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Fulfilling the need … Del Mar College Foundation Celebrates Scholars and Donors with 2025 Scholarship Dinner at Hilliard Center on Oct. 30
Article by Melinda Eddleman Scholarships mean the world to Del Mar College (DMC) students needing funding assistance to attend. Receiving that help can make the difference between Foundation Scholars achieving their dreams or postponing their education and career goals. In turn, one word describes the philanthropic support that the Del Mar College Foundation receives to assist students through scholarships or emergency funds to fulfill their dreams. It’s generosity. “Freedom to dream is what Del Mar College is all about,” says Matthew Busby, the college’s Vice President of Development and Donor Advising. “Scholarships provided by DMC Foundation supporters are the fuel that empowers students in their journey to dream, earn their education and achieve fulfilling and well-paid jobs.” On Oct. 30, a record 325 DMC students who received scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year attended and thanked their scholarship supporters in-person during the DMC Foundation’s 2025 Scholarship Dinner at the Hilliard Center with CITGO as the Presenting Sponsor. The event grew to 620 participants overall, exceeding last year’s attendance and setting another record. The increased participation is not surprising. Last academic year (2024-2025), more than $2.9 million in total scholarships were awarded by the DMC Foundation to help 1,449 Vikings––another record set. Additionally, 564 students received donor-funded student emergency aid totaling over $158,000. Students’ need for assistance couldn’t be greater, and DMC Foundation representatives noted that more than 3,750 students applied for scholarships in the spring for the current academic year (2025-206). In fact, the college’s fall credit enrollment grew a little over 14 percent to 11,701 students* this semester from last year’s 10,256 in large part to Del Mar College’s Freedom to Dream Tuition Waiver Program. The DMC Foundation is one of two sources providing first-in funding that’s supporting the pilot program by using previously donated funds for the Viking Promise Program with the Board of Trustee’s approval. * Preliminary, uncertified number reported to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on 12th class day. Overall enrollment growth that includes both credit and Continuing Education for fall 2025 is 10 percent and 14,023 students. During the 2025 Scholarship Dinner program, participants watched a special video featuring recorded messages from DMC and Foundation leaders providing encouraging messages, including those from Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lenora Keas, DMC Foundation Board of Trustees President Sandra Alvarez and Dr. Mark Escamilla, DMC President and Chief Executive Officer. View the video below: Additionally, 2025 Scholarship Dinner attendees watched a second video highlighting donor and Sembradores de Amistad of Corpus Christi President Louis Lopez; DMC Court Reporting Instructor Sonia Trevino, who credits receiving a scholarship that opened doors leading to her success in her professional and as an educator at Del Mar College; and Nursing major Joelle Penny, a current recipient of a scholarship from Sembradores de Amistad of Corpus Christi. Watch their remarks below: Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, the Foundation will start taking scholarship applications for the next academic year, which is 2026-2027, at www.delmar.edu/scholarships/. Donations can be made year-round and Foundation staff have a holistic, philanthropic advising approach. Busby notes, “Creating a scholarship at Del Mar College allows a person’s story to be shared and inspire a student while being the hand-up investment so important for many of our students.” (View stories.) To learn more about the DMC Foundation either as a scholarship applicant or a donor, visit www.delmar.edu/foundation or contact the DMC Office of Development at 361-698-1317 or foundation@delmar.edu.
Viking Fest 2025 building on success of first festival, bigger and better event set for Nov. 15 on Windward Campus
Article by Richard Guerrero, Jr. Bigger names. More activities. Del Mar College’s second annual Viking Fest is building on the success of the first event held in October 2024. Organizers are putting together an amped-up Viking Fest 2025 scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Windward Campus (4101 Old Brownsville Rd., 78404). Viking Fest’s transformation has been a labor of love across the entire college from academic programs and student services to the Del Mar College (DMC) Foundation and community partners, says Jason Houlihan, DMC Executive Director of Marketing and Events and the primary organizer of the festival. Houlihan and other organizers anticipate more than 3,000 participants this year. Admission is free with costs for some activities and for concessions sold by participating food trucks. More details about Viking Fest 2025, scheduling and map are available online at www.delmar.edu/vikingfest. or by contacting the DMC College Relations Office at 361-698-1247 or colrel@delmar.edu. As mentioned, West Texas country artist Kat Hasty is the featured performer on the bustling Live Stage that will also include several local acts and DJs all day. Hasty, who has more than 55,000 followers and more than 172,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, released her first album, “The Time of Your Life,” in May. She and her band will headline afternoon entertainment before awards are presented as part of the college’s Fourth Annual Día de los Muertos Welding Competition. Hasty is best known for “Pretty Things,” a spare acoustic tell-off ballad that generated nearly 20 million plays on Spotify and led to tours across the United States and Europe. Her latest singles include “Breakin’ Up the Band” and “The Family Business” – both of which are opening cuts on her “The Time of Your Life” album. Other highlights include a professional 5K run organized by VFit Productions. Viking 5K participants will have a chance to win prizes by showing their Viking spirit in the following categories: · Best Beard · Best Braids · Longest Beard · Longest Braids · Best Overall Viking Costume VFit organizers say that participants will be a “part of history with the first-ever Viking 5K Run through Del Mar College’s Windward Campus with the race beginning with the iconic blowing of the Viking Horn,” noting that the sound will reverberate through the campus streets to wake the Viking spirit and kick off Viking Fest 2025. Runners can still register for the 5K run at v-f-productions.raceentry.com/del-mar-college-viking-5k10k/race-information. There is no fee for the run, and all participants will receive finisher medals with top runners receiving awards in categories designated by age brackets. The festival also features the DMC Welding Applied Technology Program’s Fourth Annual Día de los Muertos Welding Competition for high school and post-secondary education welders, which organizers expect to draw more than 300 competitors who will vie for over $15,000 in scholarships. Spectators are invited to watch contestants work during each division and even quiz DMC Welding faculty about the college’s program and its offerings. And everyone’s invited to catch the Awards Ceremony at 5 p.m. where contest organizers will recognize divisional standouts with prizes and scholarships. Activities throughout the event include over 50 guided mini tours for prospective students, family members and the general community interested in exploring selected academic programs and occupational and technical career training that Del Mar College offers. And what community festival would be complete without inflatables for the younger set? Viking Fest 2025 attendees looking to burn some energy and calories will love spending time in the 28-foot Kraken Dual Slide, trying to keep balance on a mechanical surfboard, and hoping to be the last one standing in the Meltdown zone. In fact, this year’s event includes five activity zones. Viking Fest 2025 is made possible by the following sponsors: Corpus Christi Medical Center, H-E-B, Steel Dynamics, Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority, Pepsi, Adamson & Company, Rally Credit Union, First Community Bank, ArcelorMittal, Gignac & Associates, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, Schneider Electric and In the Game Funtrackers. Access a downloadable, printable flyer for Viking Fest 2025 located below:

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