Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – After more than a decade of supporting South Texas College Starr County students, Samantha Montes said she is eager to begin affecting change as the campus’ new Center for Learning Excellence (CLE) coordinator.
Since arriving at STC in 2013, Montes said she has witnessed the campus expand into an extension of the community and has seen incredible acts of sacrifice from families eager to see their children succeed in college.
“It’s a common thing here in Starr County to see families making the sacrifice together and helping their kids succeed through college. It’s an inspiring thing to see them push their child through these obstacles even if they are having obstacles themselves,” Montes said. “Our campus here becomes an extension of that support the families are giving them.”
CLE centers like the one in Starr County are available at all STC campuses and provide a wide range of services for students including online and in-person tutoring, writing support, resources and workshops throughout the year.
Montes said the Starr County CLE adds its own unique approach to the process thanks in part to the community that comes together to support the campus.
“The community here is like no other. Everyone from friends to coworkers become a big family that unites to support all the students here, not just one or a few, but all of them,” Montes said. “Another thing I notice about students is they know and realize everything their family has gone through to get them here.”
Born and raised in McAllen, Montes said she played collegiate volleyball at Texas A&M University-Kingsville before marrying a Starr County native and then starting at the college shortly after in 2013.
Beginning her time at STC as a lab specialist, Montes said she made deep connections with staff and faculty that would ultimately assist her, in her new position, as coordinator for the campus CLE center.
“I don’t hesitate in reaching out to faculty for resources because I have built that connection with them for more than a decade,” Montes said. “We share the same goal – to help and support our students and letting them know that we’re here for them.”
Now overseeing a staff of 14, Montes said she has placed a high priority in fostering a level of trust between students and tutors.
“To see the students come in for the first time, you can tell that they are often shy, embarrassed or intimidated, but they quickly see how dedicated we are to helping them…and when we’re done, it’s so satisfying to have them go back to class with a look that says ‘I got this,’” Montes said. “We hope they leave with a certain level of trust, so they know they can come back to us any time. It is an amazing thing to witness.”
Montes said she sees the excitement among her staff as well.
“I think the students who come here for assistance can see the tutors are just as excited about helping them,” Montes said. “We’re here to help other students no matter what, from English as a Second Language (ESL) students to dual credit, or even students seeking assistance to complete their General Educational Development (GED) courses and exams…that’s what we’re here for.”
For more information on resources offered by STC’s CLE centers, visit www.southtexascollege.edu/cle/.
