Article by DMC College Relations On Thursday, December 18, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold a called meeting beginning at 4 p.m. in Room 106 of the Center for Economic Development at 3209 S. Staples (78411). Get online directions and map. The meeting also will be livestreamed. Community members may access the meeting by going to the online video link at www.delmar.edu/webcast/ by 3:55 p.m. A copy of the Agenda Notice is available online as follows:  www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/called-meeting-12-18-2025.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 Melinda Eddleman For friends and family of the Del Mar College (DMC) Classes of Summer and Fall 2025, it will be a wonderful moment when the “prospective” fall graduates and participating summer graduates march into the arena of Hilliard Center this Friday, Dec. 12. The ceremony is more than “Pomp & Circumstance.” It represents the work both classes completed to reach their goal … “walking the stage.” “Prospective” fall graduates and summer graduates combined is 889 with 573 participating in Friday’s ceremony, including 139 from the summer class. Between the two classes, the college will have awarded 1,092 certificates, associate’s and bachelor’s degrees and occupational skills awards overall overall. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. in the Hilliard Center arena (1901 N. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX 78401). Graduates were given a limited number of tickets to distribute to family and friends; so for anyone who is unable to attend the event, DMC will livestream commencement activities beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the following link: https://youtube.com/live/cLxaMOnAi2M. Prior to fall “prospective” graduates and summer grqaduates making their way to “center stage,” DMC Nurse Education major Melissa Torres will serve as commencement speaker. Torres is the first student in recent memory to deliver the keynote address. Torres is also a member of the Class of Fall 2025 and will join her peers to “walk the stage” to receive her Associate in Applied Science in Registered Nursing degree after addressing everyone in the arena. A Corpus Christi native who graduated from W.B. Ray High School in 1992, Torres, is recognized for her exceptional commitment to academic excellence, service and leadership as she advanced her journey in health care education. She first graduated from Del Mar College with an Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology degree in 2004 and began a career as a medical professional with Driscoll Children’s Hospital. The 51-year-old takes pride in being a dedicated mother, partner and daughter and brings a deep sense of purpose to her studies and her future career as a registered nurse, and Friday night, she’ll address her graduating class with a theme focused on “bettering one’s self.”   Before Friday’s commencement, Torres will also receive her pins and cords during the Department of Nurse Education’s two ceremonies at  Richardson Performance Hall on the Heritage Campus––including the Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society’s pinning and the department’s pinning that includes students taking the Florence Nightingale Oath. Torres has served as President of the Fall 2025 Nursing Pinning Ceremony Committee, leading the group with professionalism, collaboration and a strong commitment to her classmates. In addition to being a member of Alpha Delta Nu, Torres is an active member of the National Student Nurses’ Association and the National Society of Leadership and Success.  For her next step after DMC’s Winter Commencement, Torres has been rehired by Driscoll Children’s Hospital, and she begins their Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Residency Program in February.      

Article by DMC College Relations Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold a workshop beginning at 11 a.m. and their regular monthly meeting beginning at 1 p.m. in Room 106 of the college’s Center for Economic Development located at 3209 S. Staples (78411). Get online directions and map. The college will also livestream the regular meeting. Community members may access the meeting by going to the online video link at www.delmar.edu/webcast/ by 12:55 p.m. Copies of the Agenda Notices and Board Packets are available online as follows: • 11 a.m. Workshop: www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/workshop-packet-12-9-25.pdf • 1 p.m. Regular Meeting: www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/regular-board-agenda-packet-12-9-25.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 guidelines, visit www.delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.   

Article by Melinda Eddleman Most people may not think about the training that prepares professionals with the skills to “glam up” their clients for those holiday parties and special occasions, including haircuts, coloring, manicures,  pedicures and other services. No matter where you go, beauty is big business. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of barbers, hairstylists and cosmetologists has been projected to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034. And for the projected decade, the bureau determined about 84,200 openings each year for these positions due to career changes or retirement. Job growth among nail technicians is projected to grow 7% during the same period with about 24,800 openings available annually across the country. If you “Google” for hair or nail salons in Corpus Christi, the  .To meet the growing opportunity to enter the Coastal Bend’s beauty industry, the Del Mar College (DMC) Cosmetology Program with the Business Administration and Entrepreneurship Department is expanding from offering Level I Certificate training to launching a new Level II Certificate and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Cosmetology degree beginning with the spring 2026  Gonzalez says that the AAS degree will give licensed industry professionals the opportunity to earn a college degree rather than just hold a training certificate. “Individuals can petition for credit from any Texas cosmetology school as a licensed professional and will only need to complete eight courses at Del Mar College to earn our associate degree,” she says. Total required semester hours to earn the college’s AAS degree in Cosmetology is 60 hours for students beginning their training at DMC. Required semester hours for students already licensed and who are petitioning to have outside credits count toward the AAS degree may vary. “This is a major opportunity for professionals who want to own their own business or change career paths altogether because earning the AAS degree can then lead to completing Del Mar College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management and Leadership (BAS OML) degree,” Gonzalez notes. The college launched the BAS OML degree in fall ’2024, the second bachelor’s degree DMC offers––with the first 14 students completing the program this past summer (online release). The new Level II Certificate also gives licensed professionals the opportunity to update their skills and learn about current cosmetology trends, including advanced haircutting and styling techniques, eyelash extensions and nail services as well as wigs and hair extension services. “This certificate will move students beyond the 1,000 clock hours needed for licensing,” Gonzalez says. As compared to the required 33 semester hours or credits to earn the Level I Certificate, the new Level II Certificate requires 45 semester hours. Curriculum for all three Cosmetology Program offerings fall under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which also administers the written and practical exam that students must take after completing their training at the college to receive their license. To learn more about the Cosmetology Program and all three offerings––Level I and Level II Certificates and the Associate in Applied Science degree––visit the program website at delmar.edu/degrees/cosmetology/index.html. Individuals can also contact Lissa Gonzalez at 361-698-1782 or lgonzale43@delmar.edu. Currently, registration is underway for Del Mar College’s spring 2026 semester with classes beginning on Jan. 12. On-campus and online registration before the DMC two-week Winter Break runs through 12:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. The college will be closed during this period with regular operations opening at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 5. Individuals can get in-person assistance with the admissions process, registration and other help on all three campuses––Heritage, Windward and Oso Creek. For further details, visit the college’s Registration web page at www.delmar.edu/registration or contact the DMC Student Enrollment Center at 361-698-1290 or enroll@delmar.edu.    

Article produced as a collaboration between Tesla and DMC College Relations In partnership with Tesla, Del Mar College (DMC) launched a Chemical Operations Internship with the first cohort starting this fall at the Tesla Gulf Coast Lithium Refinery and cathode production at Gigafactory Texas in Austin. The internship offers early-career opportunities for students to gain industry experience while developing their expertise through higher education. Eleven interns were selected for the inaugural program, which runs for 16 weeks and includes students and graduates from the college’s Process Technology and Industrial Instrumentation Programs with the Industrial Technology Department. Interns include Nadia Barrera, Bradley Boren, Brian Garza, Christopher Karl, Raul Mora, Stan Perkins, Matthew Perez, Albert Soliz, James Vesely, Alan Villarreal and Jordon Wolfe. These students have the opportunity for a sponsored scholarship or full-time roles at Tesla after successfully completing their internship. High-achieving DMC students and graduates participating in the program are developing quality control and equipment operation skills to help increase the supply of lithium and cathode in North America, making it local to Texas. Chemical Operations Intern and DMC Process Technology major Stan Perkins II noted, “Working at Tesla provides on-the-job experience to troubleshoot issues in real-time, an understanding of day-to-day safety operations and the opportunity to apply what I’ve already learned. Through this internship, I’m helping drive sustainable energy right here in Corpus Christi and build the next evolution of chemical refining in the Bay Area.” The partnership runs through 2026. Tesla representatives shared future opportunities and recruited the next cohort of DMC students last month for spring internships. “Del Mar College administrators, staff, faculty and students are enthusiastic about our partnership with Tesla. Our relationship will take the college and our region to greater heights while benefitting our students and their families,” said Dan Korus, DMC Dean of Workforce Programs and Corporate Services. “We’re very grateful for the opportunity to partner with Tesla and look forward to seeing the success it will bring.”

Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr.  It’s one thing to receive recognition for your research project at the state level, which is a major accomplishment. But going the distance in the nation’s capital and receiving an award in front of representatives from more than 240 community colleges is definitely the next level. Del Mar College students Megan O’Shaughnessy and Kristen Waddell, both Biology and Biotechnology majors, recently experienced the honor. Led by DMC Natural Sciences Department faculty member and mentor Dr. Daiyuan “Daisy” Zhang, Professor of Biotechnology, and accompanied by Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Jonda Halcomb, the Viking pair attended the 32nd National Advanced Technical Education (ATE) Principal Investigators’ Conference held in Washington, D.C., Oct. 29-31. During the conference, O’Shaughnessy presented her research poster examining whether the extracellular vesicles (EVs) found in the blood of the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake and the Virgina opossum could protect these animals from rattlesnake venom. Her results show that the EVs from the snake and the opossum did weaken the venom, making it less able to break down fibrinogen, which helps blood clot, and gelatin, which is like the material found in tissues. O’Shaughnessy, who graduated from Kingwood High School and the Texas Connections Academy in 2022, said her favorite experience during the trip was presenting her research poster to a range of professionals working in STEM fields. “Being able to break down my poster to people at different levels definitely increased my confidence in my knowledge of my project and made me a better presenter,” O’Shaughnessy said. “Del Mar College has provided me with so many opportunities and experiences that have made a big difference on my confidence as a student.” Waddell’s poster focused on a very local and critical area of concern––environmental pollution in Baffin Bay. Baffin Bay and the creeks that flow into it are used for ranching, farming, fishing, bird-watching and other outdoor activities.  But some of these waters have a problem. They contain too much fecal bacteria, which can come from humans or animals, which pollutes the environment.  Scientists are already studying where this pollution comes from—cows, pigs, humans and birds. And in this project, researchers have added another tool to help track pollutants: a special gene called Class 1 Integron-Integrase gene, or intI1. This gene is important because it is often found in bacteria that carry antibiotic resistance that can be harmful. Including Waddell, researchers collected 142 water samples from Baffin Bay and three nearby creeks. The gene was present in every test site with some places having more than others. San Fernando Creek had the most, followed by Los Olmos Creek, Petronila Creek and then the bay. The amount of the intI1 gene also increased when there were more signs of poop from humans, cows and pigs. This means the intI1 gene is a good clue for spotting pollution caused by people and their activities. Adding this gene to water-testing studies will help scientists better understand how fecal pollution and antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread in the environment. Waddell, who graduated from Veterans Memorial High School in 2023, said she especially enjoyed having a meaningful conversation with a Florida researcher who was interested in the genetics side of her research. “I loved hearing how his lab approached the same techniques I was using as they were incredibly innovative and inventive,” Waddell said. “This conversation was inspirational, and I saw the significance of continuing research in this area.” Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President and CEO of co-sponsor American Association of Community Colleges, noted that 800 National Science Foundation grantees attended the conference and remarked that the conference provided students and faculty with remarkable opportunities to share their work and learn from others. “Helping students see pathways from learning to application in the workplace builds the pipeline of skilled workers in our economy,” Pollard said, adding: “Since economic stability drives further innovation in businesses, these are investments in our shared futures.” For O’Shaughnessy and Waddell, attending this year’s ATE Principal Investigators’ Conference is one step among many toward bringing their own innovation to STEM professions that will benefit us all. Learn more about Del Mar College's Biotechnology Program and the use of innovative technology on the featured “In the Spotlight” blog page at the following web address: vikingnews.delmar.edu/in-the-spotlight-biotechnology/