Swing away … DMC, Aransas County Reps and Other Dignitaries Kick-off Rockport Renovation for Del Mar College Workforce Development Center–Aransas County
05
February
2025
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17:46 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
North side of former primary school becoming center for job training and other educational opportunities focused on preparing Aransas County and surrounding community residents for identified unique workforce needs in region
Article by Melinda Eddleman
(Updated 4/9/25)
Addressing the Crowd_DMC Workforce Development Center-Aransas County Renovation Kick-off_013025
Del Mar College President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mark Escamilla addresses guests attending the renovation kick-off event held on Jan. 30, 2025, to signify a new beginning for the former Little Bay Primary School as the Del Mar College Workforce Development Center-Aransas County. Once completed, the center will offer workforce training and higher education opportunities to residents linving in Aransas County and surrounding communities. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
After a Few Good Swings_A Look From the Back
After Del Mar College (DMC), Aransas County and Texas Legislature representatives took a few good swings, a large hole sits in the middle of the backside of a pre-fabricated sheetrock wall located outside the Del Mar College Workforce Development Center-Aransas County. The former elementary school will house several workforce training and higher education offerings, ranging from dual enrollment and academic programs to Continuing Education and Corporate Services courses. DMC and Aransas County representatives held a renovation kick-off event on Jan. 30, 2025, at the center in Rockport, Tx., which will undergo interior modernization throughout the spring and summer before opening in fall 2025. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
Ready for Action_Gold-Painted Sledgehammers
Gold-painted sledgehammers rest on the tailgate of a pickup truck, ready for the big moment signifying the renovation of the former Little Bay Primary School into the Del Mar College Workforce Development Center-Aransas County in Rockport, Tx. College, Aransas County and Texas Legislative officials used the sledgehammers to knock holes in a pre-fabricated sheetrock wall as part of a renovation kick-off event on Jan. 30, 2025. Completed renovation of the facility is expected by fall 2025 with the center offering workforce training and higher education opportunities to residents of Aransas County and surrounding communities. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
After a Few Good Swings
A large hole sits in the middle of the pre-fabricated sheetrock wall located outside the Del Mar College Workforce Development Center-Aransas County, a former elementary school that will house several workforce training and higher education offerings, ranging from dual enrollment and academic programs to Continuing Education and Corporate Services courses. Del Mar College and Aransas County representatives held a renovation kick-off event on Jan. 30, 2025, at the center in Rockport, Tx., which will undergo interior modernization throughout the spring and summer before opening in fall 2025. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
The event also recognized local donor support from both individuals and businesses who raised through the Del Mar College Foundation over $400,000 toward the project.
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This facility and its renovation are the result of strong partnerships that go back several years, from the local to the federal level, along with the support of many generous donors. The new Del Mar College Workforce Development Center–Aransas County will be a game-changer for area residents. And, in the near future, this building will be a hub of activity that will make a difference in the lives of anyone seeking meaningful, marketable workforce training in Aransas County and beyond.
Dr. Mark Escamilla, Del Mar College President and Chief Executive Officer
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Del Mar College Workforce Development Center-Aransas County_Exterior View
Shown is the exterior of the Del Mar College Workforce Development Center-Aransas County, located in Rockport, Tx., and formerly known as the Little Bay Primary School. The college has partnered with Aransas County representatives to bring workforce training and higher education opportunities to county residents and surrounding communities through more dual enrollment, academic programs, Continuing Education and Corporate Services offerings. Renovation was kicked-off on Jan. 30, 2025, with an anticipated opening in Spring 2026. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
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Our common goal here is to offer skills training and education that’s unique to the region, in demand by employers and focused on today’s economy. Opportunities provided through the Center will help to diversify the economy in the county, achieve higher wages and enhance employment opportunities for those who live here.
Lenora Keas, Del Mar College Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
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AEP Foundation Donation_DMC Workforce Development Center-Aransas County Renovation Kick-off_013025
The Del Mar College Foundation will offer scholarships once the center opens, and donations toward supporting scholarship funds and renovation work are currently being accepted. To inquire, contact the DMC Office of Development at 361-698-1317 or foundation@delmar.edu.
Ready to Take a Swing
Del Mar College (DMC) administrators, Aransas County representatives and a Texas Legislative dignitary pose with the gold-painted sledgehammers in preparation to “take a swing” at a fabricated sheetrock wall to signify the beginning of interior renovations of the former Little Bay Primary School now known as the De l Mar College Workforce Development Center – Aransas County. The renovation launch was held Jan. 30, 2025, with college officials anticipating the re-opening of the facility in Spring 2026. Posing for the group photo are (from left) DMC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lenora Keas; Dr. Mark Escamilla, DMC President and Chief Executive Officer; former Aransas County Judge Burt Mills; Representative Todd Hunter, Texas Legislature (District 32); Aransas County Judge Ray Garza; Nancy Bolting, Board of Directors Chair of the Aransas County Partnership Workforce Development Corporation ACPWDC); John Jackson, former ACPWDC Board Secretary and Past President; Dr. Lesley Austin, Rockport-Fulton Independent School District Superintendent; ACPWDC President Jeffrey Sjostrom; and Rockport Mayor Tim Jayroe. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
About Del Mar College
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.
Latest DMC News
- DMC Board of Regents selects SpawGlass to renovate Del Mar College Workforce Development Center-Aransas County in RockportArticle by Melinda Eddleman During their regular meeting on April 8, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents unanimously approved general contractor SpawGlass to renovate the Del Mar College Workforce Development Center-Aransas County after reviewing Competitive Sealed Proposals. The college owns half of the former Little Bay Primary School located on Highway 35 North in Rockport, which will become centric to training and other educational opportunities for Aransas County and surrounding communities’ residents to meet workforce needs in the area once renovation is completed. While addressing the Board, John Jackson, Past President and current Board Secretary of the Aransas County Partnership Economic Development Corporation, added, “This has been a long five-year journey to get to this point, and it’s a very significant threshold that we’re crossing today. I want to thank you and the Del Mar College Foundation on behalf of everyone in Aransas County.” Completion of the $2.5 million-plus project is anticipated by Spring 2026. The project initially began as a collaboration among DMC, Aransas County, the Aransas County Partnership Economic Development Corporation and the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) in 2021. Additionally, local private fundraising by Aransas County business leaders has also served a critical role to support project funding that will move the area’s economy forward with a well-trained workforce. The center will include classrooms, labs and additional space to house high-demand marketable skills training that builds a sustainable workforce in the Aransas County area. Training strategically targets occupations identified by the Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend that meet Aransas County’s local and regional needs, including: • Health Sciences • Public Safety/Fire/EMS • Building/Construction Trades • Light Industrial/Manufacturing • Small Business & Entrepreneurship • Computer-Aided Design/Drafting • Communications & Broadcasting • General Education, Continuing Education and certification programs DMC will offer courses not only through its academic programs but also by Continuing Education and Corporate Services, providing residents the opportunity to earn Marketable Skills Awards that can articulate into academic credits leading to Level I and II Certificates, Associate in Arts and Associate in Applied Science degrees and even toward the pursuit of DMC bachelor’s degrees–––the Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management and Leadership and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Once operational, the center will provide ongoing training and college-level courses for approximately 400 to 800 students per year. Classes and training will be available to everyone – young adults seeking a career, adults who want to up-skill and re-skill for essential jobs and those who simply want to re-enter the workforce. Keas added, “The Del Mar College Workforce Development Center-Aransas County is an example of what can be achieved when partners work together for the benefit of the community.” -DMC- Architectural renderings by Turner | Ramirez Architects, along with the floor plan, for the Del Mar College Workforce Development Center-Aransas County are provided below. Click on each image to enlarge and download. A downloadable PDF file of the news release is available in the upper left-hand corner above Contacts.
- DMC History Professor Dr. Bryan Stone speaking Wednesday about work on memoir of early 20th century Jewish merchant in Eagle Pass, TexasArticle by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. The story of Texas is a complex one with many intriguing family histories helping to build a bridge between the state’s rough and unsettled past to the thriving economic powerhouse it is today. To celebrate the recent release of his latest book, Neither Fish nor Fowl: A Mercantile Jewish Family on the Rio Grande, Del Mar College History Professor Dr. Bryan Stone will share highlights during a lecture at 6 p.m. this Wednesday, April 9, in Wolfe Recital Hall on the Heritage Campus. Presented by the college’s Social Sciences Department, Stone will discuss the history of the Riskinds of Eagle Pass, Texas, a prominent Jewish family in the border town in the early 20th century. The lecture is free and open to the public; and from 5:30 to 6 p.m., free food will be available while it lasts. For directions to Wolfe Recital Hall, get online directions and campus map to the Heritage Campus located at 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404). Questions? Contact DMC faculty member Dr. Dawson Barrett at dbarrett2@delmar.edu or the Social Sciences Department at 361-698-1228. In a compelling new contribution to the historical study of Jewish communities in Texas, Stone has helped bring to life the memoir of Morris Riskind in Neither Fish nor Fowl, which was published in October 2024 by Texas Tech University Press (TTUP). The book offers a rare glimpse into the multicultural, multilingual world of the Texas-Mexico borderlands and is available on commercial platforms like Amazon.com for purchase. TTUP approached Stone to edit and provide historical context for the book, which had been years in the making. Morris Riskind originally completed his memoir in 1993 before passing away in 1998. His son, Dr. Peter Riskind, worked tirelessly to get the manuscript published, and after its acceptance by TTUP in 2021, Stone was invited to refine and enhance the text with an introduction and extensive annotations. “The manuscript Peter submitted was excellent, but TTUP believed it needed some editorial work, particularly in providing historical background,” Stone explained. “I was thrilled to accept the opportunity.” The book recounts the life and business ventures of the Riskind family, who ran a successful clothing store in Eagle Pass for nearly a century. However, working on the project posed unique challenges for Stone, who had to immerse himself in the history of the Texas border region, a subject outside his usual research focus. “Morris gives us a lot of information, but few readers—myself included—would be familiar with all the names, places and historical events he references,” Stone said. “I had to study a lot to catch up.” One of the book’s remarkable aspects is its portrayal of Eagle Pass’ small yet resilient Jewish community. With never more than 60 Jewish residents at any given time, the Riskinds played a central role in maintaining religious traditions despite the absence of institutional support. “They had to do everything themselves, ranging from leading worship to teaching their children,” Stone noted. Another fascinating element of Neither Fish nor Fowl is its depiction of the multilingual nature of the Riskind family business. Morris Riskind’s father, an immigrant from Russia, preferred Spanish over English since most of their clientele were Latino. The store operated in Spanish, English and even Yiddish with some Mexican-American employees learning Yiddish to communicate privately with the management. Stone’s meticulous editorial work involved reorganizing the manuscript’s structure, restoring Morris’s original voice and adding a scholarly framework to make the memoir accessible to a broad audience. “A previous editor had altered a lot of Morris’ language, but Peter and I agreed it was critical to restore his authentic voice,” he said. The Riskind family has responded enthusiastically to the book’s publication. “Peter and his family had wanted this book to be published for years,” said Stone. “I think it means a lot to them that Morris’ wish was finally fulfilled.” Stone emphasizes that his research enriches his teaching. “The study of history is boundless,” he said. “It’s important for students to understand that history extends infinitely beyond what we cover in class.” Stone has earned numerous awards for his research and teaching work, including the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation’s 2024 Piper Professor Award and the Association of Community College Trustees’ 2024 Western Region Faculty Member Award. Among DMC recognitions, he was named the 2019 recipient of the college’s Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence as well as a Teacher of the Year in 2021. Stone says he’s been fortunate to receive a lot of recognition recently. “We have such an excellent faculty at Del Mar College—my own colleagues in History and Social Sciences are the best anywhere—and to be singled out for attention from among that group is unexpected, probably undeserved and extremely gratifying,” he said. “So much of the work related to research and writing is solitary,” he added. “Even as teachers, we’re rarely seen doing our thing by anyone except our own students. It means everything to be noticed, to have colleagues, administrators and staff recognize me for the work I’ve tried hard for a long time to learn to do well. I have enormous respect and appreciation for my colleagues, and their respect for me means the world.” Stone has also penned his own book titled The Chosen Folks: Jews on the Frontiers of Texas, which won the Southern Jewish Historical Society’s 2011 Book Prize. He also edited Memories of Two Generations: A Yiddish Life in Russia and Texas.
- Community invited to Del Mar College’s grand opening for renovated White Library on April 10 with celebration held during National Library WeekArticle by Melinda Eddleman Modernizing the William F. White, Jr. Library on Del Mar College’s Heritage Campus has been worth the wait. And, this Thursday, April 10, at 1 p.m., the college will not only celebrate the facility being brought into the 21st Century with a grand opening but also recognize National Library Week (April 6-12) and the continuation of DMC’s 90th Anniversary observances. Now completed, the over $28.2 million renovation of White Library is ready for the public to view and use. The public is invited to join the college for opening remarks by DMC Administration, Board of Regents and other representatives, along with hearing a poetry reading and enjoying refreshments outside in front of the facility near Creighton Plaza between the library and General Academic and Music Building (GAMBII). Afterward, participants can move inside to tour all five floors while engaging in interactive activities and visiting with staff to learn about the resources available to both campus and community members. Some specific activities include: • The First Floor, known as the Duane Sandlin Learning Commons or “living room” of the campus, will include White Library and DMC 90th Anniversary displays, along with a Viking Vanguard Scavenger Hunt, photo booth and the new café where individuals can “get a cup of joe.” • The Second Floor, which houses the Stone Writing Center, the Sculpture Gallery that features pieces from the college’s permanent collection and Studio@218, a flexible meeting space that will be used for student events and faculty/staff training and meetings, will host art faculty to provide information about the sculpture in the gallery and demonstrations of the Stoen Writing Center services. • The Third and Fourth Floors house research assistance and librarian offices, the Testing Center, IT Help Desk, informative and historical exhibits and classrooms, along with different study spaces and furniture. • And, the jewel of the renovation is the Fifth Floor and its 360-degree view of Corpus Christi. Participants can meet with DMC President and CEO Dr. Mark Escamilla and representatives from Turner | Ramirez Architects, who will discuss the restoration process for that floor. Visitors will also see that White Library’s book collection is housed on both the Fourth and Fifth Floors. The college’s Heritage Campus is located at 101 Baldwin Blvd., Corpus Christi, Tx, 78404. Get online directions and campus map. Use the Naples off Kosar at Staples campus entryway. For questions, contact the DMC College Relations Office at 361-698-1247 or colrel@delmar.edu. In 2014, Del Mar College District taxpayers approved a $157 million bond referendum for capital improvement projects on the Heritage and Windward Campuses. Those projects included the renovation of White Library, which is named after William F. White, Jr., who served as a DMC Regent for 33 years from 1951 to 1984. Regarding the renovation project, Gregg notes that White Library’s physical layout now offers greater convenience and intuitive use.
- DMC Board of Regents Holding Regular Monthly Meeting Tuesday, April 8Article by DMC College Relations Office Tuesday, April 8, 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-4-8-2025.pdf. 0 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 www.delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.
- Del Mar Drama’s “Eurydice” is a modern retelling of classic Greek myth from doomed wife’s perspectiveArticle by Richard Guerrero, Jr. If you know your Greek myths, you may recall the one about Orpheus, the master musician whose remarkable abilities on the lute was said to cause animals, and even trees and rocks to dance. Orpheus is the subject of a famed operetta by 19th century French composer Jacques Offenbach, whose “Galop Infernal” from “Orpheus in the Underworld” lives on in the popular imagination as “The Cancan” in film and TV. A modern theatrical retelling of the Greek myth reframes the tale from the perspective of Eurydice, the doomed wife of Orpheus who inspires his adventure into the underworld to save her. Written by Brooklyn-based playwright Sarah Ruhl in 2003, “Eurydice” focuses on her relationship with her dead father (a character invented by Ruhl) and her choice on whether to remain in the underworld or ascend with Orpheus back to the world of the living. “Eurydice” is scheduled for a two-week run, April 4-5, 10-12, in the Sue Sellors Finley Theatre located in the Fine Arts Center on Del Mar College’s Heritage Campus. At the opening night performance on April 4, there will be a cash bar as well as a post-production reception. Student Night, when any local student with a valid student ID gets in for free, is scheduled for Thursday, April 10. There will also be a post-production reception in the lobby. General Admission tickets are available every night. “Eurydice” is suitable for all ages. Tickets are $15 for general admission; $10 for seniors, military and DMC employees; and $5 for DMC students with a valid ID. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. The Drama Box Office opens one hour before each performance and will sell in-person, day-of-show tickets. Advance tickets are online at https://delmardrama.ludus.com/. “Eurydice” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. Del Mar Drama’s production will have a unique visual presentation. The director, Pamela Pailes, was inspired by the illustrator Edward Gorey, who is known for his odd, macabre style set in the Victorian era. Expect to see high-necked dresses, three-piece suits, and even an actor in stilts. "We hope the audience finds a deep resonance in this contemporary reinterpretation of the ancient myth," says Craig Brashears, Chair of the Department of Art and Drama at Del Mar College. "While our production boasts a highly stylized aesthetic, its themes of love and mourning remain deeply relatable." The cast is Natalie Palacios, Grant Sykora, Samuel Howarth, Miguel Cerda, Ailenis Blanco, Elijah Calderon, Alexa DeLeon, Paul Farias, Rett Hobart, and Hannah Shell. Details: April 4-5, 10-12 (Box Office and lobby open at 6:30 p.m., theatre opens at 7 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.), “Eurydice.” Location: Sue Sellors Finley Theatre, Fine Arts Center, Del Mar College Heritage Campus, 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404), get online directions and campus map. Cost: $15 (general admission); $10 (seniors, military and DMC employees); and $5 for DMC students with a valid ID. For more information, contact the Drama Office at 361-698-1216 or drama@delmar.edu. You can also visit Del Mar Drama’s theatre page at delmar.edu/theatre.
- Del Mar College alumnus and Texas Standard Digital Producer Raul Alonzo set to give talk about Texas Farm Workers Union on March 17Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. Just a few short years ago, Raul Alonzo was a managing editor for The Foghorn, where he assigned stories to student reporters and also wrote news stories about campus events and life at Del Mar College. Today, he’s a digital producer with the statewide public radio daily news magazine, Texas Standard, which airs locally on KEDT 90.3 FM at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Alonzo is returning to one of his alma maters to give a free guest lecture, “Searching for the History of the Texas Farm Workers Union,” which is hosted by Del Mar College’s Social Sciences Department beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, March 17, in Room 100 in the Venters Building on Heritage Campus. His enlightening lecture is based on the series he wrote years after an inspiring interview that was conducted during his time as a student journalist. On the Texas Standard website, Alonzo writes, “This series has been a dream project I’ve had in mind ever since I interviewed someone who first told me about the Texas Farm Workers Union years ago […] It’s a story of epic strikes and marches, but also one that occasionally brushes up against controversy.” The series on the Texas Standard site can be found at www.texasstandard.org/texas-farm-workers-union-tfwu-history/. Alonzo joined Texas Standard in September 2022 after working several years in design and copy editing for the USA Today Network’s Design Center, the GateHouse Media Center for News and Design, Journal Media Group and the E.W. Scripps Company. Alonzo initially pursued a history degree at Del Mar College before switching to journalism. “Upon switching to Journalism, I got involved with the campus paper, the Foghorn, where I eventually became a Digital Editor and later a Managing Editor for the paper. During my time on the Foghorn staff, I was able to interview such notable figures as author Gary Soto, talk show host Tavis Smiley, and iconic labor organizer Dolores Huerta,” he says. “I was also able to attend the College Media Advisors conference in New York and Chicago during this time.” He also competed and won several awards in Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) annual conferences, including: 1st Place, Newspaper Division 2, General Column 2015 1st Place, Literary Magazine Feature Story 2014 1st Place, TV Advertising (on-site live contest) 2014 3rd Place, General Column 2014 After attending Del Mar College, the Corpus Christi native graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in media arts and a minor in digital journalism from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC). Alonzo made the Dean’s List every semester he was a student at TAMU-CC and was the recipient of two School of Arts, Media, and Communication awards: Outstanding Journalism Student and Outstanding Media Studies Scholar. He was also inducted into the Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society. Alonzo became a staff member of the Island Waves, a student-produced newspaper at TAMU-CC, in fall 2018, and won first place in editorial writing at the 2019 TIPA conference. Alonzo says he’s looking forward to visiting with faculty and staff at the College, which is where he began his educational journey in 2009. “I was really humbled and excited to be asked to come down for this lecture. The story I'll be talking about actually very much starts at Del Mar for me, so to be able to share it at my old stomping grounds is kind of a full-circle moment,” he says. Alonzo’s lecture is open to the public. Details: Monday, March 17, 6 p.m., Guest Lecture by Raul Alonzo, DMC Alumnus and Digital Producer with The Standard. Location: Room 100, Venters Building, Heritage Campus, 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404), get online directions and campus map. Cost: Free. Questions? Contact Associate Professor of History Dr. Dawson Barrett at dbarrett2@delmar.edu or the DMC Social Sciences Department at 361-698-1228.
