TSTC Foundation Annual Report 2020 - 2021
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SOUTH TEXAS<br />
Year in Review<br />
<strong>TSTC</strong> in Harlingen<br />
Undeterred by the global pandemic, Harlingen students<br />
persisted due to the generosity of their community.<br />
Cledia Hernandez, associate vice chancellor for External<br />
Relations and Workforce Development, witnessed layoffs<br />
causing an upsurge in students coming back to college in need<br />
of a degree for a higher-paying, more essential career.<br />
Gifts from community organizations empowered students to<br />
reshape the course of their lives, with that investment coming<br />
full circle.<br />
“In order for them to make that shift, it really put a strain on<br />
their situation at home,” Hernandez said. “The community came<br />
together to provide support and help remove obstacles for our<br />
students. These donations truly made it possible for them to<br />
actually take that leap of faith and come back to school.”<br />
Three local organizations were among those donors that made<br />
a meaningful and lasting impression on students’ lives at <strong>TSTC</strong><br />
during the challenges of this past year.<br />
The American Electric Power (AEP) <strong>Foundation</strong> supported<br />
<strong>TSTC</strong>’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program with a<br />
$300,000 gift, funding 75 student scholarships and program<br />
equipment essentials. This partnership complemented the<br />
launch of the new Electrical Lineworker Program in Harlingen.<br />
The San Benito Industrial <strong>Foundation</strong> Inc. gave $75,000 to<br />
benefit San Benito residents and San Benito CISD students<br />
wanting to attend <strong>TSTC</strong>. The gift provides tuition, as well as<br />
course materials, uniforms and testing fees that can be a<br />
challenge for students without discretionary funds.<br />
“Scholarships for our San Benito residents attending <strong>TSTC</strong><br />
have a direct impact on our citizens,” said San Benito Industrial<br />
<strong>Foundation</strong> Vice President Ben Fry. “Education provides a<br />
markedly higher lifetime income, benefiting the student and the<br />
city in which they live in countless ways.”<br />
The Arthur & Leona Everson Scholarship Endowment was<br />
created with an estate gift of $714,332. The endowment<br />
benefits new and current students on Harlingen’s campus,<br />
no matter the program pursued. The award can be applied to<br />
tuition, books, travel, clothing, and room and board anything a<br />
student might need to be successful.<br />
Every gift helps, especially in removing barriers that could keep<br />
a student from attending classes.<br />
“The <strong>TSTC</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong>, with generous donations received<br />
during the last year, was able to help students stay enrolled and<br />
complete their certificates or degrees,”said Richard Mesquias,<br />
The <strong>TSTC</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong>’s senior field development officer for<br />
Harlingen.<br />
Mesquias added that the gifts were particularly impactful for<br />
students whose hours at work were cut due to the pandemic.<br />
Having the added support relieved related pressure and<br />
enabled them to focus more on their studies.<br />
4,960<br />
TOTAL NUMBER OF<br />
STUDENTS ENROLLED<br />
462<br />
TOTAL NUMBER OF<br />
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED<br />
735 $226,312<br />
TOTAL NUMBER<br />
OF GRADUATES<br />
TOTAL AMOUNT OF<br />
SCHOLARSHIPS<br />
AWARDED<br />
The AEP<br />
<strong>Foundation</strong> is<br />
proud to support<br />
<strong>TSTC</strong> and its<br />
lineworker<br />
training program<br />
because it<br />
prepares students<br />
for a highly<br />
skilled industry<br />
and teaches the<br />
importance of<br />
safety, which is<br />
our highest value.<br />
JUDITH TALAVERA,<br />
PRESIDENT AND COO<br />
AEP TEXAS<br />
28 <strong>TSTC</strong>FOUNDATION.COM<br />
Certified enrollment data displayed. Operational data displayed for number of graduates.