud of our students in the Advanced Manufacturing program and truly grateful for our partnership with STC,” said Rio Grande City-Grulla ISD Superintendent Guadalupe Garza. “This dual credit opportunity is more than just a head start. It provides our students with real-world experience, confidence and a sense of purpose. As superintendent, it means everything to see our students gaining the skills and confidence to create genuine opportunities for themselves and their families.”
STC trustee and Starr County Industrial Foundation President Rose Benavidez said the partnership between STC’s Dual Credit Program and the district is a benefit for those who work in industry.
“All of us at South Texas College have always prided ourselves on being in tune with industry needs and wants in order to get them that skilled workforce, so the idea that we are able to set a foundation to teach someone not just soft skills but actual trades they can take into a career is something that we are absolutely thrilled about,” Benavidez said. “There has been a lot of talk about apprenticeships and how to begin that training from a young age, and I think what we have learned is that companies see true value in someone when they not only learn on the job, but when they have industry-recognized skills going in. It makes it so much easier for our graduates to find a job, but more importantly for them to keep it.”
Rio Grande City High School senior Leo Alonzo said he is also taking advanced manufacturing courses in high school to prepare him for an engineering degree after he graduates. Like Chapa, he said he also plans to return to STC after he graduates high school to further his education.
“My goal is to enter a career in engineering and when I saw that the Precision Manufacturing program was looking for students, I jumped at the chance to gain the necessary experience in STEM to get there. I decided this was the perfect opportunity to jumpstart my future in engineering by being introduced into things like mechatronics, manufacturing and electrical work. I think programs within dual credit, just like this one, really help students like me get that experience early on, which then helps us get ahead into a future we can be proud of.”
For more information on STC’s Dual Credit Programs, visit www.southtexascollege.edu/dualcredit.
