DMC’s 45th Fire Academy Marks Outstanding Milestone with Cadets’ 100% Pass Rate on State Examination
14
May
2024
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19:24 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
Twenty-nine cadets representing Corpus Christi and Kingsville Fire Departments complete training through Del Mar College’s program, ready to serve their communities
Article by Melinda Eddleman
“The success of these cadets serves as a shining example of the exceptional quality of instruction provided by Del Mar College’s Fire Academy; and through rigorous training, mentorship and hands-on experience, these cadets are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their roles as first responders,” said Melissa Stuive, Chair of the College’s Public Service Department.
45th Fire Academy_Hose_Nozzle_Extinguishing Exercise_
Her remarks were in response to the 100% pass rate that 29 cadets with the College’s 45th Fire Academy accomplished on their “first attempt” when taking the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) Basic Structure Fire Examination. The cadets represent two fire departments––27 from the Corpus Christi Fire Department (CCFD) and two from the Kingsville Fire Department (KFD).
The cadets began their training as the College’s 45th Fire Academy on the Windward Campus in January and took the examination on May 2. The academy encompassed 680 hours of didactic and hands-on skills training that covered fire safety, use of firefighting personal protective equipment, fire dynamics, laddering, hose and nozzle operations, search and rescue techniques and hazardous material response and mitigation.
Fire Science Program Director and Instructor Michael Schmidt noted that the DMC Fire Academy has works with several Coastal Bend fire departments to provide training in addition to the CCFD and KFD, including the Corpus Christi International Airport and those in Alice, Annaville, Aransas Pass, Flour Bluff, Ingleside and Portland.
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We have worked with many fire departments in the area. Most of these departments are too small to hold their own fire academy classes, so it’s imperative that our program trains Del Mar fire cadets to the highest standard because they will provide safety services to residents of the Coastal Bend.
Michael Schmidt, Instructor and DMC Fire Science Program Director
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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
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DMC Counseling Center staff and partners held their 10th annual Spooktacular Mental Health & Resource Fair on Oct. 24 for the College’s students, including a haunted house and various informational and health services tables throughout the first and second floors of the Harvin Student Center on Heritage Campus. DMC Counseling Center Director Jessica Edwards, M.A., LPC, says the event requires several days to transform the Harvin Student Center into the spooktacular event space that it was. Key to the fair’s success are the agencies who participate in the fair. “These agencies gave out lots of information and free giveaways,” Edwards said. “We had free flu shots courtesy of Walgreens and free pizza for students while supplies last. The Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation provided free health screenings – STI testing – as well. Of course, there also was the haunted maze that students visited to get additional info on alcohol and substance use awareness as well as suicide prevention.” The DMC Counseling Center offers free and confidential counseling services to students all year long. Staff also provide the College’s employees and students with consultations covering the Center’s services, and staff discuss how individuals can get help for themselves or for someone they’re concerned about. “Our center typically has more than 1,000 appointments each year,” Edwards says. “Based off last year’s data, the top three concerns that students reported are anxiety, depression and partner relationship distress; we are seeing a similar trend this year so far. We also assist students who are experiencing a mental health crisis, such as experiencing suicidal ideation. Last year, we assisted 20 students in crisis who either were then stabilized by a counselor or needed support getting to a local mental health hospital.” Among the organizations participating during this year’s fair were the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Amistad Community Health Center, Bayview Behavioral Hospital, Children’s Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend, Coastal Bend Wellness (including Behavior Health and the Pride Center), Coastal Plains Community Center, Corpus Christi Hope House, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District, Corpus Christi Police Department Victim Assistance Program, Council on Alcohol + Drug Abuse – Coastal Bend, Youth Continuum of Care Coalition, Counseling and Recovery Services, Family Counseling Services (including Crime Victim Services), Family Endeavor (Veteran Supportive Services), MHP Salud, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Corpus Christi, Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Oceans Behavioral Health, South Texas Family Planning & Health Corporation, South Texas Substance Abuse Recovery Services, Texas Adoption Center, Texas Department of Health and Human Services/Texas STAR, Women’s & Men’s Health Services, Women’s Shelter of South Texas (The Purple Door), Walgreens Flu Shot Clinic, Corpus Christi Public Library, Corpus Christi Regional Transportation, Coastal Bend Food Bank, Mobility Management Services – R. 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- With growth comes possibilities …. Del Mar College Foundation 2024 Scholarship Dinner brings record number of students and scholarship supporters face-to-face at American Bank Center on Oct. 3Article by Melinda Eddleman/Richard Guerrero, Jr. He describes his ArcelorMittal Texas Scholarship as the “fuel for my emotions that drives me to keep going.” Del Mar College (DMC) Process Technology major Jesus Alvarado, Jr. has had a challenging year, including losing his father, but he can’t wait to meet leadership from the company that is supporting his education through their generous donations that inspire Alvarado to keep focused on his dream––a good paying job that allows for balance between work and life, supporting his family, the ability to purchase a home and travel. On Thursday, Oct. 3, Alvarado had the opportunity, along with over 215 other scholarship recipients, to thank in-person their benefactors during the Del Mar College Foundation’s 2024 Scholarship Dinner at the American Bank Center. The 2024-2025 academic year marks record-setting scholarships awarded by the DMC Foundation, totaling over $2.5 million and helping over 1,100 students. DMC Foundation staff noted that 3,281 students applied for scholarships for the current academic year, an indicator that parallels the College’s enrollment growth this fall by more than 12 percent with 12,098 students attending classes. Busby added that since 2020, more than $12,254,265 in DMC Foundation scholarships and privately funded student emergency aid has been awarded to over 9,553 students attending Del Mar College. During the scholarship dinner, Alvarado and two donors, including ArcelorMittal Texas HBI Chief Executive Officer Uwe Leopold and retired Associate Professor Emeritus of Business Drue Jones, were featured during a video as part of programming. Alvarado is no stranger to Del Mar College and first earned an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from DMC in 2015 before moving on to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree four years later. However, not until Alvarado returned to the College this spring as a Process Technology major and explored his funding options through the DMC Foundation did he receive his first scholarship––the ArcelorMittal Texas Scholarship. As a commuter student who lives in Ingleside and with classes on the Windward Campus, Alvarado said that the scholarship helps him cover various expenses, such as the cost of fuel during his daily treks to and from campus, which averages 60 to 70 miles a day. “My scholarship definitely eases the burden of having to pay for school and helps put some money back into my pocket so I can pay for gas,” he said. In addition to his studies, Alvarado works full time as the Billing, Safety and Compliance Manager for Lydia Ann Channel Fleet, a position he has held since May 2023. Among his duties, he ensures that the facility is compliant with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards as well as vessels maintaining compliance regulations set forth by the U.S. Coast Guard, creates vessel maintenance plans along with employee training programs and oversees security drills for all boats and facilities. Alvarado also serves among leadership of the Del Mar Chapter of the Industrial Process Technology Association (IPTA), a registered student organization. The club emphasizes the value of teamwork and mutual support to ensure success among its members. “Some of us are a little older, and some of us are younger, but we all have that same dream – that same career path – and we know that we can lean on one another to support each other,” he said about PTA. ArcelorMittal Texas HBI recognizes the type of leadership that Alvarado represents among Del Mar College’s students. “Whenever someone graduates from Del Mar College, usually these [individuals] are leaders and innovators of the future,” Leopold said of why the company supports scholarships through the DMC Foundation. “You not only impact or influence a certain individual, you also have an impact on the community as a whole.” Leopold noted that scholarship donations are not just a good investment but also are a means to “being a good neighbor.” ArcelorMittal Texas HBI has supported student scholarships to build a quality workforce and also provide residents living around them the opportunity to pursue career training that supports ArcelorMittal’s employment needs while providing good jobs. Earlier this year, College and DMC Foundation leadership recognized and celebrated ArcelorMittal Texas HBI for reaching a cumulative “half million dollar mark” in scholarship donations and other support over a four-year period. The Feb. 15 event observed that the company’s investment at that time had impacted the lives of 93 DMC students majoring in the Welding Technology, Process Technology, Industrial Instrumentation and Millwright programs, which are all career training fields stipulated in the criteria to receive the scholarship to fulfill the company’s efforts to build their workforce. Since the February celebration, the DMC Foundation has awarded another $90,000 of ArcelorMittal Texas Scholarships to 30 students, including Alvarado. Jones’ video segment paid tribute to her late father, Corpus Christi Mayor Emeritus and former Corpus Christi Army Depot Commander Luther Jones, and the scholarship she established in his name. She noted that her father was a high school graduate who was running a gas station when he was drafted into military service during World War II; but during his 29-year career with the U.S. Army, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. His daughter’s fondest memories include when she, her siblings and the late Jones all sat at the dining room table working on school assignments together as her father furthered his own education. “I know the sacrifices he made to improve his life and our lives, and I saw the same thing at Del Mar when I was teaching,” Jones said while recollecting her own childhood and time at DMC. “I saw students who were juggling childcare and work life and community responsibilities and trying to keep everything together long enough to complete their goal.” Additionally, event organizers showed a video in tribute to the late Eugene “Gene” H. Bouligny, who is credited as one of the founders of the DMC Foundation 41 years ago. He is the only DMC Foundation Board of Trustees member to serve twice as President (1987 to 1992 and 1996 to 1997) and generously supported the College through his philanthropic endeavors, including the donation with William “Dusty” Durrill of the former grocery store the College renovated into the DMC Center for Economic Development and Bouligny’s fund-matching challenges that led to millions of dollars given to support scholarships. Beginning Feb. 1, 2025, the Foundation will start taking scholarship applications for the next academic year, which is 2025-2026. Donations can be arranged year-round. To learn more about the DMC Foundation either as a scholarship applicant or a donor, visit www.delmar.edu/foundation, call main line at 361-698-1317 or email foundation@delmar.edu.
- Where Tradition Begins: Del Mar College Hosting First “Viking Fest” Oct. 25 (Updated)Article by DMC College Relations/Adrienne VanBrunt There’s always a “first,” and this year, Del Mar College will make history by hosting its first “Viking Fest” on Friday, Oct. 25. The public is invited to join the festivities from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Windward Campus (4101 Old Brownsville Rd., 78405) for an evening filled with fall fun, engaging activities and the spirit of Viking pride. More than just a fall festival, “Viking Fest” celebrates what it means to be a Viking with this family-friendly event offering entertainment and learning experiences for all ages. The event features a variety of giant inflatables––including a 100-foot obstacle course, pumpkin bounce house, frisbee toss, darts and sports activities like football, baseball, basketball, soccer and golf––carnival games, a car show and live music. The College also will highlight several programs with impressive displays, such as a semi-truck and simulator, an EMT vehicle and a fire truck––all used for training DMC students for successful careers. There’s even a costume contest and Zombie & Monster Walk/Run, so come dressed to impress! “Viking Fest” is a community event with free admission. Tickets sales cover carnival games that support DMC student clubs, food and beverages. Information about the event is available on the Viking Fest Facebook page and the DMC web page, which includes a map showing the event layout and a performance, awards and costume contest schedule. Questions can also be directed to College Relations Marketing & Events Executive Director Jason H. Houlihan at 361-698-1247 or jhouliha@delmar.edu. Leading up to “Viking Fest” that day, the College’s Welding Technology Program will host their third annual Día de los Muertos Welding Competition with area high school, college and trade school students showcasing their skills as they compete for scholarships and other prizes. Competition begins at 10 a.m., and the community is welcome to watch these future professional welders demonstrate what it takes to enter the field. Winners will be announced and awards given at 6 p.m. on the live music stage. But, if you’re more into Zombies and monsters and like to dress up as one, Intramural Sports with the College’s Kinesiology Program will host a one-mile Zombie & Monster Walk/Run with in-person registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Coleman Student Center on Boaz Blvd. Individuals can also pre-register online, and the first 50 registrants will receive a complimentary tee-shirt for participating in this free activity. The festival also features live music with the popular Jon Carr Band, known for their lively country and rock tunes. Between sets, DJ DIJIT will keep the atmosphere amped up with upbeat tracks. Stage activities also include the “Viking Fest” Costume Contest at 8 p.m. with all ages welcome to compete. Winners will receive a $50 gift card for best costume. Just added from 5 to 6 p.m., Carson Miller and the Coastal Cowboys will play a set before the Welding Competition awards are announced. And, of course, what is a festival without games? DMC student clubs will host carnival games for exciting giveaways with free candy and $1 ticket purchases in the Coleman Center to cover those activities, along with food and beverages. Each year, the carnival games help the student clubs raise funds for their campus- and community-focused activities. Among clubs participating are the Aviation Maintenance Club, BBQ Club, Dental Assisting Club, Hospitality Chefs Student Association, Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity and the Rad Dragons Radiology Club, among many more. As part of this year’s event, student clubs will compete to collect the most tickets at their booths to win one of three top spots for sponsorship prizes to support their initiatives. Viking Fest sponsors include Steel Dynamics, Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Collier, Johnson & Woods, P.C., Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority, Pepsi, Rally Credit Union, ReadyFlo Systems, Schneider Electric, SpawGlass, Turner | Ramirez Architects and Valero. Download the 2024 “Viking Fest” flyer to print and share. On Oct. 25, we look forward to seeing you there!
- DMC Board of Regents get “sneak peek,” tour final three capital improvement program projects funded by 2014 bond referendumArticle by Melinda Eddleman Renovation and repurposing––they can give new life to old buildings. On Oct. 8, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents and administrators, along with architects and contractors, toured three buildings on the Heritage Campus to see the transformation they’ve undergone as part of a $157 million bond referendum for capital improvements on the Heritage and Windward campuses. DMC District taxpayers approved that bond in 2014. The three buildings––Memorial Building, Viking Hall and the William F. White, Jr. Library––represent the final stages of overall renovation and construction projects funded by the bond. Viking Hall, the former Fine Arts Center Music Building, began serving students this past summer and houses programs with the Business Administration and Entrepreneurship Department, including the College’s new Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management and Leadership degree. The Memorial Building, which will house the College’s administrative offices, and White Library will open in January 2025. Capital improvement costs for the three buildings the Board toured today represent a total cost of $62,077,131 or almost 40 percent of the $157 million bond. Total costs for each renovation project include $17,776,059 for the Memorial Building, $12,221,464 for Viking Hall and $28,245,275 for White Library. Besides the Memorial Building, Viking Hall and White Library, other Heritage Campus projects funded by the 2014 bond include the construction of the General Academic and Music Building Phase II (GAMBII) and the renovation of a former bookstore at the corner of Ayers and Edwards streets that now serves as the DMC Police Station. Windward Campus projects include the expansion of the Emerging Technology Building and the construction of the Workforce Development Center. Funds from the 2014 bond were also earmarked to develop a masterplan for the College’s Oso Creek Campus on the southside of Corpus Christi. DMC District taxpayers passed a separate bond referendum to fund that campus in 2016.
- Flour Bluff Junior High School students visit Del Mar College to learn how to make tortillas as part of Hispanic Heritage MonthArticle by Richard Guerrero, Jr. Mmmmm…the smell of fresh, homemade flour tortillas. Can you smell them? On Thursday, Oct. 10, 47 students in the Spanish 1 and 2 classes as well as the advanced class taught by Gabriela Palm at Flour Bluff Junior High School got a chance to learn how to make tortillas while visiting Del Mar College’s Heritage Campus to learn more about taking Spanish classes at the college level. Their visit included participating during one of the College’s scheduled Hispanic Heritage Month events, a “hands-on” cooking demonstration about how to make homemade flour tortillas by Chef Maria Mata, who is also the Coordinator of the College’s Languages Lab, and her assistant. The demonstration was also open to the public. Students and public participants learned about the history, techniques and secrets behind creating the essential staple of Mexican cuisine. The first order of the day for the students was a presentation by Javier Morin, DMC Professor of Spanish, entitled “Presenting Spanish in the Professions and the College Process for Majoring in Spanish.” Morin said he was excited to have the students visit Heritage Campus during Hispanic Heritage Month. “The Languages Program and the Spanish Faculty are absolutely thrilled to welcome these Flour Bluff Junior High School Spanish students to our Del Mar community. It’s another wonderful opportunity to share an experience during Hispanic Heritage Month and build a lasting friendship with Flour Bluff and Mrs. Palm,” Morin says. “It was especially exciting to see her students to learn how to make Mexican tortillas with Señora Mata.”
