Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
“Dream It, Believe It, Do It, and Repeat.” These powerful words from Cody Colchado, the 2015 World’s Strongest Disabled Man, left a lasting impression at South Texas College’s annual Silent Dinner.
The event, organized by STC faculty, staff and students, serves as a heartfelt celebration of the deaf and blind community in the Rio Grande Valley, bringing together inspiration, inclusion and a shared commitment to overcoming challenges.
“One of the most beautiful things about our deaf/blind community is their remarkable sense of unity. Whenever they hear about an event where they’re being celebrated, they come together and connect with one another,” said STC American Sign Language and Interpreting Studies Program Coordinator Jovonne Delgado, Ph.D. “We are deeply committed and truly honored to provide this space, where they can unite, empower each other and strengthen the bonds of our community.”
With more than 180 people in attendance, STC’s Hand in Hand Interpreters Club has hosted this event every year for the past 11 years as a way to honor and celebrate the community.
“Imagine traveling to a foreign country where no one speaks your language. When you find someone who understands you, you naturally gravitate toward them — that’s the feeling we witness at every event we participate in, and especially with this event,” added Delgado. “It’s a close-knit community with a beautiful heart. Every year, we have a guest speaker, and this year, we were honored to welcome Colchado, a living example of the incredible spirit of the RGV.”
Colchado is a 33-time world champion in powerlifting for both the able-bodied and disabled division. He holds 21 world records and has earned 12 best lifter awards.
Born in California with a hearing impairment, he lost his eyesight due to a football injury in high school. Since moving to the Rio Grande Valley in 1997, he has broken barriers through his dedication and numerous awards.
“My dream had always been to go to the Olympics, and I was on track until I lost my eyesight,” he shared with the audience. “At 17, I started lifting weights because I was so angry at the world. Sure, I blamed everyone for my problems. But that was not the answer. You must find a dream, believe in it and be proud of who you are.”
Colchado proudly represented the United States as a member of Team USA for the United States Association of Blind Athletes on eight different occasions and in 2015, he made history by becoming the first American to claim the Strongman for Disabled title at the World Championships in Iceland.
“Some people want to keep us at home. They don’t want to see us if we have a disability. But guess what? I am not staying in the shadows. I’m going out there to show everybody that we’re here, we’re proud and we feel fantastic about our abilities,” he continued. “So, grab a dream, believe in it, do it and repeat. Believe in yourself.”
For Mary Morin, a member of the deaf community who has attended this event every year, the fellowship and sense of community at STC have been invaluable. She finds deep inspiration in the stories shared, especially in Colchado’s powerful words.
“It’s so inspiring to hear his story and see how he achieved all of his goals,” she signed. “I hope to one day share my own experience. He inspires me to be open about my journey with the deaf, blind and hearing communities alike.”
The event also featured a variety of vendors from the community, many of whom were STC alumni from the American Sign Language and Interpreting program.
“We have deaf individuals who are incredibly hands-on and talented, creating beautiful arts and crafts. Some of them are even STC alumni who have started their own businesses, selling their creations,” said Delgado. “We invite them to participate free of charge to empower them and promote their work.”
She emphasized that the involvement of STC alumni is especially meaningful, as many have found unique ways to give back to the college that helped them grow both personally and professionally.
“They consistently go above and beyond, and this year in particular, they donated numerous raffle items without us even asking—simply because they wanted to give back,” she said. “This is a wonderful example of the strong sense of community and mutual encouragement that thrives here. We’re excited to offer more events like this to bring everyone together.”
For more information on STC’s American Sign Language and Interpreting Studies, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/asl/ or call 956-872-2632.
