Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
South Texas College and the STC Foundation, thanks to prominent donors and restaurateurs Sony and Albert Rego from the Santa Fe Foundation, recently presented three deserving Culinary Arts students with scholarships that will help them complete their degrees in the coming year.
The scholarships were awarded as part of a $25,000 donation given to the Culinary Arts department last year, proceeds from the Santa Fe Wine Classic, which is focused on helping prepare students to compete on a global scale with initiatives such as workforce readiness, internships, scholarships and mentoring opportunities.
“The culinary industry recognizes the quality of student our Culinary Arts program produces. You’re in demand,” STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D. told the scholarship recipients. “This is why we have partners like Sony and Albert Rego from the Santa Fe Foundation supporting students like you. They see your value and the value of our program. Our students are in demand. The industry depends on us and we’re grateful to the Santa Fe Foundation for always putting our students first.”
Caitlin Cavazos is one of those students. Raised by two generations of strong, immigrant women, the 21-year-old said her passion for cooking started with her abuelita, or grandmother, and tias, or aunts, who inspired her career choice.
“All of the women in my family are self-supporting. We work for what we have and throughout the course of my two-year program, my mother and I have had to do this alone,” said the Los Fresnos native, who drives one hour each way daily to study. “So, when I found out I had received this scholarship, it was a big relief to know that I could give something back to take the weight off her shoulders.”
With a specialization in Baking and Pastry Arts and expected to graduate with an associate degree next year, Cavazos is already working in her chosen profession in San Benito at Reach for the Sky Bake Shop, where she has already been offered a permanent position once she graduates.
Her peer Christian Alexandre Castro, 24, is working on his third associate degree in Culinary Arts – Restaurant Management. With two degrees in Culinary Arts and a Culinary Arts with a specialization in Baking and Pastry Arts, he said this scholarship is a testament to his hard work.
“I was overjoyed when I received word about this scholarship,” he said. “More than anything, I feel like this is a recognition for all my hard work and sacrifice. It pushes me to keep moving forward and lets me know that I’m on the right path. This is going to help me continue learning and growing, so thank you to everyone who afforded me this opportunity.”
Like Cavazos, Castro has worked across Hidalgo County at restaurants such as Republic of the Rio Grande, Bonhomía on Main, Tesoro’s Cuisine and St. Paul Lutheran Church and School.
Sony and Albert Rego, STC donors and owners of Republic of the Rio Grande, Santa Fe Steakhouse and Cantina and University Drafthouse, said it’s students like Cavazos and Castro that inspire them to continue supporting STC.
“The Santa Fe Foundation is proud to award three scholarships as part of our continued commitment to supporting students from the STC Culinary Art program. It is a true honor to play a small role in helping foster their growth and success,” said Sony. “As a restaurant owner, I’m continually inspired by the dedicated, resilience and aspirations of the incredible individuals who make up our industry. I have seen what these students are capable to achieve. Their drive is what motivates me, us, to keep investing in the next generation.”
These scholarships from the Santa Fe Foundation support students like 59-year-old Alejandra Andrade, who is pursuing her second career, proving that it’s never too late to do what you love.
As a former systems engineer in Mexico, Andrade moved to the states with her family during the COVID-19 pandemic and with this new chapter, came a new career.
“After a lot of reflection, I realized my next passion after engineering is cooking,” she said. “It is now hard to believe that I have an associate degree in Culinary Arts and now pursuing my second one in Baking and Pastries, and now more than anything, this scholarship has motivated me to keep going. Despite my age, this shows me I have opportunity, and I should keep moving forward.”
Rodney Rodriguez, Ph.D., STC vice president of Institutional Advancement and External Affairs, said scholarships like these are imperative for students and their futures.
“For the Foundation, having partners like Sony and Albert Rego helps us increase student enrollment and certification and degree completion because we get to financially support students and initiatives that make a college education accessible for all,” said Rodriguez. “On behalf of the Regos, our good friends at the Foundation, thank you…you deserve these scholarships and know that the Foundation will continue to support scholarship efforts.”
Information source: STC
