TSTC Foundation Annual Report 2020 - 2021

SOUTH TEXAS
Year in Review
TSTC in Harlingen
Undeterred by the global pandemic, Harlingen students
persisted due to the generosity of their community.
Cledia Hernandez, associate vice chancellor for External
Relations and Workforce Development, witnessed layoffs
causing an upsurge in students coming back to college in need
of a degree for a higher-paying, more essential career.
Gifts from community organizations empowered students to
reshape the course of their lives, with that investment coming
full circle.
“In order for them to make that shift, it really put a strain on
their situation at home,” Hernandez said. “The community came
together to provide support and help remove obstacles for our
students. These donations truly made it possible for them to
actually take that leap of faith and come back to school.”
Three local organizations were among those donors that made
a meaningful and lasting impression on students’ lives at TSTC
during the challenges of this past year.
The American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation supported
TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program with a
$300,000 gift, funding 75 student scholarships and program
equipment essentials. This partnership complemented the
launch of the new Electrical Lineworker Program in Harlingen.
The San Benito Industrial Foundation Inc. gave $75,000 to
benefit San Benito residents and San Benito CISD students
wanting to attend TSTC. The gift provides tuition, as well as
course materials, uniforms and testing fees that can be a
challenge for students without discretionary funds.
“Scholarships for our San Benito residents attending TSTC
have a direct impact on our citizens,” said San Benito Industrial
Foundation Vice President Ben Fry. “Education provides a
markedly higher lifetime income, benefiting the student and the
city in which they live in countless ways.”
The Arthur & Leona Everson Scholarship Endowment was
created with an estate gift of $714,332. The endowment
benefits new and current students on Harlingen’s campus,
no matter the program pursued. The award can be applied to
tuition, books, travel, clothing, and room and board anything a
student might need to be successful.
Every gift helps, especially in removing barriers that could keep
a student from attending classes.
“The TSTC Foundation, with generous donations received
during the last year, was able to help students stay enrolled and
complete their certificates or degrees,”said Richard Mesquias,
The TSTC Foundation’s senior field development officer for
Harlingen.
Mesquias added that the gifts were particularly impactful for
students whose hours at work were cut due to the pandemic.
Having the added support relieved related pressure and
enabled them to focus more on their studies.
4,960
TOTAL NUMBER OF
STUDENTS ENROLLED
462
TOTAL NUMBER OF
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED
735 $226,312
TOTAL NUMBER
OF GRADUATES
TOTAL AMOUNT OF
SCHOLARSHIPS
AWARDED
The AEP
Foundation is
proud to support
TSTC and its
lineworker
training program
because it
prepares students
for a highly
skilled industry
and teaches the
importance of
safety, which is
our highest value.
JUDITH TALAVERA,
PRESIDENT AND COO
AEP TEXAS
28 TSTCFOUNDATION.COM
Certified enrollment data displayed. Operational data displayed for number of graduates.