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DMC News
Catching up with Foghorn alumnus Raul Alonzo
Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. Raul Alonzo was an award-winning Foghorn staffer while he was a student at Del Mar College. His time working on student newspapers both at DMC and at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi have served him well. He moved on to work for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and Gatehouse Media while wrapping up work on a bachelor’s degree in media arts at TAMU-CC. Today, he’s a Digital Producer for the Texas Standard weekday radio news magazine, which airs on National Public Radio stations across the Lone Star State. College Relations staff caught up with Alonzo when he was invited to return to campus in March 2025 to give a talk about a project that began during his days as a Foghorn reporter. He was genuinely excited to share details about his work and how his time at DMC helped him build the skill set he needed to excel in his current role.
Students from Ray, Miller and Veterans Memorial high schools celebrate certification awards via DMC’s Continuing Education Health Care Programs with pinning ceremony at Richardson Performance Hall
Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. The partnership prepares high school-age students for the workforce … health care to be precise. And, for more than 150 students from Ray, Miller and Veterans Memorial high schools in the Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD), their hard work and accomplishments will be recognized as part of a Health Care Program Class of 2025 pinning ceremony, which is part of a specialized certification opportunity offered through Del Mar College’s Continuing Education (CE) division. The ceremony was held in Richardson Performance Hall on DMC’s Heritage Campus on May 20. The event was one of 30 pinning ceremonies scheduled since the last week in April with 1,256 high school and academy students overall receiving pins. Some of these students are from as far away as Austwell-Tivoli High School located north of Rockport and Benavides High School located west of Kingsville. The CE Health Care Program offers national certifications for high school juniors and seniors that are obtained through American Allied Health, a credentialing agency that specializes in online allied health science national certifications. Students must pass an online exam that is proctored by DMC instructors to receive their certification. Juniors receive a Phlebotomy Technician certificate of completion while seniors receive the Introductory Medical Assistant Technician certification and a white coat that signifies they have two national certifications. Maria Guerra, DMC Program Manager for Continuing Education Health Care, notes there was a key change this year. To meet area workforce needs, juniors are now enrolling in the Phlebotomy Technician course rather than the Electrocardiography Technician course that previous cohorts completed. “We have discovered that there’s greater job demand for phlebotomy technicians, and so we have updated that offering to help both students and employers alike,” Guerra said. Following remarks by Dr. Leonard Rivera, DMC Vice President of Dual Enrollment & Continuing Education, school representatives presented awards to their students, including: • 46 juniors and 30 seniors attending Veterans Memorial High School who received certificates, pins and/or coats from Principal Scott Walker and Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers Amanda Delagarza and Vanessa Castaneda, • nine juniors and 10 seniors attending Roy Miller High School who received their awards from Principal Dr. Aurelio Tamayo and CTE teacher Kimberly Tanner and CE Health Care instructor Rachel Perry. • 36 juniors and 26 seniors attending W. B. Ray High School who received their awards from Principal Roxanne Cuevas and CTE teachers Brittany Queen and Sharon Rocha. For more information about Del Mar College’s CE Health Programs, visit delmar.edu/ce/.
Signing on the dotted line … nine individuals participate today during signing ceremony for DMC’s Freedom to Dream Tuition Waiver Pilot Program
Article by Melinda Eddleman Del Mar College’s (DMC) new Freedom to Dream Tuition Waiver Pilot Program is a “game changer” for in-district residents who qualify and are accepted to begin courses this fall. And much like athletes who sign contracts to play at the collegiate or professional level, applicants selected for the program don’t have to worry about paying for their courses, but they do have to “sign on the dotted line” and commit to completing their associate’s degrees within three years as full-time students. Today, May 21, nine new Vikings participated during a “signing ceremony” symbolizing their new journey in higher education this fall semester and a path to completing their associate’s degrees over the next three years as part of the first cohort to participate in the college’s Freedom to Dream Tuition Waiver Pilot Program. The pilot program is a first for Del Mar College, and Dr. Escamilla noted, “For the first time in our 90-year history, we are waiving the cost of tuition and most fees for incoming freshmen who qualify for the program like these students.” He added, “We want our students to have the freedom to fully focus on what’s most important – completing their education and owning their dreams.” Roy Miller High School senior Jonathan Anguiano couldn’t agree more. The 18-year-old dual enrollment student who has focused on occupational courses to improve his welding skills said, “Even as a student coming straight out of high school into college, I work and have bills, so this program is a relief that my education is covered. It’s truly a blessing and a once-in-a-lifetime chance that Del Mar College is giving me this opportunity to not worry about tuition.” He plans to complete his Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Applied Technology and was among the nine individuals signing the Freedom to Dream contract during the ceremony. In early March, the DMC Board of Regents approved the pilot program. Aas of May 16, current count shows that 2,138 individuals have requested information about the program or applied. Approximately 1,145 individuals have met eligibility requirements and have been selected, and 532 individuals have signed their agreements. In-district residents can learn more and apply for the program through Aug. 1 at www.delmar.edu/freedom/. Durin the May 21 event, Board of Regents Chair Carol A. Scott said, “I want to add an adjective to this ceremony and call it ‘groundbreaking.’” She added, “The program truly increases access to higher education for more Coastal Bend residents – like these students. By removing financial barriers, the Freedom to Dream Tuition Waiver creates a more level playing field for higher education.” The Freedom to Dream Tuition Waiver Pilot Program covers tuition and some fees using “first-in funding,” which comes from two sources: 1) DMC Foundation funds previously donated for the Viking Promise Program and approved for use to support the pilot program by its Board of Trustees and 2) the revenue generated from the state’s outcomes-based funding model for community colleges established by House Bill 8 in 2023. The first-in funding model allows students to draw from their financial aid or scholarships as resources to pay for living expenses and other collegiate-related costs––such as books, gear or program-specific uniforms––so they can attend DMC full-time. “The Freedom to Dream Tuition Waiver Pilot Program is making my dreams possible now that I don’t have to worry about paying for classes,” says Marysabel Lopez, who will graduate from high school among West Oso ISD’s Class of 2025 on May 30. “Instead, I can perform my heart out as a Music Education major because my dream is to teach the experience of being a part of music to younger generations.” Lopez signed her contract May 21, too. Qualifications for the first cohort include: All Qualifying Applicants: • Live in the Del Mar College District (taxing district), which includes the Calallen, Corpus Christi, Flour Bluff, Tuloso-Midway and West Oso Indepe3ndent School Districts. • Enroll full-time (12 Semester Credit Hours or more). • Maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA). • Enroll in a for-credit program or certificate. • Commit to a formal agreement or “contract” to complete their studies withing a three-year period. High School Students: • Graduating among the Class of 2025 or equivalent. • Dual Credit students are eligible regardless of the number of Semester Credit Hours they have earned. Adult Learner: • First-time-in-college student with12 Semester Credit Hours or lLess. As an adult learner, 39-year-old Joseph Collin, who previously completed his high school equivalency or General Educational Development (GED) certificate at Del Mar College and earned three Semester Credit Hours toward Liberal Arts studies, plans to earn an Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology degree. Currently a reception group leader and phlebotomist at CSI Plasma, Collin says, “My dream is to become a Surgical First Assistant with specialties in Neurology, but more specifically, I want to focus on the brain and what causes Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.” Del Mar College’s Freedom to Dream Tuition Waiver Pilot Program can propel Collin and others to do just that…“own their dreams.”
Making the ‘American Dream’ possible … Del Mar College ranked among nation’s top 10% of all colleges providing access to upward economic mobility and successful outcomes for low-income students
Article by Melinda Eddleman For some parts of the country, chasing the ‘American Dream’ may seem impossible because of consistent economic disadvantages. Here in South Texas’ Coastal Bend region, access to workforce training, higher education and other resources––specifically at Del Mar College (DMC)––is greater than ever and helping the region’s residents move their standard of living upward. On May 13, the Board of Regents heard a report by DMC administrators that correlated the college’s initiatives and successful outcomes with research data presented by internationally recognized Dr. John N. Friedman, Briger Family Distinguished Professor of Economics and International and Public Affairs at Brown University, that included Del Mar College during his presentation, “Community Colleges and Upward Mobility,” during the Bellwether College Consortium’s Community College Futures Assembly held in San Antonio in February. College presenters covered findings presented by Dr. Friedman related to Americans’ inability to escape poverty and how Del Mar College is addressing that issue successfully here in the Coastal Bend. Scroll down to the end of this release to watch the full presentation. According to the New York Times’ College Mobility study (2017) used by Dr. Friedman during his February presentation, Del Mar College ranks in the top 10% among all colleges nationwide or 217th out of 2,137 with moving students from lower income levels to a better way of life. Additionally, the college ranks in the top 8% among two-year colleges nationwide and 34th out of 123 Texas colleges ranked in the Mobility Index study with DMC listed third below Laredo College (ranked 6th) and Central Texas College (ranked 23rd) among the nine institutions listed in the “Large College” category for the state. The Mobility Index measure reflects both access and outcomes representing the likelihood that a student who attended DMC moved up two or more income quintiles [RG1] in comparison to their parents’ income level. Known for its occupational and technical programs that meet industry partners’ workforce needs, the following table shows key career fields in the Coastal Bend region, the number of graduates completing DMC programs in these areas, median wage for local and peer graduates and the difference between the two median wages for years 2015-2022: Additionally, passage of House Bill 8 (HB 8) nearly two years ago restructured the state’s community college funding model, allowing DMC to develop and implement multi-faceted strategic initiatives that expand Coastal Bend residents’ access to higher education and workforce training while the college continues to optimize workforce development opportunities through community and industry partnerships. Among strategic initiatives to further propel students’ upward economic mobility are: • Dual Credit Financial Aid Swift Transfer (FAST) Program: Expanding Access and Equity - Expanded eligibility to all Coastal Bend high school students, covering tuition, fees and associated costs (Books and supplies) • Workforce-Focused Academic Pathways - Industrial Technology: (Process Technology/Welders) - Health Sciences: (Nurses, Dental Technicians, Allied Health Professionals) - STEM & Emerging Tech: $1.9 million City of Corpus Christi grant (AI, Robotics, Industrial Instrumentation) • Economic Impact and Community Partnerships - Del Mar College has a total annual impact of $716.7 million (EMSI Economic Study) - Valdar’s Market: Food Pantry – Support & Academic persistence - Health Services: Free dental hygiene clinics, free mobile medical services through the South Texas Family Planning & Health Corporation • Affordability and Accessibility Initiatives - Free Tuition Pilots: Freedom to Dream Tuition Waiver Pilot Program - Low-Cost Credentials: Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management and Leadership degree • Corporate Partnerships and Workforce Training - DMC’s Corporate Services training in safety, leadership, and technical skills - APEX Accelerator initiative assists local businesses get federal contracts • Guided Pathways to Success (GPS) - Advising Checkpoints: At 15, 30 and 45 credit hours completed - Transfer Pathways: Partnerships with universities
It’s all ‘Pomp & Circumstance’ … Del Mar College Class of May 2025 taking ‘center stage’ at American Bank Center this Friday, May 16
Article by Melinda Eddleman (updated with video May 19, 2025) The tune is a familiar one during graduation ceremonies whether for elementary, high school or college graduates. We’re talking about “Pomp & Circumstance,” and for the 713[RG1] out of the 953 prospective graduates making up the Class of May 2025, this Friday night will mark a new chapter in their lives when they march into and out of the arena at the American Bank Center during Del Mar College’s (DMC) Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony. Overall, the college is awarding 1,214 certificates and associate’s degrees combined to the total graduating class this spring. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. Due to limited tickets that graduates may provide to family and friends to attend the ceremony in-person, DMC will livestream the event. Individuals can go online to watch beginning at 6:30 p.m. using the following link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlH4sJtrpgg. Before participating prospective graduates walk the stage, DMC alumnus Dr. Wayne Morris, D.D.S./F.A.G.D., will provide the keynote address. Originally from Goldthwaite, Texas, Dr. Morris lived in Hebbronville for six years before moving with his family to Corpus Christi at age 11. An angler from a young age, he caught a nearly 7-foot-long tarpon off the old Bob Hall Pier at age 12, a fish longer than he was tall. The W.B. Ray High School graduate attended Del Mar College before graduating from Baylor University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He then completed his studies at The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. Dr. Morris retired from his local practice after 50 years of providing dental care to his patients. As a young athlete, Dr. Morris played football on the Ray High School team and was a senior when “The Fighting Texans” won the state championship in 1959. He then played on Del Mar College’s football team in 1960 when the Vikings won the Pioneer Conference Championship for a second year in a row. That year was also the last that the college fielded a football team. The DMC freshman also served as president of his class during the 1960-1961 academic year. Dr. Morris is a member of the Nueces Valley District Dental Society and has served in every board position, including the presidency. He is a longtime member of the American Dental Association and Texas Dental Association. He earned a fellowship in 1992 from the Academy of General Dentistry after completing 1,500 hours of continuing dental education and passing a comprehensive exam covering the field. Father of three sons and grandfather to five children, Dr. Morris has coached Youth Football and Little League Baseball for 30 years. Two Little League teams even made their way to the state championship tournament, and one player coached by Dr. Morris moved through the ranks all the way to Major League Baseball. For over 55 years, Dr. Morris has attended the First Christian Church of Corpus Christi where he has served as a Congregational Elder for more than 40 years. He has been married to his Ray High School sweetheart, Janet, since 2018. UPDATE (5/19/25): To watch Dr. Morris' keynote address given on May 16, click on the video below: