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.