Article by DMC College Relations Tuesday, April 7, 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 facility 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/agenda-4-7-26.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 guidelines, visit www.delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.      

Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr.  We may be late to the party, but when it comes to March Madness, Del Mar College (DMC) decided to get in on the fun with a brand-new hardwood matchup of its own! The college held its inaugural March Madness Showdown on March 27 in the Gymnasium on the Heritage Campus. The game was free and open to the public. The Helm Holders were helmed by the fearless pairing of Associate Professor of Kinesiology Dr. Kristi Urbick and Associate Professor of Speech Dr. Dale Anderson, while the relentless Valdar’s Warriors were led by master tacticians Dr. Kelly Vinson, Assistant Professor of Sociology, and History Professor Dr. Erinn McComb.  Each team featured at least 15 players ready to leave everything on the hardwood, backed by 25 to 30 volunteers who served as part of the water crew, on the cheer squad or contribute as sign makers, way finders and commentators.  There was plenty of staff talent on the Warriors team: Kayla Lopez, DMC Associate Director of Financial Aid, Hameen Reynolds, Digital Content & Social Media Specialist, and Alex Puente, IT Executive Director of Infrastructure and Tech Support, to name a few. Add to that list a few notable faculty players like Dr. Misty Parker, DMC Assistant Professor of Political Science, and even a VP – Dr. Sydney Saumby, DMC Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Academics, and you’ve got a pretty solid squad. Not to be outdone, The Holders boasted plenty of faculty talent in Dr. Steve Gulding, DMC Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Paul Gottemoller, DMC Professor of Political Science, and Paula Kenney-Wallace, DMC Assistant Professor of Math. They got help from staff team members Blas Ibanez, Tutor Support Services Coordinator, Dr. Jennifer Armentrout, College Veterans Center Director, and Valton Stinson, DMC TRIO Director, to name a few.  “Our group includes beginners, recreational basketball players, former high‑school and college athletes and everything in-between,” says Dr. Urbick, referring to the Helm Holders. “As the coach, my job is to put everyone in positions where they can be successful but most importantly have fun.” For her part, Dr. Vinson was cagey when sharing details about Valdar’s Warriors prior to the game.  “A good coach never reveals their game plan,” she says. “The Warriors are always ready to play, and we have a team of 15-star Vikings who are all ready to dominate.”  The Showdown began with a spirited Free Three contest – despite some heavy competition, winner Andres Garcia with the Math Learning Center sank eight shots in 30 seconds and walked away with a $100 H-E-B gift card provided by an anonymous donor. Following the Free Throw contest, the game began in earnest with each team looking to gel quickly and “make it rain” to assert dominance on the court. From the get-go, the Helm Holders proved to be the more effective team and managed to pile up the points despite the best defensive efforts of Valdar’s Warriors. Going into halftime, it appeared that the Holders would run away with the game in the second half. But Vinson and her Warriors had other plans as they rallied fast and furiously in a bid to catch up to the Holders. It was a valiant effort – but alas, when clock read 0:00, the final score was 32-20, a clear sign that the Holders were determined to hold its lead all the way to the very end. Holders standout Gabriel Franco of the Math Learning Center was named MVP for his impressive performance during the game.      Of the college’s first March Madness Showdown, Dean of Student Engagement and Retention Rita Hernandez says, “We’re excited to continue cultivating Viking Spirit, camaraderie and teamwork that faculty and staff demonstrate in their roles every day. This event is a fun way to showcase that same energy and connection outside of the workplace while bringing the campus community together.”

Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. As the spring semester moves into high gear, the thoughts of high school upperclassmen are undoubtedly focused on what comes next. For the undecided, Del Mar College has them covered with an information awareness initiative called “Discover Del Mar” that’s offered each fall and spring semester so that South Texas high schoolers can explore their options.  This semester, nearly 850 high school juniors and seniors from 27 South Texas public, private and charter schools visited the college’s Windward Campus on March 26. Among students attending, DMC officials visited with 39 students from Banquete High School, 25 students from Odem High School, 56 students from Hebbronville High School, and 24 students from Por Vida Academy in Corpus Christi, just to name a few. Veronica Barbosa, Student Enrollment Specialist with the Student Enrollment Center, says 12 DMC departments provided breakout sessions for the visiting students.   She added that the DMC team sent school counselors a short video on what to expect when the students arrive on campus. “Discover Del Mar creates a meaningful bridge between high schools and higher education, giving students direct access to college resources and opportunities while helping Del Mar College build connections, showcase its programs and inspire future enrollment through real, on-campus experiences,” Barbosa said.

News release provided by Elizabeth Christian Public Relations Texas Mutual Insurance Company—the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance—has awarded a $100,000 grant to Del Mar College (DMC) to support workplace safety training. The funding will strengthen safety programs offered through DMC’s Continuing Education and Workforce Programs & Corporate Services Departments, providing valuable training for area employers and their employees, along with the broader community. 2026 marks the 13th consecutive year that Texas Mutual has awarded a $100,000 grant to support safety training courses targeting several workforce sectors in the Coastal Bend. Over the past year, Texas Mutual’s grant funding supported DMC safety training for nearly 700 students. These individuals took 78 classes that totaled more than 1,520 course hours. The college’s comprehensive safety training is designed to meet diverse workforce needs. Courses emphasize both prevention and preparedness that empower participants to identify hazards, apply best practices and respond confidently in critical situations. Safety training addresses the needs of several employment sectors ranging from construction, healthcare and industrial to equipment operations, maritime, energy and food service. DMC provides industry-recognized safety and certification training, including the OSHA 30-Hour course, healthcare CPR and AED instruction, mariner safety techniques and heavy equipment operator training. In many instances, these courses are offered at little to no cost by using Texas Mutual funds to support the college’s safety training programs. The grant removes financial barriers among individuals and employers, especially underserved populations and small businesses, giving them access to essential safety education that otherwise might be out of reach. Learn more about Del Mar College’s safety training offerings by visiting delmar.edu/ce/index.html.  For more information on Texas Mutual and its work in the community, visit texasmutual.com. -### About Texas Mutual Insurance Company Austin-based Texas Mutual Insurance Company is the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance, serving nearly 40% of the market and over 80,000 businesses. Since 1991, Texas Mutual has provided stable, competitive coverage, exceptional service and industry-leading safety resources to help build a stronger, safer Texas. Texas Mutual is also the parent company of Texicare, a health affiliate dedicated to providing innovative solutions that increase access to more affordable, easy-to-use, quality healthcare for Texas businesses, employees and families. With nearly $4.8 billion paid to policyholders in general dividends and $100 million invested in organizations strengthening our community, Texas Mutual is committed to the future of Texas.