News

DMC Announces 2019 Recipient of Prestigious Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence
Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso There is no higher honor presented by Del Mar College (DMC) to its faculty than the Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence. During fall convocation on Aug. 19, the College announced Dr. Bryan Stone, professor of history in the Social Sciences Department, as the 2019 Creighton Award recipient. A faculty member at the College since 2004, Stone noted how lucky he was to work where he could engage in what he wanted to do most––teaching––as he accepted the award. Stone is the 18th recipient of the award, which DMC first established in 2002 and named in honor of Dr. Aileen Creighton, Dean Emeritus of Arts and Sciences. The award represents the late educator’s legacy as a “master teacher” during her 41-year career at the College and serves as the benchmark faculty must emulate to receive the honor. Dr. Creighton was known for her dedication to students and higher education, along with the inspiration she provided to other educators. In all of these areas, Stone lives up to the standard and tradition of the Creighton Award. Letters of support from colleagues and former students supported Stone’s nomination for the award. “He delivers his instruction with such passion that it makes learning complex material not only seem simple, but also enjoyable,” wrote DMC colleague and associate professor Dr. Mark Robbins. “His teaching builds intellectual curiosity among his students and an enthusiasm for learning.” Bob Long, professor of biology in the College’s Natural Sciences Department, wrote that he has “witnessed first-hand (Stone’s) superior level or organization and his commitment to excellence in each and every phase related to quality instruction and educational stewardship.” Terms used by some of Stone’s former students in their support letters noted that the professor is experienced, patient, compassionate, fair, respectful and an inspirational educator. Regarding his classroom and teaching style, they wrote that Stone demonstrated passion, enthusiasm and understanding for history making learning enjoyable and interesting. Of his own teaching style, Stone wrote, “Regardless of their individual political views, whether they are American citizens or not, I want my students to engage knowledgeably and effectively in public discourse on important issues and, for those who are eligible, to be active, reliable and informed voters,” adds Stone. “I want them to be aware of how politics and government affect them personally, of how their predecessors struggled to gain the right to vote, and how, after so hard a struggle, it’s appalling that so many Americans simply choose not to participate.” Outside the classroom, Stone has served on numerous college committees, including chairing the General Education Committee, the Faculty Council and the Promotion, Rank, Tenure and Evaluation Task Force. A practicing historian, Stone is currently researching the cultural history of the 1900 Galveston Storm and serves as managing editor of Southern Jewish History. He is also a member of the Corpus Christi Landmark Commission; heads an effort to organize and preserve the historical archives of Congregation Beth Israel in Corpus Christi; has been interviewed for video documentaries and National Public Radio (NPR); and has published many article and reviews. Published by The University of Texas Press, his first book The Chosen Folks: Jews on the Frontiers of Texaswon the Southern Jewish Historical Society Book Prize in 2011. While at DMC, he edited his second book Memories of Two Generations: A Yiddish Life in Russia and Texas(University of Alabama Press), published in 2016. Stone earned a bachelor’s degree in English (summa cum laude) and his doctoral degree in American Studies and Civilization from The University of Texas at Austin. He earned his master’s degree in English from the University of Virginia.
Registration Wrapping Up for Fall Credit Courses at Del Mar College
Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso The clock keeps ticking. Time is running out! For those planning to take Del Mar College credit courses this fall, the last two days to register are tomorrow, Aug. 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Payment for tuition and fees is due at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21. Fall credit courses begin Monday, Aug. 26. State law requires that all new students age 21 or younger have meningitis immunization. FREE shots will be available during late registration in the Regent’s Dining Room (Room 202) in the East Campus Harvin Student Center both days of final registration. On-site Meningitis Clinic Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, Aug. 20, and 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21 Details about registration and payment are available online at www.delmar.edu/registration. For anyone who needs advising before registering for credit courses, declared majors should seek advising through their academic departments during regular business hours. Undeclared or liberal arts majors should complete advising in the College’s Student Enrollment Centers in the East Campus Harvin Student Center or West Campus Coleman Center. Have questions or need more information? Call 698-1290, 698-1741 or 1-800-652-3357 or email enroll@delmar.edu.
Del Mar College offering two new associate degree programs addressing automated robotic manufacturing and electrical power distribution
Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso Automation and the use of robots for manufacturing are growing. Even the oil and gas industry uses the technology, and a skilled workforce in the Coastal Bend to develop and maintain these systems is needed. In the electric power and utility sector, entry-level workers are also in-demand. American Electrical Providers (AEP) of Texas has partnered with Del Mar College (DMC) to address their own workforce needs. Beginning this fall, the College’s Department of Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology will offer two new degree programs to train individuals for these industry sectors: Advanced Technology and Robotics/Mechatronics (ATRM) and Electrical Transmission and Distribution Systems Technology (ETDST). Both programs will begin with a class of 15 students per year and deliver a face-to-face classroom environment with web-enhanced materials. The ATRM program will focus on students’ skills in computer control systems, robotics, electronics and instrumentation to meet local employers’ needs. As additional refinery plants are established, a highly-skilled workforce is essential to fulfill the job openings in automation, robotics technology and machine calibration in industrial maintenance and manufacturing environments. “Students enrolled in this program will become highly-skilled Electro-Mechanical Technicians prepared to work on complex industrial problems related to programming, installation, repair and development of robotic manufacturing systems,” says Korinne Caruso, DMC Computer Science Instructor. “Del Mar College is ready to prepare Coastal Bend residents for a very promising future in this field.” Only two other Texas community colleges offer a similar program—Houston Community College and South Texas College. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2018) indicate that persons can expect an hourly wage of $29.71 or $61,800 per year. Labor market information regarding workforce development indicates that the demand for professionals in this field is expected to increase by about 13% over the next two years in Texas. As one of only three community colleges in the nation and the only one in Texas, Del Mar College has partnered with AEP and developed the ETDST program to build a well-qualified entry-level workforce in the power and utility sector. ETDST professionals work in power plants as operators, distributors and dispatchers to control the systems that generate and distribute electric power. “Our partnership with AEP is an incredible opportunity for our students. ETDST majors have the potential to be highly skilled employees for companies such as AEP upon graduation. Qualified students may have access to paid apprenticeships while they complete their studies,” notes Caruso. The College’s ETDST students can apply for the High Voltage Power Apprenticeship, a paid apprenticeship working 15 to 20 hours a week at AEP Energy. The apprenticeship program provides tuition reimbursement opportunities, job training and $13 to $15 an hour while students complete the College’s two-year program. Additionally, ETDST program graduates who are selected by AEP Energy for employment will enter a merit-based program with the potential to earn $60,000 after one year as a dispatcher associate, $100,000 after four to five years as a dispatcher or dispatcher journeyman and $200,000 after 25 years as a dispatcher principal. General employment trends using Emsi Labor Market Analytics data indicate a 13.4% increase in local jobs in this field over the next two years with starting pay ranging from $26 to $38 per hour. For more information about these two new degree programs, click on the appropriate link under Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology: www.delmar.edu/degrees/occupational-programs.html. Students can also contact the department at 361-698-1299. Final registration for the fall 2019 semester is Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 20-21. For details, visit www.delmar.edu/registration or contact the DMC Student Enrollment Center at 361-698-1290 or enroll@delmar.edu. Fall credit classes begin Monday, Aug. 26.
Del Mar TV Live Streaming RN Pinning and Summer Commencement Ceremonies
Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso Graduation evokes special memories not only for graduates but also for their families and friends. For those who cannot attend the Del Mar College (DMC) Registered Nurse (RN) Pinning Ceremony tonight, Aug. 15, or the Summer 2019 Commencement Ceremony tomorrow night, Aug. 16, the College will provide live streams and rebroadcasts of both events. Live streaming of the RN Pinning Ceremony from Wolfe Recital Hall in the East Campus Fine Arts Building and Summer Commencement from Selena Auditorium at the American Bank Center will start 10 minutes before both ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. The Nurse Education Department anticipates pinning 33 new RNs before they join other DMC “prospective” graduates tomorrow to receive their degrees and certificates. To view the RN Pinning ceremony live, go to Facebook at www.facebook.com/delmarcollege/. Just over 200 “prospective” graduates will “walk the stage” during Summer Commencement out of the more than 305 students who will receive a combined 360 associate degrees and certificates as the Class of August 2019. To view the commencement ceremony, go to www.ustream.tv/channel/del-mar-college. Rebroadcasts of the ceremonies are scheduled on Spectrum Channel 1301, Grande Cable Channel 19 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 as follows: Registered Nurse Pinning 7 p.m. on Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 and 9 3 p.m. on Aug. 27 and Sept. 3 and 10 9 p.m. on Aug. 29 and Sept. 5 and 12 Summer 2019 Commencement 10 p.m. on Aug. 23 and 30 and Sept. 6 8 p.m. on Aug. 25 and Sept. 1 and 8 3 p.m. on Aug. 28 and Sept. 4 and 11
DMC Signs MOU with Stark College & Seminary for Easier Transferability Process
Article by: Melinda Eddleman Stark College & Seminary (SCS) has a history almost as long as that of Del Mar College (DMC). What started in 1947 on Ward Island by South Texas Baptist leaders as the University of Corpus Christi to train ministers and teachers evolved almost 45 years later, and a few changes of hands, into what is now mostly Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (see history: https://stark.edu/about/history). SCS remains on the island with a 10 acre campus that continues to train individuals who seek preparation and leadership in the ministry––including certificate, diploma, bachelor and master’s programs. On Aug. 14, both Del Mar and Stark College leaders ––DMC President and CEO Mark Escamilla, Ph.D., and SCS President Tony Celelli, Ph.D., signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to make transferability of coursework and credits completed at the community college a seamless process for students pursuing SCS’s Bachelor of Arts in Ministry degree. Del Mar College also will provide its students with information about SCS programs of study as they pursue their coursework at DMC and then work with staff to transfer their credits to Stark College. Previously offering programs through partnerships with Howard Payne University and then Hardin-Simmons University for their degrees, SCS attained national accreditation in February 2018, taking only five years to complete a process that usually takes 10. SCS has another campus in McAllen and two other teaching sites, which expand the college’s ability to serve more educationally underserved areas in South Texas. In 2018, SCS also experienced its highest enrollment. The college serves about 200 students with 44% of those individuals having attended Del Mar for coursework. To learn more about Stark College & Seminary, visit www.stark.edu. Del Mar College also has MOUs with the two Texas A&M University System institutions as well as most recently with Western Governors University.
Summer Commencement Speaker Gilbert Cortinas III Is December 2018 DMC Process Technology Graduate
Article by: Melinda Eddleman He knows what the experience feels like after walking the stage as part of the Del Mar College (DMC) Class of December 2018. Gilbert Cortinas III graduated with his associate in applied science degree in process technology just eight months ago, and now he’ll address the Class of August 2019 this Friday, Aug. 16, in Selena Auditorium at the American Bank Center. This summer, the College will award approximately 360 certificates, associates degrees and occupational skills awards combined to about 308 “prospective” graduates. Individuals who indicated they would “walk the stage” Friday night is 204. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m .Before the Class of August 2019 makes the much anticipated walk, Cortinas will take center stage, again, to relate his own experiences and advice. A Corpus Christi native, Cortinas is a 2004 graduate of Gregory-Portland High School, where he engaged in several different sports activities. He then attended Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to earn his bachelor’s degree in business management while also working full-time for his family’s automotive business, G&L Detail, where he assisted with management for over 14 years. Cortinas enrolled in Del Mar College’s Process Technology Program in fall 2017, hoping to achieve an education that would open up new opportunities and a better way of life for his young family. While enrolled at the College, he co-founded Del Mar’s first student association for Process Technology and served as president of the Industrial Process Technology Association.Under his leadership, the association focused on bridging the gap between students learning in the classroom and engaging in real-world applications in the process technology field. He provided tutoring for his peers and encouraged members to take on leadership roles within the association. Cortinas also served as an advocate for the College’s degree program, speaking on behalf of students’ interests to local industrial companies and refineries. The College even recruited him to speak during a news conference to announce scholarships for Process Technology majors funded by Gulf Coast Growth Ventures (ExxonMobil/SABIC), for which Cortinas was one of 17 recipients. Cortinas is now employed by Corpus Christi Electric Company as a product integration representative and project manager, which includes technical support and sales. He aspires to couple his educational and personal experiences to continue growing within the business and encourages his fellow co-workers to achieve their full potential. Cortinas and his wife, Monica, have two young children, Callie and Luke, and they currently reside in Portland, Texas.
Early Registration Ending and Payment Due Aug. 14 for Fall Credit Courses
Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso Thinking about taking credit courses at Del Mar College this fall? Better make your mind up because time is running out! Early Registration runs through Wednesday, Aug. 14, with payment due by 6:30 p.m. the same day. What happens if students don’t pay for the courses they’ve registered early to take? Schedules are dropped from the system to open seats for the very final registration opportunity set for Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 21-22. Late on-campus registration on Tuesday, Aug. 20, runs 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Online registration is also available. Tuition and fees payments are due by 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21. Register in the East Campus Harvin Student Center at Baldwin and Ayers or the Coleman Center on the West Campus at Old Brownsville and Airport Roads. Course offerings for the fall semester include 8-, 15- and 16-week sessions. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 26. Questions? Contact the DMC Student Enrollment Centers at 361-698-1290 (East Campus), 361-698-1741 (West Campus) or 1-800-652-3357 or email enroll@delmar.edu. You can also learn more about admissions, registration and other pertinent information on the Del Mar College website at www.delmar.edu/registration.
Nurse Education Department Programs Rank in Top 20 in Texas
Article by: Melinda Eddleman Across the Coastal Bend you’ll find multiple nursing professionals who earned their pins and graduated from Del Mar College. Currently, the number of students taking prerequisite courses for acceptance into programs offered by the College’s Nurse Education Department is an estimated 1,200 individuals. Both demand for nurses and interest in the field are high. Recently, two professional nursing organizations that rank programs across the country recognized the DMC department’s two key programs––Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) and Registered Nurse (RN)––as among the top 20 accredited programs available in Texas. PracticalNursing.org ranked the LVN program at #11 while RNCareers.org ranked the RN program at #19. Both PricticalNursing.org and RNCareers.org were created by nursing professionals and educators as resources to assist individuals with finding the right program in their state to prepare for careers in the nursing field. PracticalNursing.org reviewed the 77 LVN college programs offered in Texas before determining the state’s rankings. DMC’s LVN Program scored 97.88% out of a possible 100 points to receive the rank of #11. For their fourth annual report, RNCareers.org’s Texas rankings are based on 54 programs with Del Mar’s RN Program scoring 91.73% out of a possible 100 points to rank #19 statewide. The program ranks #229 nationally. Del Mar College’s Nurse Education Department offers a Vocational Nurse Certificate or an Associate of Applied Science in Registered Nursing with the option of obtaining an Associate of Arts degree to facilitate students’ education for completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an upper-level nurse education program. The department’s multiple entry/exit program (MEEP) provides a curriculum that emphasizes deep learning with various opportunities and activities, facilitates students’ educational and career choices and encourages life-long learning. Upon completion of the program students meet educational requirements for the specified National Council of Licensure Examination (NCLEX), Registered Nurse (RN) or Practical Nurse (PN).The Nurse Education Department holds pinning ceremonies in December, May and August just before Del Mar College’s commencement ceremonies. Last December, 54 students graduated from the program and 63 this past May. The department anticipates 33 more students to receive their pins and graduate from Del Mar College next week. The pinning ceremony is scheduled Thursday, Aug. 15, beginning at 7 p.m. in Wolfe Recital Hall on the East Campus at Ayers and Kosar. Summer 2019 Commencement is Aug. 16 in Selena Auditorium at the American Bank Center. Nurse Education students in action: As part of their final lab exercises on Aug. 6 during the second summer session, DMC Nurse Education students demonstrated to faculty their knowledge and skills as they admitted trauma patients to the simulated Emergency Room, one involved in a boating accident and the other brought in after a car wreck. Separate teams conducted assessments and determined the priority concerns for each patient during rounds of the test. -DMC-
DMC Dual Credit Cosmetology Students Providing Free Back-to-School Haircuts to Area Youth Aug. 8 and 9
Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso Summer fun is almost over. Most area youth and their parents are preparing for the first day of the new school year . . . buying school supplies, purchasing new clothes and, of course, getting that fresh haircut. This year, for most local school districts, the first day of school is Monday, Aug. 26. To help kindergarten through 12th-graders (and Mom and Dad) get ready, the Del Mar College (DMC) summer Dual Credit Cosmetology class will give free back-to-school haircuts this week on a walk-in basis. “Providing the free back-to-school haircuts has become an important way for the Cosmetology Program and our students to give back to the community,” says DMC Cosmetology instructor Lissa Gonzalez. She notes that last year the program provided over 200 free haircuts to youth heading back to the classroom while giving future stylists some hands-on experience as they prepare for the field. Haircuts are available on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 8-9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 211 in the Flato Technology Building on the College’s West Campus at Boaz Blvd. off Airport Road at Old Brownsville Road. (“FT” on online map: https://bit.ly/2BRU0Ua) For more information, contact Gonzalez at 698-1782 or lgonzale43@delmar.edu. A program with the College’s Human Sciences and Education Department, Cosmetology students receive training in all phases of the occupation. The program falls under curriculum guidelines of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Radio and Television Professor Mac Aipperspach named Texas Association of Broadcasters’ Educator of the Year
Article by: Melinda Eddleman As a kid growing up in North Dakota, Mac Aipperspach sat on the living room floor spinning 45s on a portable record player or listening to AM radio stations piping in from Bismarck, Nd., Minneapolis, Mn., and even Winnipeg, Canada. As a high schooler thinking about his future and what to study in college, he considered becoming a high school teacher and instructing courses in history, geography, sociology or economics. Those two aspects from his youth, being drafted in 1970, educational decisions influenced by a dormmate and life experiences like marriage led Aipperspach to teaching radio and television courses at the college level. Now, his 38 years as an educator at Del Mar College (DMC) and the impact he’s made on the broadcast professionals trained under his guidance have been recognized. Tomorrow, Aug. 8, Aipperspach, a professor with the College’s Communications, Languages and Reading Department, will receive the 2019 Educator of the Year Award from the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) during their gala in Austin, an event that honors professionals representing different areas of the broadcasting industry across the state. “The award is quite an honor because the association normally names a recipient every other year for educators teaching in the broadcast field, and a colleague from another college was just named last year,” Aipperspach humbly said of his TAB recognition. “I was surprised the association immediately named another recipient for a second year in a row.” The honor is well deserved. Fellow TAB member and industry colleague Don Dunlap, president and general manager of South Texas Public Broadcasting said, “I can’t think of a better person to receive this prestigious award.” His influence has even driven three of his graduates to land current positions at CNN in Atlanta, Ga. Aipperspach has been a member of the Texas Association of Broadcast Educators (TABE), which meets in conjunction with TAB each August, since the mid-1980s and served as vice president and president during his first organizational board run. He has served as TABE’s secretary/treasurer for the past 25 years. After starting undergraduate studies at John Brown University (JBU) in Arkansas, getting drafted and then returning to the university in 1972 to complete his bachelor’s degree, Aipperspach worked for five years in various roles of broadcasting, which initially began at JBU’s campus radio station. He earned his master’s degree in radio, television and film from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) and as a graduate student taught Writing for Radio/Television/Film for two years, along with one news writing course. After finishing his graduate-level studies, Aipperspach landed his teaching position in 1981 with Del Mar’s Radio and Television Program, which the College had only started the previous year. He has taken the curriculum from its infancy to what the program offers today––state-of-the-art equipment, a television studio, audio and video editing facilities and a suite specifically designed for radio––to give students hands-on training needed for real-world application. Dunlap noted, “The broadcast industry has been through huge operational, content delivery and technology changes during Mac’s time at Del Mar College, and he has done an outstanding job of keeping up with the media industry’s evolution to prepare his students with a relevant skills set and professional work ethic.” “Yes, paradoxically technology has changed, and it certainly doesn’t resemble the equipment that I started with 38 years ago,” Aipperspach added. “But the basic human element within the industry is still the same. Students learn to use their voice, including inflection, pronunciation and projection, along with writing techniques standard to the field.” While Aipperspach initially didn’t consider teaching in higher education, his Radio and Television students and graduates working behind the scenes, in the spotlight and even in the classroom take a bit of Aipperspach with them, which is an achievement and reward in its own right. And, his latest achievement is fitting––the Texas Association of Broadcasters’ 2019 Educator of the Year award. The Del Mar College Board of Regents recognized Aipperspach durng their regular meeting in June:
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