Celebrating success … Del Mar College’s Winter Commencement represents accomplishments, dedication among those making up Class of Fall 2024
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December
2024
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16:52 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
Welding major comes back after 30 years to finish what he started while Biotechnology major makes her mark with national award
Article by Richard Guerrero, Jr.

John Adami_Del Mar College December 2024 Welding Applied Technology Graduate
John Adami (Welding Applied Technology)
The last time John Adami set foot in a college class, the Persian Gulf War had just been fought, Nirvana was still unknown to most American rock fans ahead of the late September 1991 release of their debut album, “Never Mind,” and fictional cannibal serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter struck fear into the hearts of movie goers who flocked to theaters to see the psychological horror film, “The Silence of the Lambs.”
The year was 1991, and Adami, who was majoring in Welding at Del Mar College, decided it was time to set aside his academic endeavors and focus on earning a living.
More than three decades later, Adami reached a point in his career where additional advancement required the associate degree he had yet to complete. So, the Oklahoma resident looked to his alma mater to finish what he started.
“In 2020, I was promoted to Quality Control Manager and was made Team Leader for American Electric Power (AEP) West,” Adami says. “I learned that if I wanted to move up any further, I would need to finish my degree. So, I enrolled in online classes at Del Mar in summer 2023 to complete the final five classes in my degree plan, and I’m completing the last class this semester.”
A Corpus Christi native, Adami enrolled at DMC shortly after graduating from Mary Carroll High School in 1985. Initially, he focused on classes in Business Management and Real Estate but harbored a passion for welding. Two of his uncles were welders, and he says that he was fascinated by the things they would build.
“My dad thought welding was a hard job, and he wanted me to do something that wasn’t so hard on me physically,” Adami recalls. “I took several Business Management classes and Real Estate classes, but I just wasn’t interested in them. My heart was in welding, and I finally convinced my parents to let me attend welding school. I picked up on welding quickly because that’s that I was meant to do.”
It didn’t take long for Adami to transition from student to worker. By the time he decided to focus on working full time, he had already used his skills in welding shops, refineries, the oilfield and in power plants.
An exemplary welder, Adami would serve as an instructor for the Craft Training Center and at DMC in the late 1990s before eventually taking a Quality Control position with AEP in 2001. Three years later, Adami accepted a promotion as a supervisor and moved his family to Broken Arrow.
When the time came to re-enroll at Del Mar College, Adami knew just the person he could turn to for help, lifelong friend Dr. Mark Escamilla, the college’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
“President Escamilla and I have been friends since Little League baseball,” Adami says proudly. “I emailed him last year and wrote about enrolling back at Del Mar to finish my degree. He put me in touch with all the right people to get my degree plan back on track.”
After 30 years, the rigor of an academic course was a bit of a challenge for Adami. While working on assignments and tests were not altogether unfamiliar, learning remotely was.
“The biggest challenge for me was not being in a classroom environment where I could easily walk up to the professor, ask a question and get an answer right away,” Adami notes. “With online classes, you can ask a question and maybe have to wait awhile to get a response.”
Adami says that he turned to friends and family to help him get up to speed on technology and academic standards.
“My neighbor’s son taught me how to make YouTube videos for my Speech class,” he says. “And, my youngest son Matthew, who has a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, helped me understand the importance of citing works for my English class assignments.”
For Adami, who credits his family’s support for helping him persevere during challenging moments, he is grateful to have had an opportunity to finish what he started all those years ago.
“I am almost at the end of my work career, but I have another three or four years before I retire,” he admits. “This degree might not get me any further than I am now. However, at the end of the day, I can say I finally finished my degree.”

Trinity Storr_Del Mar College December 2024 Biotechnology Graduate
Trinity Storr (Biotechnology)
Trinity Storr began her college education as a Dual Enrollment student at Gregory-Portland High School in 2019, taking nine college-level courses at Del Mar College while still in high school. After a gap year, she officially enrolled at DMC in 2022, initially pursuing a major in Biology.
However, after being introduced to biotechnology by her academic advisor, Storr discovered a new path that would ignite her interest even further.
“Biotechnology is the perfect combination of everything I enjoy: chemistry, microbiology, biology and even environmental science. It’s a field where you never stop learning,” says Storr, adding: “It blends so many areas of science and allows you to find real-world solutions to complex problems.”
A student of Dr. Daisy Zhang, Professor of Biotechnology, Storr earned a Student Award for Excellence at the National Science Foundation’s 2024 Advanced Technological Education conference in Washington, D.C., in October for her work on the potential therapeutic applications of bacteriophages.
“Being recognized on a national level was such an honor,” Storr says. “It motivated me to continue my work with even more dedication and passion.”
Storr’s research project, titled The Isolation and Characterization of Bacteriophage Pepbellie, investigates the use of bacteriophages — viruses that infect bacteria — as potential vectors, or a DNA molecule used as a vehicle to carry a specific DNA segment into a host cell as part of a cloning DNA technique, for gene therapy. Working with a bacteriophage isolated from soil, Storr studied its ability to infect Mycobacterium smegmatis, a close relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis.
“We wanted to see if the bacteriophage could help treat antibiotic-resistant infections, particularly tuberculosis,” Storr explains. “This virus could potentially be used to target and destroy harmful bacteria, offering a new approach to tackling drug-resistant strains.”
The practical applications of her research are significant since bacteriophages offer a promising alternative to antibiotics, especially for treating infections that are resistant to conventional treatments.
Looking ahead, Storr plans to transfer to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to pursue her bachelor’s degree and continue her academic journey in the field of pharmacology.
“I’m particularly interested in drug development and therapeutic interventions,” she says. “My goal is to contribute to advancements in pharmacology, researching new drug targets and developing innovative treatments for diseases.”
While Storr’s focus is on advancing her education and career in research, she also values the collaborative environment of DMC’s Biotechnology program.
“We all love being part of the Biotechnology program,” Storr says of her peers. “It’s a place where we can work together, explore new ideas and learn from each other. That sense of community is really motivating.”
And, Storr’s motivation will continue now that she’s completing Del Mar College’s Associate of Applied Science degree in Biotechnology.
About Del Mar College
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.
Latest DMC News
- DMC Board of Regents holding regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 4Article by DMC College Relations Office On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold their regular monthly meeting beginning at 1 p.m. in Room 106 of the College’s Center for Economic Development at 3209 S. Staples (78411). Get online directions and map. The regular meeting also will be livestreamed. Community members may access the meeting by going to the online video link at www.delmar.edu/webcast/ by 12:55 p.m. A copy of the Agenda Notice and Board Packet is available online at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/regular-board-meeting-packet_2-4-25.pdf. Meeting agendas and other resources are also available on the DMC Board of Regents web page at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/index.html. The health and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors are a priority for Del Mar College. To view the College’s COVID-19 guidelines, visit www.delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.
- It’s Income Tax Time, Again! Free VITA Program services start at DMC Jan. 28, and run through April 15 in Viking Hall on Heritage CampusArticle by Melinda Eddleman It’s time to file income taxes, again! And, while the main deadline may be less than three months away, many individuals are ready to take care of business now. For many Coastal Bend filers, trying to make sense of the different forms or changes can be a struggle. Furthermore, paying for an accountant to prepare returns may not be part of the budget. However, Del Mar College Accounting students trained in tax and accounting software hope to make the tax season a little less stressful for area filers as they provide FREE services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, which starts Tuesday, Jan. 28. As a nationwide program established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the VITA Program involves volunteers who prepare tax returns free for individuals who make $67,000 per year or less. The free income tax preparation with the college’s IRS-trained tax volunteers is available every Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. starting tomorrow, Jan. 28, in Room 142 of Viking Hall on the DMC Heritage Campus, 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404), get online directions and campus map. Appointments are not necessary, so walk-ins are welcome. Volunteers will answer questions when participants come in. The free VITA Program services run through Tuesday, April 15, but they will not be available during DMC’s Spring Break, which is March 10-15. Filers need to bring tax information, including their W-2 form, other documentation of earned income, Social Security cards for everyone being claimed on the return and a form of identification, such as a Drivers License or other photo I.D. Services are provided as part of the Coastal Bend VITA Coalition, a collaborative partnership headed by the United Way of the Coastal Bend. For more details, visit www.uwcb.org/vita. Del Mar College has been one of several local organizations involved with the VITA Program to provide tax return preparation services to lower income households for nearly 25 years. At the end of the tax season, the IRS recognizes volunteers––including Del Mar College students–– with a certificate for their involvement and hard work. Download the PDF file of a printable flyer with more information:
- UPDATE (1/21/25): Del Mar College to Remain Closed Tomorrow, Jan. 22, Due to Winter StormArticle by DMC College Relations Office UPDATED MESSAGE AS OF 1:30 P.M. TUESDAY, JAN. 21 Out of an abundance of caution and for the safety our students, employees and guests, Del Mar College will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 22, due to the winter freeze. College officials anticipate reopening at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, byt will continue to assess weather developments and change plans if needed. The health and safety of our students, employees and guests are Del Mar College’s foremost concern. Individuals are asked to continue to monitoring the DMC website (www.delmar.edu), email, social media channels and news media outlets for weather-related updates. College officials advise everyone to exercise caution during all inclement weather events. Please avoid icy roads and hazardous conditions. MESSAGE POSTED ON JAN. 20, 2025 Del Mar College will remain closed tomorrow, Jan. 21, due to the winter storm and impending outdoor hazardous conditions. The college is closed today in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. DMC will reopen for normal operations at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22. However, college officials will continue to assess weather developments and change plans if needed. The health and safety of students, employees and guests are Del Mar College’s foremost concern. College officials ask that they continue to monitor the DMC website (www.delmar.edu), email, social media channels and local news media for weather-related updates. The college advises everyone to exercise caution during all inclement weather events. Please avoid icy roads and hazardous conditions.
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- A Gift from the Sound Recording Technology Program (Video)Article by DMC College Relations Gathering on a cold, rainy and dreary Saturday morning in early December, Del Mar College’s Sound Recording Technology (SRT) Program –– including current students and faculty as well as former students –– recorded live in Studio A the modern Christmas classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” by Mariah Carey. Headed by DMC Music Department Professor and SRT Director Dr. Paul Bissell, crank it up and sing along while enjoying these talented musicians and vocalists from Corpus Christi.