Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
The Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS) held its 29th Annual Scholarship Banquet on June 11, 2025, at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance in Edinburg, Texas. The event recognized a new class of scholarship recipients and honored the sponsors and partners who contribute to the organization’s mission.
VAMOS awards renewable scholarships to first-generation college students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and provides mentorship throughout their academic journeys.
As part of the program, Luis Magdaleno, Operating Officer for the Chick-fil-A Nolana location in McAllen, addressed the audience on behalf of Chick-fil-A of the Rio Grande Valley, a continued sponsor of VAMOS.
“Good evening, everyone,” Magdaleno said. “It’s an honor to stand before you tonight to celebrate something truly powerful—the gift of education and the bright futures being shaped because of it, right here in the Rio Grande Valley.”
Magdaleno stated that Chick-fil-A of the Rio Grande Valley has 12 operators in the area and has supported VAMOS for five consecutive years. “At Chick-fil-A Rio Grande Valley, we believe deeply in the importance of education, not only as a path to a degree, but as a foundation for leadership, for opportunity, and for change,” he said.
He emphasized the impact of education beyond academics. “It’s not just about what we learn in the classroom, but it’s what we do with that knowledge to impact the world around us,” he said.
Magdaleno said that supporting VAMOS aligns with the company’s values. “What VAMOS does is transformative. They’re planting seeds in students today that will grow into doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, perhaps even Chick-fil-A operators and leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
He explained Chick-fil-A’s purpose: “It’s actually to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that’s entrusted to us, and to have a positive influence in all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”
He continued, “We believe in supporting students, supporting families, and supporting dreams. That’s something that aligns with everything we stand for.”
Magdaleno congratulated the scholarship recipients and recognized their achievements. “This is not just a recognition of what you’ve accomplished so far. It’s an investment in what you’re about to do,” he said.
“Let this scholarship be your launching pad, not your finish line,” he added. “Keep showing up, keep learning, keep giving it everything you’ve got because the future you’re heading towards is full of purpose.”
He concluded his remarks by saying, “On behalf of Chick-fil-A Rio Grande Valley, congratulations once again, and never stop believing in the power of your story, your journey, and your potential. Thank you all, and God bless you all in your future endeavors.”
