Hard work pays off … Spring 2024 “Prospective” Graduate List (ceremony video and program PDF file included)
Article by DMC College Relations
Hard work, long days or nights and juggling coursework with employment schedules or family obligations to reach their goal is paid off Friday, May 17,when nearly 700 Del Mar College “prospective” graduates who signed up to participate during Spring 2024 Commencement “walked the stage” in the American Bank Center Arena to receive their certificate or associate’s degree or both.
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Before DMC’s newest graduates made that time-honored walk, keynote speaker Roderick “Rod” Benson, Deputy and Chief Operations Officer with the Corpus Christi Army Depot, shared his own words of wisdom and advice.
The full ceremony is available to watch below (scroll down to the bottom of the page). The Commencement program is provided as a downloadable PDF file in the upper right-hand corner above “Contacts.”
Overall, the Del Mar College Class of Spring 2024 includes 926 “prospective” graduates who have earned 1,137 associate’s degrees and certificates combined. Those Vikings include:
Valdar with Two Spring 2024 Prospective Graduates
LIBERAL ARTS
Associate in Arts
Mary F. Adams, Linzee J. Alaniz, Amelia C. Anderson, Jesus M. Anzures, Christian I. Arredondo, Zachary J. Austin, Raizel B. Auza, Aydin Z. Avalos, Gabriela E. Avila, Ezequiel Baltierra, Arianna A. Barron, Sebastian A. Bautista, Juaquin Benavides, Aurora F. Cano, Sydney J. Cantu, Rubianna Casares, Emily M. Castillo, Aria I. Cavazos, Sophia I. Chapa, Jorge Colchado, Jordan J. Cox, Ezequiel Delucio Jr., Makenzi E. Driggers, Elizabeth D. Elizondo, Brianna Y. Flores, Emilee M. Flores, Deborah J. Garcia, Mercedes M. Garcia, Liana M. Garza, Andrea N. Gonzalez, Ariana G. Gonzalez, Melanie A. Granado, Andrea Guevara, Maika S. Hammaker, Lynda S. Haynes-Gonzalez, Sofia A. Hernandez, Alexia A. Ibarra, Laura A. Janney, Texas A. Jones, Jayda T. King, Jenny Lam, Christian A. Laurel, Landon R. Laurel, Alvin L. Lawson, Molly A. Lazo, Claudia Leon, Citlali S. Lopez, Isac Lopez Uribe, Sarah G. Lucio, Heather R. Lynch Guerrero, Gabriel P. Maldonado, Juan I. Marquez Jr., Nicole L. Martin, Maddison Y. Martinez, Michael T. Mende, Christian R. Molina, Miguel A. Munguia Jr., Jazmin E. Narvaez, Zachary S. Nava, Phoebe M. Norales de la Rosa, Kaelub L. Olivares, Claudia Y. Ortiz, Caitlin R. Paz, Ailoni N. Pena, Erik D. Perez Lara, Damian J. Quiroga, Bethany L. Ramon, Brandon J. Rangel, Luis G. Reyna, Ashley L. Rivers, Lily M. Rodriguez, Brenda E. Saavedra, Alexis J. Saldana, Aracely A. Salinas, Michelle M. Sanchez, Noah E. Sanchez, Clarissa A. Schuermann, Justin Schwerdtfeger, Edward R. Sircy, Emma Z. Torres, Sarah B. Urbanovsky, Chloe E. Valdez, Irene T. Vargas, Jesse N. Vasquez, Charles C. Vela, Janessa A. Vela, Apolinario G. Villarreal, Veronica Y. Villarreal, Noah A. Villegas, Jesse M. Yabut and Taylor J. Young
Grads Listening to Keynote Address_Spring 2024 Commencement
DIVISION OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, AND KINESIOLOGY AND EDUCATION
COMPUTER SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
Associate in Science
Robin R. Bessonett, Fernando A. Flores, Richard L. Gidrey III, Samuel J. Gutierrez, Tran V. Le, Jorge R. Mateo Zenon, Brittany A. Mounce, John J. Olguin, Aurora N. Raygoza, Dillinger G. Siadak and Joshua D. Summerford
Associate in Applied Science
Justin D. Avalos, Jazmine C. Benitez, Ernesto J. Constante Jr., Damon M. Gutierrez, Harold O. Igwe, Jahmil N. Reyes, Gregorio C. Rodriguez Jr., Ricardo J. Sandoval and Blaine T. Trim
Certificate
Justin D. Avalos, Jazmine C. Benitez, Ernesto J. Constante Jr., Theodore P. Donna, Damon M. Gutierrez, Jonah C. Hamilton, Harold O. Igwe, Jahmil N. Reyes, Gregorio C. Rodriguez Jr., Ricardo J. Sandoval and Blaine T. Trim
Occupational Skills Award
Robin R. Bessonett, Noah C. Cantu, Carlos C. Carmona, Theodore P. Donna and Jonah C. Hamilton
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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. 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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.
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- 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.”
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