DMC News
- DMC Transportation Training Services Drove The Wall That Heals from Corpus Christi to its next stop in LaredoArticle by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. For those who have visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., the emotional experience is simply unforgettable. But that experience requires a journey that not all Americans are willing or able to make. To help share the healing influence of the memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund commissioned in 1996 the creation of a three-quarter scale replica that is designed to travel to communities all over the country. The 2025 tour kicked off on March 6 in Sebring, Florida, and moved on to Kissimmee, Florida, where it opened on March 13. Corpus Christi was the fourth destination on the memorial’s tour itinerary; it was hosted locally at Veterans Memorial High School from March 27 to March 30. In total, the memorial replica will visit 30 communities this year. The traveling exhibit honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who were killed in action or went missing in Vietnam. The exhibit consists of The Wall replica and the mobile Education Center. Del Mar College’s Transportation Training Services transported the memorial replica exhibit to its next destination – Laredo – on April 1. The entire DMC Public Service Department, including Police Academy and Fire Academy students, along with student veterans and other campus community members lined up the route leading off the Windward Campus to pay tribute to the memorial and see it off as it moved on to its next stop. DMC’s truck was also joined by dozens of law enforcement, motorcyclists, and other vehicles in a parade route that ran through the streets of Laredo. The driver of the DMC truck was Mark Vela, DMC Transportation Training Services Instructor. He is a veteran of the US Marines Corps who served from 2009 to 2013. Fellow DMC trucking instructor Alvin Amador provided logistical support on the way to Laredo and drove the rig back to Windward Campus at the end of the day. For more information about The Wall That Heals, visit www.vvmf.org/The-Wall-That-Heals/.
- 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.
Foghorn News
- Texas farm workers history explored in presentation at Heritage campusTexas Standard digital media producer and Del Mar alumnus Raul Alonzo gave a deep dive into the history of the Texas Farm Workers Union that captivated attendees at the Heritage campus. The event, “Searching for the History of the Texas Farm Workers Union,” sparked an insightful discussion on the role of farm workers in shaping Texas and American society, as well as the labor movement led by figures like Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. Growing up in a family of migrant farm workers, Alonzo held a deep-seated passion for uncovering the often-overlooked history of the union. His research…
- Activism on display at local Women’s MarchMore than 250 participants gathered in Corpus Christi’s Cole Park for the Woman’s March for Equality to express their solidarity and support local activism. The event took place on International Woman’s Day, March 8, and was organized by local advocate Ellison Powers Rhea. Organizers counted 270 participants, including District 2 City Council Member Sylvia Campos. Campos emphasized the importance of standing in solidarity with younger generations in the fight against equality by showing up and speaking out. “You’re not alone, and you’re not crazy. There’s other’s that think just like we do,” said Campos on defending women’s right to…