Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. It's never too early to start learning the core fundamentals of a working life. As we all know, preparing for a successful career requires financial literacy, an entrepreneurial spirit (side hustle, anyone?), and ensuring that you have the skills – including those essential soft skills that apply to nearly all work environments – to enjoy workplace longevity these days. To help young students at West Oso Elementary School in West Oso ISD become familiar with these concepts, a group of 90 volunteers – 41 Del Mar College (DMC) faculty and staff, 43 DMC students, and six students from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi –presented tailored curriculum as part of the Junior Achievement of the Coastal Bend’s “JA in a Day” initiative on Friday, Sept. 12. All Junior Achievement programs are developed by Junior Achievement, a nonprofit youth organization that was founded in 1919. JA’s programs align with State Standards and Common Core, and volunteers receive training and materials to cover curriculum tailored to their assigned grade levels. Lessons included the following: Second-grade students: JA Our Community immerses students in the daily life of their community the people who work there, the money decisions they make, the flow of the community's economy, and the importance of being involved and responsible community members. Third-grade students: JA Our City introduces students to financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and grade-level social studies learning objectives, including how people manage their money and the importance of economic exchange within a city. Fourth-grade students: JA Our Region helps students explore how regional differences shape job opportunities, resource use, trade, and consumer choices. It shows students how their choices can contribute to their local and regional economies. Fifth-grade students: JA Our Nation presents essential aspects of our nation’s economy, skill development, career exploration, and community involvement. Through hands-on games and activities, students discover how their skills and actions contribute to their own success and to the economy. Since Fall 2023, Del Mar College has partnered with Junior Achievement to sponsor a “JA in a Day” with West Oso ISD, according to Dr. Jennifer Sramek, DMC Dean of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Heath Sciences. In the fall, the DMC volunteer cohort focuses on West Oso Elementary School while in the  spring the cohort focuses on JFK Elementary School. “On ‘JA in a Day,’ DMC faculty, staff, and students provide age-appropriate lessons on entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs designed to help young people understand the economics of life,” Sramek said. Marcy Davis, Principal of West Oso Elementary School, says Junior Achievement volunteers bring engaging hands-on lessons each year that help students make meaningful connections between academic content and everyday life. Teachers welcome these visits because the lessons directly align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) they are already teaching in the classroom, she adds. “During JA in a Day, the energy is felt throughout the halls, and every class is filled with excitement and active learning. Now in its third year at our campus, this valuable community partnership continues to strengthen the connection between schools and the community, and we look forward to its ongoing impact for years to come,” Davis said. Since Fall 2023, Sramek says DMC has provided a total of 163 volunteers overall. This semester’s volunteer cohort is the largest one to date. “When Team DMC participates in JA in a Day, we are mentors, role models and community partners. For many of these students, JA in a Day might be their first glimpse into careers, entrepreneurship or financial literacy,” Sramek says, adding: “The enthusiasm and compassion that Team DMC brings shows these students that they are seen, valued and capable of achieving great things.”

Article by DMC College Relations For more than 40 years, Lenora Keas has helped shape Del Mar College’s growth and strengthen its role as a partner to students, employers, and communities across the Coastal Bend. As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, she has collaborated with faculty, administrators, industry leaders, and community partners to expand opportunities that change lives and move the region forward. Her journey from instructor in 1982 to professor, department chair, vice president, chief financial officer and ultimately executive vice president and chief operating officer is more than a résumé. It is a story of leadership, resilience and vision that has transformed both Del Mar College and the communities it serves. From reimagining academic and workforce programs in collaboration with the Del Mar College Board of Regents, college administration and regional employers to securing multimillion-dollar bonds that reshaped facilities and created the Oso Creek Campus, Keas has continually positioned Del Mar College to meet the evolving needs of students and industry alike. She also helped secure major partner gifts that led to the development of the world-class industrial pilot plant complex on the Windward Campus. In January 2026, Keas will retire as Del Mar College’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, capping a 43-year career defined by persistence, collaboration and impact. Keas’ influence has extended well beyond campus. She has served for nearly 25 years on the Driscoll Children’s Hospital Board, including as Chair and as a member of key executive committees. She has also been a dedicated member of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation and working with industry partners as they came into the region. While she is retiring, Keas will not be stepping away entirely. She will continue to advise and help shepherd key projects for Del Mar College, ensuring their success with the same steady hand that has defined her career. Del Mar College will initiate a search to fill the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer position this fall.    

Article by Melinda Eddleman Presidential power—what the Constitution permits and forbids—has been debated since the founding of the United States, and views on this issue have shifted over time. For example, Theodore Roosevelt believed that a president’s authority is restricted only by what the Constitution and law explicitly prohibit. This interpretation gave rise to the modern presidency, making the office far more powerful than originally intended. The current administration aims to expand presidential power even further, and the strategy involves asserting powers that contradict established laws and judicial precedents, effectively seeking to push the courts to redefine the limits of the presidency. The outcomes of these legal battles will shape the scope of presidential authority for years to come. On Friday, Sept. 19, as Del Mar College’s Constitution Day 2025 observance, the Social Sciences Department is hosting a free lecture, “The Constitution and The Presidency,” by Harvard University’s Dr. Thomas E. Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press with the Harvard Kennedy School.  The lecture begins at 11 a.m. in Wolfe Recital Hall located adjacent to Viking Hall on the Heritage Campus, 101 Baldwin Blvd., 78404 (get online directions and campus map). Inquiries can be directed  to Dr. Adrian Clark, DMC Professor of Government and Political Science, at 361-698-1639 or aclark14@delmar.edu or the DMC Social Sciences Department at 361-698-1228. “For over 25 years, Professor Patterson has introduced successive generations of undergraduate college students to American politics through his authorship of ‘We The People,’ which is one of the leading American Government textbooks,” said Dr. Adrian Clark, DMC Professor of Government and Political Science. “Dr. Patterson is also a nationally recognized expert on media, public opinion and democratic governance.” Dr. Clark added, “His writings and lectures are characterized by a remarkable ability to communicate complex and insightful ideas and concepts with great clarity, elegance and precision.” As a prolific writer, Dr. Patterson’s influential books include “Informing the News: The Need for Knowledge-Based Reporting,” “How America Lost Its Mind: The Assault on Reason That’s Crippling Our Democracy” and “Is the Republican Party Destroying Itself?”— each tackling the challenges American democracy faces today. Other works, such as “The Vanishing Voter” and “Out of Order,” have shaped political communication scholarship with “Out of Order” earning the American Political Science Association’s 2002 Doris Graber Award for best political communication book of the decade. “By agreeing to come to Del Mar College, Thomas Patterson is providing students, faculty and community members with a remarkable opportunity to see one of the nation’s leading political scientists in person,” noted Dr. Clark, adding: “And, participants will benefit from his informed perspective on the changing nature of the American presidency in the context of the overall framework of our constitutional system of governance.” Don’t miss this opportunity to hear a thought-provoking lecture from one of the most influential voices in American political deliberation as the DMC community reflects on the Constitution, the health of the nation’s democracy and the role of informed citizenship in observance of Constitution Day 2025. About Constitution Day Sept. 17 marks a significant day in United States history. On that date in 1787, the country’s forefathers signed the final draft of the U.S. Constitution, which has stood the test of time for 238 years. In 2005, the U.S. Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act requiring all educational institutions receiving federal funding to observe Constitution Day, which is officially Sept. 17 every year.  This year, Del Mar College will observe Constitution Day on Sept. 19 with the guest lecture by Dr. Thomas Patterson.    

Article by DMC College Relations Tuesday, Sept. 9, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold their regular monthly meeting beginning at 1 p.m. in Room 106 of the college’s Center for Economic Development at 3209 S. Staples (78411). Get online directions and map. The regular meeting also will be livestreamed. Community members may access the meeting by going to the online video link at www.delmar.edu/webcast/ by 12:55 p.m. A copy of the Agenda Notice and Board Packet is available online as follows: www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/regular-agenda-packet-september-9-2025.pdf or download the PDF file from the upper right-hand column. 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 guidelines, visit www.delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.    

Article by DMC College Relations On Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold public hearings on the adoption of the budget and tax rate beginning at 11:30 a.m. and noon, respectively. A called meeting is also scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. and an audit committee meeting at 1:15 p.m. Both public hearings, the called meeting and the audit committee meeting will be held in Room 106 of the college’s Center for Economic Development located at 3209 S. Staples (78411). (Get online directions and map.) The two public hearings, called meeting and audit committee meeting will be livestreamed. Community members may access the hearings and meetings by going to the online video link at www.delmar.edu/webcast/ by 11:25 a.m. and 11:55 a.m., respectively, for the public hearings, 12:25 p.m. for the called meeting and 1:10 p.m. for the audit committee meeting.  Access to the Aug. 26 Agenda Notices is provided online using the following links: • Budget Adoption Hearing (11:30 a.m.): https://www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/public-hearing-packet-budget-8-26-25.pdf  • Tax Rate Adoption Hearing (Noon): https://www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/public-hearing-packet-tax-rate-8-26-25.pdf  • Called Meeting (12:30 p.m.): https://www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/called-meeting-packet-8-26-25.pdf • Audit Committee Meeting (1:15 p.m.): https://www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/audit-committee-meeting-packet-8-26-25.pdf  Meeting agendas and other resources are also available on the DMC Board of Regents web page at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/index.html. The health and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors are a priority for Del Mar College. To view the college’s current guidelines, visit www.delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.     

Article by Melinda Eddleman If you have ever viewed the artwork selected for Del Mar College’s CAIN National Art Show, you can expect a stellar exhibit encompassing pieces purchased by the college for its permanent collection. The variety of 2- and 3-D artwork is one to be envied. Leading up to the 60th anniversary of the juried national show, which will open in February 2026, the Art Program with the DMC Art & Drama Department will offer an exhibit, “Selections from the Permanent Collection,” that features 43 pieces––20 drawings and 23 small sculptures–– purchased from each CAIN National Art Show for nearly six decades. You now have the chance to see these works. A free opening reception is scheduled Friday, Sept. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. in CAIN Gallery, located on the first floor of the Fine Arts Center on the Heritage Campus (101 Baldwin Blvd., 78404). Get online directions and campus map. The event also features a cash bar and free hors d’ oeuvres. “Selections from the Permanent Collection” runs through Friday, Oct. 31. Galery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday and viewing is free.  For more information about the opening reception and fall show, contact the DMC Art Office at 361-698-1216 or art@delmar.edu.  The CAIN National Art Show attracts annually artists from all over the country who submit their 2- and 3-D artwork for consideration by well-known jurors. Each spring, three pieces among the national show also are selected for Purchase Awards for the college’s Permanent Collection.  The fall 2025 show features some of these purchases, including works by renowned artists such as Ron Koehler, local artist Greg Reuter and Danville Chadbourne. Additionally, current DMC Assistant Professor of Art Nathan Ditzler is included among artists featured in the exhibit with work selected for the Permanent Collection before he was hired to teach at the college.  “Selections from the Permanent Collection” celebrates the legacy of the late Joseph A. Cain and the national art show that he founded. Don’t miss the exhibit as Cain Gallery lights shine on some of the best artwork available for viewing this fall.   Editor's note: Shown in the banner is artist Margit Iika’s painting titled” 1908’s No. 1.”  Click on the other two artwork photos for cutlines and to download the JPEG.