News

College Announces Spring 2023 “Prospective” Graduates (List, Commencement Program and Video)

Early Advising and Online Registration Deadline Looming for DMC Summer I Credit Courses, Classes Begin May 30

Article by Rosa Linda Reynoso and Melinda Eddleman Summer is a great time to start “building on your future” and get a class or two out of the way at Del Mar College. Summer I credit courses will start soon—the end of May, in fact—so now’s the time to register and get tuition and fees paid during Early Advising and Online Registration, which ends Tuesday, May 23. You can even register for Summer II and the Fall 2023 semester, so don’t wait! The deadline to register and pay early is 6 p.m. on May 23 for Summer I. Late Registration opens on May 24 and runs through May 31, which is the same day that tuition and fees are due by 6 p.m. Summer I credit classes begin Tuesday, May 30, including 6- and 12-week courses. Del Mar College is closed on Monday, May 29, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Registration for Summer II and the fall semester will continue throughout the summer. Summer II courses begin July 10. Fall classes start Aug. 28. Learn more about the DMC admission and registration procedures at www.delmar.edu/registration. Check for deadlines, including tuition and fee payments for different registration periods throughout the summer, by using the College’s Academic Calendar. Additionally, current and prospective students can access WebDMC on the College’s home page (www.delmar.edu) to view course offerings, which includes frequent updates and additions throughout the registration process. WebDMC also is where students can check their financial aid status, review their degree plan and find other information. Have questions? Contact the Student Enrollment Center at 361-698-1290 or enroll@delmar.edu. Del Mar College. Your Future. Built Here.

DMC Hosts Texas Workforce Commission’s Local JET Grant Check Ceremony for 12 Coastal Bend Recipient

Article by Melinda Eddleman Building and maintaining a well-trained workforce and competitive economy is a priority for Texas. And, for the public community, state and technical colleges, independent school districts and charter schools, receiving a Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is one of the best ways to establish career and technical education (CTE) programs to prepare students for high-demand occupations identified by the state that support that priority. Today, May 17, Del Mar College hosted a ceremony for the TWC with Chairman and Commissioner Representing the Public Bryan Daniel presenting oversized checks exemplifying the funding provided by the Texas Legislature to local grantees, including 11 area independent school districts (ISDs) and Coastal Bend College. Overall, the TWC awarded 17 JET Grants totaling nearly $7.8 million to support equipment and training among the recipients’ CTE programs. Keas noted that students can begin their training as early as their freshmen year and gain industry-recognized credentials, certificates, licensures or associate’s degrees and be on the road to employment. Daniel added that schools need the upgrades in tools that meet the technology that employers use as part of students’ CTE training, which is a large part of the support the JET Grant provides to recipients. Before introducing Daniel, Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Treviño remarked that the Chairman’s leadership has “bridged the gap between workforce and economic development, and we know that workforce development plus economic development equals community development and prosperity.” Treviño noted that the Coastal Bend region received 15% of the JET Grant allocations this year, which are extremely competitive with our area going up against 27 other regions across the state. Del Mar College serves as a career training partner to nine of the 11 ISDs that received JET Grants, including Aransas Pass, Rockport-Fulton (formerly Aransas County), Brooks County, Corpus Christi, Gregory-Portland, Skidmore-Tynan, Tuloso-Midway, West Oso and Woodsboro. Combined, these ISDs received 13 grants amounting to $$6,989,635. DMC’s CTE training among these districts ranges from maritime, medical assistant and nursing to physician assistant, radiologic technician and welding and will impact 1,380 Coastal Bend high school students as they prepare for the area’s workforce. Other training partners the TWC recognized were Victoria College, which partners with Bloomington ISD for chef training, and Lamar Institute of Technology, which also partners with Brooks County ISD for HVAC installation training. Coastal Bend College provides career training in nursing for Alice ISD but also received a JET Grant supporting their own nursing program. The four JET Grants awarded among these educational institutions totals$797,056 and will impact 362 students overall. To read Gov. Greg Abbott’s May 17 announcement regarding the JET Grants awarded to the Coastal Bend area, visit gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-over-7.7-million-in-career-training-grants-to-coastal-bend-schools.

Path from Del Mar College Biology Lab to MD Anderson Cancer Center Brings Alumnus Back Full Circle as Spring 2023 Commencement Speaker

Article by Mleinda Eddleman His journey into the world of cancer biology began in Del Mar College (DMC) Department of Natural Sciences labs under tutelage from faculty who have created groundbreaking student research opportunities in the Biology and Biotechnology Programs. Now, he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; and Friday night, May 19, Dr. Natividad Roberto Fuentes, Jr. will address the “prospective” graduates making up the Class of Spring 2023 at one of his four alma maters. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. at the American Bank Center (1901 N. Shoreline Blvd., 78401). This spring, the College will award to approximately 782 students a total of 938 associates degrees and certificates combined. Before these newest graduates take the spotlight by walking the stage, Dr. Fuentes will provide his keynote address covering “persistence” and “setting the bar.” For family and friends who cannot make the ceremony, DMC Digital Services will livestream Spring Commencement 2023 beginning at 6:45 p.m. Access the event online by using one of the links below: · Boxcast: www.delmar.edu/live · Facebook: www.facebook.com/delmarcollege/live · YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/sEhkEb3_Di8 An Alice, TX native, Dr. Fuentes currently applies in his lab advanced microscopic techniques to characterize how changes to proteins and fats on and around tumors influence cancer therapy resistance. His goal is to develop cell membrane-based intervention strategies that improve human health and outcomes for patients stricken with cancer. His path leading to that research began at Del Mar College, where he graduated in 2011 with an Associate of Science degree in Biology and a Certificate in Biotechnology. Dr. Fuentes then completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with an emphasis in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi (TAMUCC). Throughout his time at DMC and TAMUCC, Dr. Fuentes participated in undergraduate research, leading to his receiving the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship to pursue his Ph.D. in Toxicology at Texas A&M University in College Station. Additionally, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America awarded Dr. Fuentes a predoctoral fellowship during his graduate studies, and he also held a Regulatory Science in Environmental Health and Toxicology Training Grant. Dr. Fuentes’ doctoral and postdoctoral training at Texas A&M University centered around elucidating the underlying cellular mechanisms of how diet impacts disease processes. Specifically, his work utilized specialized fluorescent microscopy techniques and transgenic animal models to characterize how plasma membrane composition, in particular dietary fats, influence chemoprotection. At The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, he completed the translational focused Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas TRIUMPH postdoctoral training program, where he pursued research to define how the combination of low oxygen and certain fats create an environment around pancreatic tumors that shield them from therapy. As a participant with the TRIUMPH program, Dr. Fuentes’ research focused on identifying novel mitochondrial- and plasma membrane-based therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer. Dr. Fuentes credits a great deal of his success to the guidance he received from many excellent mentors along his journey into cancer research. As such, he now follows suit and does his best to be a supportive mentor to his trainees. He and his wife Megan (DMC Class of 2010) have a daughter and son who keep them busy. His hobbies include country swing dancing and enjoying some good Texas BBQ.

DMC inducts three newest “Hall of Fame” members, recognizes 128 “outstanding” students during 71st Annual Recognition Ceremony

Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso For over seven decades, the Del Mar College (DMC) campus community has anticipated the annual Recognition Ceremony, an event that celebrates students and educators for their academic achievements, community service and mentorship. On Wednesday, May 10, participants walked the stage to receive their awards during the College’s 71st Annual Recognition Ceremony held in Richardson Performance Hall. The College honored 128 students who received “Outstanding Achievement” Awards in programs of study in the institution’s academic divisions, along with this year’s newest members of its prestigious “Hall of Fame.” As a time-honored tradition since 1949, this year’s Hall of Fame inductees are history/social studies major Dorothy Barringer, paralegal studies major Rebecca Farias and Abigail Martinez, a criminal justice major. Students are selected for their scholarship, leadership and participation in student organizations. These three students join the ranks of nearly 422 inductees who have set the bar for becoming Hall of Fame honorees. Barringer has been active in several DMC student organizations and held many roles. She is the current captain of the Vocal Viking Speech Team and serves as secretary of the American Association of University Women. Among College activities that Barringer has helped organize or assisted as a volunteer include the Day of the Woman (recognizing contributions of women in community), Denim Day (sexual assault awareness), RAINN Day (rape, abuse, incest awareness), Texas Speech Communication Association Conference and many other campus events. She is also an advocate for the Scouts of America and Rockport Little Theater, along with many other community and campus service initiatives. Additionally, Barringer has won numerous awards for informative speaking at speech tournaments and has been included in the Dean’s List. Among the organizations and roles that Farias served are as secretary of the Legal Professionals Club, member of the League of Women Voters and CC Association of Legal Professionals Mentorship Program. Some activities she has participated in included as a guest on Leading Ladies of CC Podcast and Spanish cultural events on campus. Among awards she has earned are the Boy Scouts of America Volunteer Merit Badge, NALA Paralegal Association Student of the Year nominee and the Dean’s List. Additionally, Farias has volunteered for the Scouts of America, Art featured in Art Center of CC and the American Red Cross. Martinez has been active in several DMC student organizations and served several roles. She is the current president of the Geoscience Society and Alpha Beta Gamma Honor Society. Other organizations she’s involved with are the Vocal Viking Speech Team and the American Association of University Women. Among College activities that Martinez has helped organize or assisted are the DMC Fall Festival, Geoscience Field Trips and the Texas Speech Communication Association Conference. She has also volunteered for the Ruck March, Benefits for Cancer survivors and Holiday Wrapping for Burn Pits 360. Additionally, Martinez has won multiple awards in persuasive speaking at speech tournaments and has been included in the Dean’s List. During the annual Recognition Ceremony, the Student Government Association also recognizes Teachers of the Year, who are determined by students nominating and voting for their favorite faculty member on each DMC campus. For 2023, those individuals represent the Heritage Campus and the Windward Campus with Oso Creek Campus to be included next year. The 2023 Teachers of the Year are Christine Lamb, Instructor of Student Success with the Communications, Languages and Reading Department on the Heritage Campus, and Monica Martinez, Assistant Instructor of Dental Hygiene with the Dental & Imaging Technology Department on the Windward Campus. Before celebrating the College’s 2023 Hall of Famers, “Outstanding” students crossed the stage to receive their awards, including: DIVISION OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND HEALTH SCIENCES Accounting: Yaneli Diaz, Christian Flores, Dana Hall, Alma Martinez, Ambert Robertson and Kosal Sim Cosmetology: Seneca Sanchez Dental Assisting: Isela De Los Santos, Emma Durbin, Amanda Helsel and Jacelyn Hohensee Dental Hygiene: Christina Bauert, Kimberly Burch, Brenda Cepeda, Tiffany Cotto, Hannah Engelmann, Ariel Garcia, Julissa Gay, K. Lawrin Grimes, Karina Guajardo, Samantha Guerra, Jordan Herbold, Tyler Hernandez, Sarai Lopez, Amanda McCall, Jordan Mendoza, Meagan Mikes, Cloressa Payne, Rebecca Pena, Trisha Pena, Danielle Ramirez, Elise Ramos, Nina Salinas, Jessie Southern, Emmy Tran, Tran Tran, Shana Tuibeo, Cheyenne Varner, Jacquelin Villarreal and Brooke Zipprian Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Ysatis Garcia-Robles Echocardiography: Judy Dinh Management: Curtis W. Benes, Serina H. Mata and Mia Noelle Trevino Nursing: Edgar Garcia Gomez, Brandon Harrison, Crystal Proa, Alexis Rendon and Omoye Sade Radiologic Technology: Corrine Garcia DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS, FINE ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Advertising/Public Relations: Samantha Sparks Art: Kariece Bowles, Eddina Coppage, Jonathan Donna, Sharra Galindo, Christina Gatchel, Stephen Nevares, Samantha Nieves, Nathan Olivarez, Symphony Rose, Victoria Shull and Katherine Smith Drama: Ethan Sullivan English: Judy Nikol Gonzales, Derek B. Nicolay and Kassandra L. Sandoval Journalism: Irene Flores Music: Emanuel J. Chavez and Matthew G. Perkins Psychology: Cheyenne Barnett Social Work: Alberto Martinez Speech: Dorothy Barringer DIVISION OF INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC SERVICE Air Conditioning Applied Technology: Kyle Hamilton Baker and Raydene A. Penitusi Automotive Applied Technology: Rachel Marie Hediger Electrician: Dominick Isaac Rodriguez DIVISION OF SCIENCES, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH, KINESIOLOGY AND EDUCATION Biotechnology: Charley R. Garrett Child Development/Early Childhood: Margaret A. Perez Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology: Edgar Alonzo, Anointiyae Lajoy Beasley, Devereaux Brewer, Brenden Carlos Galvan, Aleena Garcia, Richard Levoice Gidrey, William Goranson, Martin Edward Schmitt, Keanu Tyrell Singleton and Caitlyn Elizabeth Vasquez Education: Joria Alvarado, Kassandra Sandoval and Jodi Santillan Kinesiology: Cynthia Pauline Cervantes-Orta, Dylan Conway and Matthew Martinez Mathematics: Jhovanni Loeza and Sarena Nesmith Physics: Jeffrey R. Borgstedte

Del Mar College, DMC Foundation celebrated “Chemours Future of Chemistry Scholarship” established by company in 2022 for three-academic-years period

Article by: DMC College Relations The Chemours Company’s commitment to support a direct scholarship for Del Mar College students focused on training in “industrial technology programs” is a gift that will continue to impact recipients’ lives for years to come. Rather than juggling studies, work and other financial commitments, recipients of the Chemours Future of Chemistry Scholarship can dedicate more of their attention to training in one of the fields the scholarship targets instead of worrying about college costs. On Thursday, May 11, Del Mar College and the DMC Foundation recognized The Chemours Company for pledging $90,000 annually for three years beginning last year for the 2022-2023 academic year. In total, the company donated $270,000 to support the Chemours Future of Chemistry Scholarship through academic year 2024-2025. Among the College’s programs that the scholarship targets are Process Technology, Welding Applied Technology, Nondestructive Testing Technology, Industrial Machining Applied Technology, Millwright, Environmental/Petrochemical Lab Technology, Environmental Technician and Electrician. Other criteria students must meet are: · demonstration of financial need, · holding and maintaining a minimum 2.5 GPA (grade point average), · either enrolled full-time (12 credit-hour equivalency) or part-time (6 credit hours minimum), · preference given to underrepresented student populations in the targeted fields of study. For the current academic year, 33 DMC students received the Chemours Future of Chemistry scholarship. Steven Tapia, a Welding Applied Technology major who is one of this year’s scholarship recipients, said, “The Chemours Future of Chemistry Scholarship is a huge blessing for me to continue school. I can now work part-time so that I can focus on school and not worry about how I will pay for classes.” Each spring from Feb. 1 through April 30, the DMC Foundation takes online scholarship applications for the next academic year. To learn more about scholarships at Del Mar College, criteria and process to apply, visit www.delmar.edu/scholarships. Individuals may also contact the DMC Foundation at 361-698-1317 or foundation@delmar.edu for more information. And, of the Chemours Future of Chemistry Scholarship, Tapia added, “I would like to say ‘thank you’ from the bottom of my heart. Without this scholarship, I might not be able to focus on school as much as I am since I would probably have had to work more hours. This scholarship is making a difference for me and allowing me to keep my focus on school and my goals.” The Chemours Company representatives met their scholarship recipients as part of the celebration. After the activities, attendees had the opportunity to tour the Workforce Development Center where the College trains students in various high-demand fields identified by scholarship criteria.

Texas Mutual Insurance Company Awards Tenth $100K Grant to College for Continued Safety Training, Presents Check on May 10

Article by Melinda Eddleman Over the past 10 years, Del Mar College (DMC) has trained over 5,000 industry partners’ employees and general public participants who have taken workplace safety courses through the DMC Safety Training Program. These courses are offered through the College’s Workforce Programs & Corporate Services and Continuing Education & Off-Campus Programs Divisions, which are partially supported through an annual safety grant awarded by Texas Mutual Insurance Company. On May 10, Texas Mutual presented another $100,000 grant to DMC, marking the 10th anniversary and $1 million mark in support of safety training by the College in the Coastal Bend. Over a 24-year period, Texas Mutual has awarded $12 million in safety education grants, and more than 52,000 students have attended free or discounted safety training offered at colleges across the state. Rose added, “We are so happy to have Del Mar College as a part of that safety investment, and we recognize the work you are doing in Corpus Christi to help make your workforce safer.” “Initially, the College began a ‘Bus Safety First’ Program utilizing Texas Mutual grant funding to provide safety training to licensed bus operators,” Lenora Keas, DMC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, told guests during the announcement. “We expanded training and offered more courses to local employers and their employees, as well as the general public, so what started as one course expanded to 26 offerings over a 10-year period, now ranging from industrial heavy equipment to food service safety and hurricane preparedness, among many others.” She noted that the College also collaborates with other institutions receiving Texas Mutual grants to share best practices and works more closely with the local OSHA office to stay informed of the latest trends to further improve DMC’s safety training courses. “These programs will continue going strong and making a difference in the workplace, due in large part to Texas Mutual grant funding,” Keas added. The Bus Safety First program was offered through the Transportation Training Services Program with the Workforce Programs & Corporate Services Division to provide safety training to drivers already holding Commercial Drivers Licenses or CDLs. Now under the umbrella of the DMC Safety Training Program, the College offers more courses focused on training that targets local employers and their workers as well as the general public. Companies such as BrandSafway, MMR, SIGNET, Kiewit Offshore Services, ArcelorMittal, the City of Corpus Christi and many others have come to Del Mar College for critical safety training for their employees. Korus said, “Texas Mutual’s Safety Grant gives us the resources to deliver that training as a low to no-cost offering, allowing our partners to provide their employees additional training that enhances their ‘Safety Culture.’” He also noted that the grant also supports under-to-unemployed individuals who have the potential to upskill or reskill for area jobs while also adding safety-related industrial credentials to give them a competitive edge while entering the workforce. “Many of these individuals receive partial to full tuition coverage from the grant,” Korus added. During the past year, DMC provided training in 55 courses to 635 people. Over the past decade, those figures equate to 5,010 individuals and 584 safety classes offered through the two DMC divisions. In 2022, the College increased its OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and heavy equipment training to support local industry employers and developed new Safety Training Program courses based on OSHA’s reported top safety violations. Additionally, a new hybrid NCCER Core course and an Unmanned Aircraft Safety Certification course were added to the list of safety training available. “I can’t stress enough the importance of the Texas Mutual Safety Grant and its impact on the individuals who complete courses through Continuing Education,” said Dr. Leonard Rivera, Associate Vice President of Continuing Education & Off-Campus Programs. “The grant allows us to address training specific to different sectors of the workforce; and as noted, over the past 10 years, Del Mar College’s Safety Training Program has evolved.” DMC Continuing Education now offers training in CPR and first aid to coaches, parents and students involved in youth sports as part of a collaboration with the Texas A&M University Agrilife Extension Division and their Healthy South Texas Program. His division also provides a Radiation Safety course targeting personnel in the industrial radiography business and individuals who work with Gamma or X-ray radiation, along with DMC Nondestructive Testing Technology students, to deliver critical safety training. Other safety training focuses on HVAC refrigerant recovery, recycling and reclaiming following Environmental Protection Agency regulations and safety practices and equipment needed for field training in the College’s new Electrical Lineworker Program. Of his division’s new program, Dr. Rivera added, “Thanks to Texas Mutual’s grant, we’re not only training new lineworkers for our industry partners but ensuring that training includes the safety components required in this field.” After the check presentation, the College showcased safety practices during a forklift training obstacle course demo, a CPR techniques demo using a mannequin and a radiation safety demo using a mock Gamma camera and small ultrasonic unit used for weld inspections at refineries. Additionally, guests could watch a video featuring Electrical Lineworker students who were the first to finish the new Continuing Education program in April undergoing final exam exercises on utility poles. Funds from Texas Mutual have helped support these and other programs. Learn more about Del Mar College’s Safety Training Program offerings by visiting delmar.edu/continuing-education/index.html. About Texas Mutual Insurance Company Austin-based Texas Mutual Insurance Company, a policyholder-owned company, is the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance. Texas Mutual provides coverage to 42% of the market, representing over 72,000 companies, many of which are small businesses. Since 1991, the company has provided a stable, competitively priced source of workers’ comp insurance for Texas employers. Helping employers prevent workplace accidents is an important part of Texas Mutual’s mission. EDITOR’S NOTE for newsroom rotator and release banner: Pictured with the Texas Mutual Insurance Company $100,000 oversized check representing their support for Del Mar College’s Safety Training Program is Texas Mutual’s Safety Services Manager (Austin Region) Stacy Rose (left), DMC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lenora Keas and C. Michelle Unda, DMC Foundation Board of Trustees President and Manager Regional HR & Public Affairs for NuStar Central West South Region. (Credit: CRO Digital Services)

Board of Regents Grants Distinguished Title of “Professor Emeritus” to Two Retired Faculty During May 9 Regular Meeting

Article by College Relations Office During the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents regular meeting held today, May 9, two retired educators were bestowed the distinguished title of “Professor Emeritus.” Between them, these former faculty members––English Professor Dr. Jonizo Cain-Calloway and Sociology Professor Ronald M. Huskin––taught DMC students for a combined 46 years. Both individuals retired in 2022. Considered an exemplary educator among her peers, Dr. Cain-Calloway served for over 25 years with the College’s English & Philosophy Department. She consistently advocated for student success and provided leadership in the areas of developmental education and English. Dr. Cain-Calloway’s list of accomplishments is quite notable. In 2010, she was recognized as one of 75 Distinguished Alumni during Del Mar College’s 75th Anniversary. For several years since 2008, she was nominated as a Teacher of the Year for the Heritage Campus, an honor and process for which students vote for their favorite faculty member on each campus. She served DMC students through organizations, including the Texas Joint Council of Teachers of English and the Epsilon Beta Chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta. While with the College, she was known for her mentorship of both students and faculty, innovative teaching methods and involvement with College and professional affiliate activities. Dr. Cain-Calloway served as a member of multiple instructional program review committees and several College standing committees, including the Faculty Council, the Library Committee and the Developmental Education Council. Additionally, she authored professional publications and conducted academic presentations through English in Texas, The College English Association, and The Explicator. Dr. Cain-Calloway’s generosity within the community is evident in her founding of the Joseph A. & Mabe Cain Direct Scholarship through the Viking Foundation, along with her volunteer work with the Humane Society and Corpus Christi Junior League. As the Del Mar College Master Teacher Award recipient in 2009, , Huskin is noted as an exemplary educator among his former peers and served as a faculty member with the Social Sciences Department for 21 years. During his tenure at DMC, Huskin served as the Faculty Coordinator for Supplemental Instruction from 2009 until his retirement in August last year. In that role, he was instrumental in the implementation and growth of the College’s Supplemental Instruction Program, which enabled a countless number of students to receive support that assisted them in succeeding in historically difficult courses. Among his other credits, Huskin contributed to and chaired multiple program review committees in the College’s Sociology and Social Work Programs. He also served on countless committees, including Achieving the Dream, the Student Success Center Advisory Committee and as a Social Sciences representative with the Faculty Council. Huskin was a contributing author to various journal articles, served as moderator on panels during the College’s Mexican American Studies (MAS) annual Summer Seminar and presented at numerous national and regional Supplemental Instruction conferences and workshops.

Second Saturday On-campus Registration Scheduled Throughout Summer for DMC Summer I and II and Fall 2023 Credit Courses

Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso Are you planning to take credit courses this summer or fall semesters and need help registering? Can’t make it to campus during the week because of your busy schedule? Take advantage of Del Mar College’s (DMC) Saturday registration opportunities for Summer I and II and Fall 2023 during our “Second Saturday” campaign. Every “second” Saturday this summer—May 13, July 8 and Aug. 12—the College will hold on-campus registration and provide admissions assistance from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Harvin Student Center on the Heritage Campus (101 Baldwin Blvd., (78404). Get online directions and campus map. Get help with admissions, course registration, financial aid, Registrar’s assistance and more, including TSI (Texas Success Initiative) Testing and onsite advising so you can complete registration in one stop. FREE Meningitis vaccines are also available. For advising questions, onsite assistance will be available by several departmental advisors, too. Summer I credit courses begin Tuesday, May 30. The first early registration period for those courses ends May 23 at 6 p.m. with tuition and fees payments due that same day. Registration reopens May 24 with a May 31 payment deadline. The College will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. More details about registration, payment deadlines and other info are available online at www.delmar.edu/registration. Questions? Contact the DMC Student Enrollment Center at 361-698-1290 (Heritage Campus), 361-698-1741 (Windward Campus) or 1-800-652-3357 or enroll@delmar.edu. So mark your calendar and join other Vikings this summer and fall by taking advantage of DMC’s admissions and registration opportunities on “second” Saturdays this summer!

DMC Board of Regents holding regular monthly meeting on May 9

Article by College Relations Office On Tuesday, May 9, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold their regular monthly meeting at 1 p.m. in Room 106 in the Center for Economic Development at 3209 S. Staples St. (78411). Get online directions and center 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 May 9 Agenda Notice and Board Packet is available using the following link: www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/regular-agenda-5-9-23.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 current guidelines, visit delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.

Student Success Center Introduces New Way to Study Anatomy & Physiology Using Virtual Reality

Article by Melinda Eddleman Imagine stepping into a world of virtual reality, only it’s not a game but the human body. The latest technology offered by Del Mar College’s Student Success Center does just that, giving students another resource that assists them with learning the most intricate parts of human anatomy and physiology (A&P). On average per semester, the Student Success Center serves 600 students taking A&P courses as they prepare to enter programs with the College’s Nurse Education, Allied Health or Dental & Imaging Departments. They now have the new virtual reality resource to help them succeed in those courses. The Center now has five Oculus Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headsets, which were $400 each. Additionally, the A&P software used for study is the 3D Organon Platform, which cost $500 per headset for a total investment of $4,500 for all of the technology combined. 3D Organon is a medical and healthcare education platform for teaching and learning anatomy. With life-like anatomy models within immersive environments and an extensive knowledge base of anatomical definitions translated into 16 languages, it transforms the challenging subject of medical anatomy into concrete knowledge readily applied even to clinical practice. The College’s Student Success Center provides students with facilities, resources and services designed to enhance learning, including peer tutoring, workshops and seminars, along with technology to assist them to succeed. Information about the Student Success Center is available at delmar.edu/offices/ssc/. The Center is located in Room 111 of the St. Clair Bldg. on the Heritage Campus (101 Baldwin Blvd, 78404). Get online directions and campus map. The future is now, it’s virtual and it’s here at the Student Success Center,” Villarreal says. Learn more about this virtual reality study tool by watching the CRO Digital Services-produced video below:

High School Students Learn to Soar During This Year’s NASA Camp in Effort to Pique Their Interest in Aerospace Engineering

Article by Melinda Eddleman Even though the winds on Saturday, April 29, reached upwards of 45 to 55 mph outside the Emergency Training Building on Del Mar College’s (DMC) Windward Campus, area high school students shot off their hand-built solid fuel and air-powered rockets during the second one-day NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Aerospace Engineering Camp for this year. The camo is offered in partnership with Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) to introduce students to principles associated with aerospace engineering as a means to encourage these young minds to pursue studies and careers in the field. The learning experience is part of a three-year $1.2 million NASA Planning Grant that was awarded to TAMUK in late August 2021 with the College among the partnering higher education institutions. The funding incudes DMC receiving $180,000 during the grant period to close the gap in the aerospace engineering field among underrepresented minorities, specifically Hispanics and women. DMC and TAMUK organizers held the first of the two 2023 NASA Aerospace Engineering Camps on April 22 with a full house. The learning opportunity accommodated 22 students, who represented CCISD––including Moody High School and the Harold T. Branch Academy––as well as Calallen, Robstown Early College, St. John Paull II and Tuloso-Midway High Schools, Incarnate Word Academy and one home-schooled student. Sixteen more high school students spent April 29 building and launching their air-powered and solid fuel rockets, building and flying different airplane models and flying professional-grade drones under supervision with instruction led by DMC Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology Department faculty. Twenty-two students who originally registered for the second camp represented 10 high schools with six area independent school districts, including one in San Antonio, and one academy. Those schools include the Collegiate, Moody, Veterans Memorial and W.B. Ray High Schools with the Corpus Christi Independent School District, Banquete, Calallen, Flour Bluff and Odem High Schools, the Incarnate Word Academy and Luther Burbank High School with the San Antonio Independent School District. Interest in the NASA Aerospace Engineering Camp has even generated a waiting list for bext year when DMC and TAMUK offer the free learning experience, again. “We received many applications and queries for the camp; and both camps filled very quickly, so we have a waiting list and plan to offer two more camps in 2024, first using the list we generated this year,” noted Xu. “We want to use these camps and the activities they provide to inspire our students to build on their interests in and passion for aerospace engineering-related careers,” As the lead institution, TAMUK received the grant through NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project, which is a component of the agency’s Office of STEM Encouragement and a phased partnership with the National Science Foundation. Del Mar College, along with the other partner institutions, is part of A&M-Kingsville’s Parallel Pathways of Excellence to Engage Minority Students in Aerospace Engineering project that falls under the NASA planning grant. Planning project objectives are to create a concept paper for broadening participation in aerospace engineering through a coalition of Minority Serving Institutions, high schools, the private sector, libraries and nonprofit, state and governmental organizations as well as to create a comprehensive action plan with detailed intervention activities by testing and assessing the impacts of various approaches during the planning stage. Besides annual high school camps, the NASA Planning Grant also supports DMC and TAMUK classroom activities and materials with NASA-relevant content, student summer research internships, career readiness through paid internship opportunities and industry webinars. Ultimately, a long-term goal is to develop the first Aerospace Engineering Bachelor of Science degree program in South Texas and expand its capacity through multi-sector partnerships to synthesize and enhance the broadening of participation among historically underserved groups. TAMUK currently offers an Aerospace Engineering Minor Program.

Continuing Education Showcasing Students’ Talent with “Moments: An Exhibition of Digital Photographs” at DMC’s Center for Economic Development

Article by Mleinda Eddleman Their passion is photography. And, each student has a different perspective that gets reflected through their camera’s lens with each click they make. On Thursday, May 4, the latest Del Mar College (DMC) Continuing Education Digital Photography class will showcase their best work as part of “Moments: An Exhibition of Digital Photographs” with a free opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. The free exhibit features 60 photographs taken by 11 students this spring and runs through May 25 during regular business hours in the lobby of the College’s Center for Economic Development, 3209 S. Staples (78411). Get online directions and map. Regular facility hours are 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. until noon on Fridays. The May 4 reception features light refreshments and the opportunity to view and purchase some of the best work produced by the Digital Photography students. For more information about the opening reception, exhibit and the Digital Photography or other courses, contact DMC Continuing Education at 361-698-2122 or ce@delmar.edu. Individuals can also go online at www.delmar.edu/ce. Those photographers include Dora Alaniz, Leticia De la Garza, Sandra Garcia, Ronald George, Rosa Lazaro, Sean McGuire, Nicole Serrao, Mary Sherwood, John White, Robert White and Melissa Windle; and, their subject matter ranges from landscapes to still lifes to nature … all as digital photography. Come see what these 11 talented photographers have captured through their lens. (On the newsroom rotator is “Red Hat and Feather” by DMC Continuing Education Digital Photography student Mary Sherwood. Click on each photo for digital photo name and student.)

Del Mar College Celebrates “New Era” with Official Opening of Oso Creek Campus

Article by Melinda Eddleman (Updated June 1, 2023: video added) The day marked a “new era” for Del Mar College (DMC) with an “official” opening celebration on April 21 recognizing community support for the new Oso Creek Campus. Located on Corpus Christi’s southside at Yorktown Blvd. and Rodd Field Rd., DMC’s new 96-acre campus is the first the College has built in 65 years. Ceremonial activities featured performances by the DMC Music Department’s student ensemble, Mariachi Del Mar, and the Zachary Kolda Elementary Cadet Chorale, along with the Presentation of the Colors by the Flour Bluff High School NJROTC Color Guard and the national anthem led by Professor of Music Dr. Rafael Rada. Board of Regents Chair Carol A. Scott and First Vice Chair Dr. Nicholas Adame, President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mark Escamilla and DMC Foundation Board of Trustees President C. Michelle Unda, Manager Regional HR & Public Affairs for NuStar Central West South Region, then addressed invited guests representing community, education, business, economic development and government leadership and College supporters. Dr. Escamilla added, “To say the least, this project took vision and unwavering commitment to embark on building a brand new campus, and the Oso Creek Campus has been an example of partnership and good stewardship from day one.” After DMC Board of Regents and College leadership visioning, development of a Facilities Master Plan in 2012, purchase of land on the city’s southside in 2013, community input throughout 2014 and beyond and Del Mar College District taxpayers approving a $139 million Capital Improvement Project (CIP) bond referendum in 2016 supporting construction of the Oso Creek Campus, the area’s newest higher education site encompasses 249,544 sq. ft. of facility space that includes the Culinary Arts Building, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Building, Main Central Building and Central Plant. Designed by the architectural team of internationally recognized firm Gensler and local firm Turner Ramirez Architects, the Oso Creek Campus reflects the beautiful sunrises and wave patterns of Corpus Christi’s beaches. The campus’ three buildings are oriented to optimize the cooling effect of the central water feature and wind while reducing glare and heat from the South Texas sun. And, the blond bricks used on the buildings are similar to those used at the College’s Heritage Campus. Fulton Construction and Coastcon jointly served as project contractor for the new campus. The Oso Creek Campus encompasses 249,544 sq. ft. of building space, including the: • Culinary Arts Building (59,561 sq. ft.) housing ultramodern teaching spaces such as kitchen labs, a coffee shop, a public-accessible restaurant/dining facility to provide students with hands-on, real-world learning experience and the Tres Grace Family Foundation Community Rooms. • STEM Building (100,915 sq. ft.) housing the Architecture and Drafting Technology program and Biology, Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing programs with contemporary teaching spaces, laboratories and equipment, along with other STEM-related programs such as Engineering. The building also houses the Legamaro Family Architectural Lab. • Main Central Building (80,437 sq. ft.) housing a library, student services and a coffee shop. • Central Plant (8,631 sq. ft.) as part of Physical Facilities operations. Representing the DMC Foundation, Unda focused on how donors and the scholarships they support impact DMC students’ access to higher education during her remarks, noting, “We have two areas on this new Oso Creek Campus named for legacy commitments, the Tres Grace Family Foundation Community Rooms and the Legamaro Family Architectural Lab. In each case, these donors provided significant endowed gifts to provide scholarships to students far into the future.” Guests also learned more about the campus during DMC staff led-tours, which started with finger foods at stations in each building that Culinary Arts and Baking/Pastry Specialization students prepared in state-of-the-art kitchens that even the most accomplished chefs might envy. Guests also viewed student demonstrations and presentations, ranging from cooking demonstrations in the Culinary Arts Building to Architectural student project presentations, 3-D printing and Mechatronics in the STEM Building to a DMC Music student ensemble performing and Library staff speaking in the Main Central Building. Current campus programming features “centers of excellence” made up of three areas of study: 1) Architecture and Drafting Technology, 2) Biology, Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing (bio-sciences) and 3) Hospitality and Culinary Arts. Offerings also include core university-transfer courses, along with dual credit, developmental, workforce training and continuing education courses. The College began offering a limited number of courses in the STEM Building in mid-July 2022. Students could then take courses in both the STEM Building and Culinary Arts Building starting with the fall 2022 semester. In mid-January, the Main Central Building opened, completing construction of all three DMC buildings on the Oso Creek Campus. Located on an “educational corridor” along Yorktown Blvd., the Oso Creek Campus provides close access to students attending high schools with three independent school districts–Mary Carroll, Veterans Memorial, Flour Bluff and London––as well as to students attending the two regional Texas A&M Universities. To emphasize that access, future Del Mar College Vikings from several schools participated during the celebration, including Zachary Kolda Elementary School, Flour Bluff High School, Mary Carroll High School, Veterans Memorial High School, St. John Paul II High School, Richard Milburn Academy (RMA) Corpus Christi High School and the School of Science & Technology. “This is the right campus at the right time for our students as this area continues to grow and be developed even as we speak. I want to echo Dr. Escamilla’ sentiment and say ‘Thank you’ to the Corpus Christi taxpayers for making this campus possible,” Regent Scott concluded during her remarks.

DMC Hosting a “Meet the Authors” and Book Signing Event with Sergio Troncoso and Guadalupe Garcia McCall on April 27

Article by Rosa Linda Reynoso What’s better than one author? Two, of course! Award-winning Mexican American authors Sergio Troncoso and Guadalupe Garcia McCall are joining forces to discuss their critically-acclaimed and recently released books during “Meet the Authors,” along with a book signing, on Thursday, April 27, at Del Mar College (DMC). Additionally, DMC alumna and award-winning author Diana López will introduce the two guest speakers. López is known for her own work, including Coco: The Story of Music, Shoes and Family; Sing with Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla; the adult novella, Sofia’s Saints, and several middle-school grade novels. Currently, she is president of the Texas Institute of Letters (TIL). López has released her new book, Los Monstruos: Felice and the Wailing Woman. Sponsored by the College’s Mexican American Studies Program and the TIL, the free public event begins at 5:30 p.m. in Room 124 of the Coles Classroom Building on the Heritage Campus, located at 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404). Get directions and the online campus map. Books will be available for purchase through the Del Mar College Bookstore, including Troncoso’s Nobody’s Pilgrimsand Garcia McCall’s Echoes of Grace. Participants can expect light refreshments during the “Meet and Greet” and book signing. For more information, contact Javier Morin, Professor of Spanish and Coordinator of the Mexican American Studies Program, at 361-698-1582 or jmorin@delmar.edu. The son of Mexican immigrants, Troncoso was born and grew up on the east side of El Paso in rural Ysleta. He often writes about the U.S.-Mexico border, working-class immigrants, families and fatherhood and crosses cultural, psychological and philosophical borders as well as the border beyond the border. His books include Nobody’s Pilgrims, which won the Gold Medal for Best Novel-Adventure or Drama in English from the International Latino Book Awards, The Last Tortilla and Other Stories, Crossing Borders: Personal Essays, The Nature of Truth, From This Wicked Patch of Dust, and A Peculiar Kind of Immigrant’s Son, which Luis Alberto Urrea praised as “a world-class collection.” Additionally, Troncoso is editor of Nepantla Familias: An Anthology of Mexican American Literature on Families in Between Worlds and Our Lost Border: Essays on Life amid the Narco-Violence. Troncoso’s recent work has appeared in Texas Highways, Houston Chronicle, CNN Opinion, New Letters, Yale Review, Michigan Quarterly Review and Texas Monthly. A Fulbright scholar and past president of the Texas Institute of Letters (TIL), he was named a TIL Fellow, the first Mexican American writer to receive this distinction. Troncoso teaches fiction and nonfiction at the Yale Writers’ Workshop in New Haven, Ct. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and received two graduate degrees in international relations and philosophy from Yale University. For more information about the author, visit Troncoso’s website at sergiotroncoso.com. Born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, and raised in Eagle Pass, Garcia McCall is the award-winning author of several young adult novels, some short stories for adults and many children’s poems. An educator, author, poet and speaker, Garcia McCall’s Echoes of Grace plays on the South Texas legend of the dancing diablo and is the winner of this year’s TIL Best Young Adult Novel Award. An advocate for literacy, diverse books and the Own Voices movement, Garcia McCall has received the Prestigious Pura Belpre Award, a Westchester Young Adult Fiction Award and the Tomás Rivera Mexican-American Children’s Book Award. She was also a finalist for the William C. Morris Award and the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy, among many other honors. Now a full-time author and part-time educator residing in San Antonio, Garcia McCall is currently working on two more books, Secret of the Moon Conch and Hearts of Fire and Snow, coming from Bloomsbury in 2023 and 2024. Learn more about Garcia McCall on her website at ggmccall.com.

Guest Author E. M. Tran Giving Reading April 20 as Part of College's Cultural Programs Series

Article by Rosa Linda Reynoso Over a short time, author E. M. Tran is becoming successful reaching readers worldwide with an immersive and engaging brand of storytelling. And, on Thursday, April 20, the American fiction and creative nonfiction writer will read from her debut novel, Daughters of the New Year (2022), as guest author of Del Mar College’s (DMC) Cultural Programs Series and the Department of English and Philosophy. The FREE reading begins at 2 p.m. in Wolfe Recital Hall located in the Fine Arts Center Music Building on DMC’s Heritage Campus, 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404). Get online directions and campus map. This event is open to the public. For more information, contact Assistant Professor of English Dr. Scott Obernesser, at sobernesser@delmar.edu. Published by Hanover Square Press/HarperCollins, Daughters of the New Year is set in New Orleans that moves back in time through at least five generations of Vietnamese mothers and daughters. One story follows Xuan Trung, a former beauty queen who becomes a refugee following the fall of Saigon to the North Vietnamese Army in 1975. In divining her daughters’ lives through the use of their Vietnamese Zodiac signs, Trung seeks to discover their individual fates. Each daughter has her own story that comes alive, telling each one’s history of who they are as their secrets each come to the surface as “daughters of the New Year.” Speaking to her own experiences, Tran’s Daughters of the New Year provides an insight into her life, and the novel has received great reviews. Because many of Tran’s writings can be found online, an even wider range of readers find her work easily accessible. Tran’s stories, essays and reviews can be found in the Georgia Review, Literary Hub, Joyland Magazine, Los Angeles Review of Books and Harvard Review Online, among others. Additionally, her essay for Prairie Schooner won a Nonfiction Prize, a Glenna Luschei Award and was listed as a Notable Essay in Best American Essays in 2018. Tran earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Mississippi and a doctoral degree in creative writing from Ohio University. She was born, raised and currently lives in New Orleans with her husband and two dogs. For more information about the author, visit www.elizabethmtran.com.

DMC Board of Regents holding regular monthly meeting April 11 at College’s Center for Economic Development

Article by DMC College Relations Office On Tuesday, April 11, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold their regular monthly meeting at 1 p.m. in Room 106 of the College’s Center for Economic Development located at 3209 S. Staples (78411). Get online directions and campus map. The regular meeting also will be livestreamed. Community members may access the meeting online by going to the video link at www.delmar.edu/webcast/ by 12:55 p.m. A copy of the Agenda Notice and Board Packet is available at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/regular-agenda-4-11-23.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 delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.

Online Advising and Registration currently underway for credit courses during Maymester and Summer I and II

Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso Del Mar College (DMC) is the place to start your education, and we even have three campus locations—Heritage Campus at Baldwin Blvd. and Ayers St., Windward Campus at Old Brownsville and Airport Roads and the newest campus, Oso Creek Campus, at Yorktown Blvd. and Rodd Field Rd. No matter where you live, there’s a campus conveniently located near you! And, it’s never too early to register to make sure you get the classes you want … where you want them! Online Advising and Registration is now underway for DMC credit courses during the Maymester, Summer I and II and even the Fall 2023 semester. Maymester classes begin Thursday, May 11, and run through May 26. Registration is open and tuition and fees are due by 6 p.m. the same day classes start. Summer I and II semester credit courses begin May 30 and July 10, respectively. Summer I courses include 5-, 6-, 9-, 10- and 12-week courses while Session II courses are 5- and 6-week offerings. DMC will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. Learn more about the DMC admission and registration procedures by going to www.delmar.edu/registration. Check for deadlines, including tuition and fee payments for different length sessions, by using the College’s Academic Calendar. Additionally, both current and prospective students can access WebDMC on the College’s home page (www.delmar.edu) to view course offerings, which includes frequent updates and additions throughout the registration process. WebDMC also is where students can check their financial aid status, review their degree plan and find other information. Have questions? Contact the Student Enrollment Center at 361-698-1290 or enroll@delmar.edu.

TWC Presents Two Skills Development Fund Grants Totaling $870,803 to DMC and Two Industry Partners for Employees’ Upskilling, Reskilling Training

Article by Melinda Eddleman To remain competitive, companies have to stay ahead of the curve in their industries. While Del Mar College (DMC) serves as a pipeline that feeds well-trained, highly-skilled individuals into South Texas’ workforce, sometimes training involves upskilling or reskilling current or new employees already on the job. Two Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Skills Development Fund (SDF) grants are providing specific DMC training for two companies with employees here in the Coastal Bend––Louisiana-based Gulf Island Services LLC and ArcelorMittal Texas HBI (formerly voestalpine Texas LLC). On Wednesday, April 5, TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson presented two checks totaling $870,803 representing funding covering that customized training through the College’s Workforce Programs & Corporate Services Division. While on the Windward Campus, Commissioner Demerson and everyone who attended the TWC’s presentation also toured the College’s Gulf Coast Growth Ventures Process Technology Lab and the Petroleum Processing Pilot Plant to see the advanced technology that DMC students and industry partner employees use for hands-on training. “These grants are much more than dollar amounts. They’re investments in our community,” noted Lenora Keas, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Del Mar College. “They enable residents of the Coastal Bend to increase and diversify their workforce skills, earn good wages and raise families. The grants are a ‘win’ all around because employees gain a competitive edge with specialized training, and employers want to retain their skilled employees.” DMC Corporate Services training is upskilling and reskilling 468 employees combined between the two companies. Total contact hours for Gulf Island Services employee training is 11,860 while ArcelorMittal employees are completing a total of 4,528 contact hours. The first SDF grant for $567,597 covers the training needs of Gulf Island Services, whose Coastal Bend location is in Ingleside. DMC is providing a variety of courses for employees in 198 new jobs and 88 upgraded jobs. Preparing or refreshing employees for work on and offshore, these courses range from environmental, safety and health; scaffold building/suspended scaffolding; welding; painter/blaster and first aid/CPR to fall protection; rigging; heavy and forklift operation; HUET and Tropical HUET (helicopter underwater escape training) and more. Leadership training is also provided to new supervisors. Gulf Island is a leading fabricator of complex steel structures and modules and a provider of specialty services, including project management, hookup, commissioning, repair, maintenance, scaffolding, coatings, welding enclosures, civil construction and staffing services to the industrial and energy sectors. Learn more about the company by visiting www.gulfisland.com. Del Mar College received a second SDF grant for $303,206 to upgrade 182 jobs at ArcelorMittal Texas HBI. Originally voestalalpine Texas LLC, which opened a $1 billion manufacturing facility in 2016 in Portland, the College has held a long-standing relationship with the company and is now partners with ArcelorMittal Texas HBI. The company produces over 2 million tons annually of high quality hot briquetted iron (HBI) as a sophisticated pre-material for the production of steel. The SDF grant allows the company to cross-train or upskill employees in multi-craft trades for more productivity and flexibility to respond to various production or service delays. Courses focus on current employees, including process operators, mechanics, raw materials operators and lab technicians with DMC’s training aligning with its credit programs in millwright, process technology, petrochemical lab technology and instrumentation, among others. The training also addresses the company’s employee retention and development strategy. Learn more about the company by visiting https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/media/press-releases/arcelormittal-acquires-majority-stake-in-voestalpine-s-state-of-the-art-hbi-facility-in-texas. Of the College receiving the TWC grants, Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend CEO Ken Trevino adds, “It is amazing to see the partnership between Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend and Del Mar College flourish. Strengthening this partnership through the Skills Development Fund will benefit participating employers, job seekers and those seeking training to prepare for jobs in the Coastal Bend.” You can also read the news release from Gov. Greg Abbott's Office using the following link: Governor Abbott Announces Over $870,000 In Job Training Grants To Del Mar College | Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott -DMC- CAPTION FOR TOP PHOTO: On April 5, Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson with the Texas Workforce Commission presented two Skills Development Fund grant checks totaling $870,803 for reskilling, upskilling training by Del Mar College’s Workforce Programs & Corporate Services Division for two companies, Louisiana-based Gulf Island Services LLC and ArcelorMittal Texas HBI. Pictured with the two checks are DMC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lenora Keas, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Heo, TWC Commissioner Aaron Demerson, DMC Board of Regent for District 1 Rudy Garza, Jr., DMC President and CEO Mark Escamilla, Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend CEO Ken Treviño, DMC Dean of Workforce Programs & Corporate Services Dan Korus and Chief Technical Officer Michael Spitz with ArcelorMittal Texas HBI. (Credit: CRO Digital Services)

Entry Level Electrical Lineworker Program’s First Four Students Earn the Grade with “Skills Rodeo” NEC Training Field in Robstown (Updated: Video)

Article by Melinda Eddleman The first cohort for Del Mar College (DMC) Continuing Education’s new Entry Level Electrical Lineworker Program may be small, but the payoff for these first participants is BIG! In fact, area utility organizations are already interested in interviewing these students after they graduate from the program on April 6. But, on April 4, the four students demonstrated what they’ve learned during a “skills rodeo” at the Nueces Electric Cooperative (NEC) Training Field in Robstown. The first four students to participate with the intensive 10-week program, which started in January, include Andrew “Blake” Galvan, Gabriel Garcia, Rodolfo “Rudy” Landeros and Christopher Luzania. Among their past work experiences, these students held jobs in service, general maintenance and education positions before tackling training for a different line of work as entry level electrical lineworkers. During the rodeo, the cohort demonstrated skills that included pole top rescue, personal protective grounding and insulator or cross arm changes. Their performances of these skills determine their final grades for the program. Students have taken progressive coursework that covers basic electricity, basic pole climb, employability skills, electrical safety and tools, digger derrick and pole framing, safety regulations, live line safety, transformers and distribution operations. “Del Mar College is honored to participate with NEC and all the regional electrical transmission companies in preparing electrical lineworkers for the workforce,” added DMC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lenora Keas. “The College’s new training program provides the opportunity for individuals to develop skills for gainful employment or to advance their careers in the electrical transmission field, and the skills rodeo was an exciting opportunity for us to showcase the advanced skills needed to become and compete as a lineworker.” As an industry partner needing more electrical lineworkers for their workforce, NEC has provided the College use of their Training Field for students’ hands-on experiences and opportunity to put into practice what they’ve learned in the classroom. Additionally, American Electric Power (AEP) provided scholarship funds of up to $2,500 toward tuition for up to five students for this spring’s cohort as well as for the fall 2023 cohort. The College is also using funds toward students’ tuition from the safety grant it annually receives from Texas Mutual Insurance Company. “Establishing our Entry Level Electrical Lineworker Program is an example of Del Mar College partnering with local service providers and the utility industry to help meet their targeted workforce demands with training in accordance to industry requirements,” said Dr. Leonard Rivera, DMC Associate Vice President of Continuing Education & Off-Campus Programs. Cost for the Entry Level Electrical Lineworker Program includes $4,390 for tuition and fees, $3,200 for tools, $100 for pre-requisite tests and $200 for textbooks. Additionally, students must already hold a Class A Commercial Drivers License (CDL) as a pre-requisite and must bear the costs associated with a physical evaluation. The DMC Transportation Training Services’ CDL course is $4,500. But given the cost to earn the program’s certificate, the earning potential in Texas for an entry level electrical lineworker ranges from $19 to $35 per hour according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, the Texas Workforce Commission’s Texas Wages and Employment Projections report indicates job growth in this profession between 2020 and 2030 of 24%. To meet the need for more of these career professionals, DMC Continuing Education has scheduled two additional cohorts this year––one during the summer and the other this fall. Registration packets are available at the DMC Northwest Center located in Calallen at 13725 Northwest Blvd. (78410). Get online map and directions. The summer program runs June 5 through Aug. 11. Complete applications and pre-requisites are due by Monday, May 15. The fall cohort begins Sept. 11 and runs through Nov. 17. Applications and pre-requisites must be completed by Monday, Aug. 21. For more information about the Entry Level Electrical Lineworker Program, visit https://www.delmar.edu/ce/training/electrical-lineworker/index.html or contact Michelle Avalos, Northwest Center Director with DMC Continuing Education & Off-Campus Programs, at 361-698-2445 or aavalos4@delmar.edu.