Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
Imelda Raymundo recently completed her associate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from South Texas College, and she credits this achievement to STC’s newest initiative – JagReconnect.
JagReconnect is STC’s commitment to help students that paused their education, complete their credential. It is a last-dollar match program that covers tuition and fees, pays off outstanding debt and gets a student back on track toward earning their certificate or associate degree.
The program also helps returning students like Raymundo with access to personalized support and wraparound services that help them find educational success.
“If not for JagReconnect, I would have never returned to complete my degree…I couldn’t afford it,” said the 56-year-old. “I owed a lot of money. I wasn’t eligible for financial aid and that really hindered my dream, but STC made it possible. I will never be able to thank the college enough for this opportunity.”
Only three classes shy of completing her degree, Raymundo’s mother became ill, requiring her to move to Mexico and become her mother’s full-time care taker.
Through the stress of her illness, moving and depression, Raymundo said she forgot to withdraw from her classes, leaving her with an outstanding balance that she could not afford.
“It was an honest mistake; my mistake and I took full responsibility for it. After my mom passed away and I returned to the Valley, I used an entire paycheck to pay my balance, but now I couldn’t afford tuition,” she said. “I put my education on hold again for about two more years, until I got a phone call from STC letting me know I could be eligible for financial assistance through JagReconnect. That changed my life.”
Finally, after immigrating from Mexico at 16 years old, getting married at 20, two children and a GED diploma later, Raymundo’s chance at becoming a college graduate was about to come true.
“It’s been a journey full of ups and downs…it hasn’t been easy, but it was my father’s dying wish, and even though it’s been 20 years since he passed, this is in his honor. I hope he’s looking down proudly,” said Raymundo. “My children, who are now grown, and my husband are always telling me how proud they are of me, but knowing I’ve made my dad proud hits differently.”
With a more than two-decade career at Walmart as a sales associate, Raymundo said she hopes to continue her education to complete a degree in Business, knowing there is opportunity for growth within her job.
“My manager recently told me there is an opportunity for me to grow as I continue my education. I’m going to work for that,” she said. “I’m going to make my 8 a.m. class times to midnight work shifts and sleepless nights worth it. I more confident now.”
Raymundo still recalls the days she was planning on taking out her 401K retirement plan to pay for college, knowing there would be a penalty and everything she worked hard to collect would be gone in tuition.
Fortunately, she said, it never came to that because of JagReconnect, and now she has a whole new future to look forward to.
“I’m proof that it’s never too late and that help is out there,” said Raymundo. “If you’re at STC, there really is no excuse to not succeed. I encourage every student to stay positive, remember education is important and that there are people ready to help you finish that degree.”
STC Dean of Enrollment Services Tony Matamoros said many students like Raymundo pause their education because of life circumstances that were beyond their control, but JagReconnect provides a second a chance.
“JagReconnect is an extension of our Valley Promise Program…it is our Adult Promise. There are many promise programs across the country, but very few focus on serving the unique needs of adults and returning students who face many barriers,” he said. “At STC, we recognize that former students need help not just reenrolling, but also addressing their individual circumstances. Our adult promise not only provides financial support, but it addresses non-academic barriers such as child care, mental health and housing by connecting students to services within STC and our community. We set our students, like Raymundo, up for success from the moment they decide to reenroll.”
For more information on JagReconnect and to learn about eligibility, visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/jagreconnect/.
Fall 2025 classes at STC begin August 25.
Information source: STC
