The South Texan Vol. 97 Issue 13

TheSouthTexan.com

Texas A&M University-Kingsville Award-Winning Student Publication

Hernandez wears many crowns

Alumnus, journalist, pageant queen, philanthropist

Sydney Hernandez, a 2015 Javelina graduate, has lived her life by embracing the quote, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

Sydney has become a well-known reporter in the Rio Grande Valley, founded her own non-profit and created a scholarship to assist aspiring communication and journalism majors with financial hardships while in their college career. Additionally, Sydney is a queen.

One of her most recent accomplishments was competing on the path to compete for Miss Texas International locally in the Rio Grande Valley. She competed in Arlington, Texas, in early March and was crowned Miss Texas International 2023.

“I wanted to go to represent the Valley. I think to be able to put into perspective and be that change that a Hispanic from the Valley can make it,” Hernandez said. “I just wanted to put the Valley on the map, and it went a lot further than

anticipated.”

She previously held the title of Miss Rio Grande Valley International 2023. During that period, she wore the sash across her chest with a mindset to contribute to her community through service and the donation of her time wherever it was needed, a task she is familiar with thanks to her profession.

Sydney knew that to be able to compete at a state level pageant, she must have community service, be a well-known member of her community and have a strong social media presence, no problem since all those qualifications are just a normal part of her life.

As soon as college graduation concluded, she went straight into the communication industry and took a job in Waco, Texas, at KWKT- FOX 44 News for two years. She is originally from Palm View, Texas, so when she got a job offer from the Rio Grande Valley, she took it. In January 2017, Sydney began working at Channel 23 News in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) close to her roots.

“She fits the mold of what this business needs. She is positive, passionate, collected, driven and ultimately I am really proud to work with her,” CBS 4 News Rio Grande Valley News Producer Kayla Peterman said.

Sydney began working as the evening news an-

WWII era explosives found on university property

WWII explosives were found at Site 55.

Site 55 is a 140-acre research station area owned by the university located 25 miles away in Baffin Bay.

Ronni Reyna | Editor-in-Chief chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com

On April 6, Texas A&M University Kingsville (TAMUK) released a statement to students, faculty and staff informing them that dozens of alleged

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New grant to help Javelinas with childcare

Grant open to assist parents on campus

Many students on campus may experience the struggles of taking care of their children while attending college. Between childcare costs, maintaining grades, working and parenting, many students struggle to finish their degree and graduate college.

Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), which is a federally funded program, aims to combat this issue at TAMUK by providing the TAMUK CCAMPIS grant to students who are parents and meet certain criteria. The grant was created to provide students the tools and resources necessary to allow them to earn their degree successfully.

According to TAMUK’s Marketing and Communications Department, the explosives were found by the Kleberg County Volunteer Fire Department.

“Currently, assessment of the area continues and there is no timeline for

when the area will be reopened,” Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Adriana Garza-Flores said.

Responding authorities to the WWII explosives included the Kleberg County Sheriff Department, the University Police Department, Kleberg County’s Volunteer Fire Department, Corpus Christi Police Department

Along with the grant, the CCAMPIS Program also offers other services such as tutoring assistance, parent workshops along with advisement for financial aid and graduate programs, according to information provided by TAMUK.

“I think it’s a great opportunity especially if you have younger kids who aren’t school age. This gives them an opportunity to know that, one, their child is safe and that they are taken care of while in class. This also gives them the

See Parents grant, Pg 6

Grant to help first-gen students

Foundation to give full-ride scholarships

Texas A&M University Kingsville (TAMUK) announced a $1.4 million grant received from the Hector and Gloria Lopez Foundation (HGLF), on April 5 as part of a celebration of higher education.

Fifteen first generation Latino students, selected at random, will be awarded with the grant, and followed by the foundation for five years.

Students receiving the grant will be given full rides to the university and access to housing, study abroad programs, paid internships, tutoring and mentors throughout their

time in college.

“We’re going to follow them for five years with every support that we can possibly help them with, and we know that the university is the correct partner to help us,” Foundation CEO and nephew to Hector and Gloria Lopez, Sergio Rodríguez, said.

The HGLF also announced partnerships with four other universitiesTexas A&M International, Texas State University, St. Edward’s University and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

“We’re a brand-new private foundation, this is our second year, and this our first full year of grant making, but we anticipate that our partners are strong and intentional in the way they serve students,” Rodríguez said.

The partnerships come

after Texas’ 30x60 plan, which calls for 60 percent of Texas’ working-age class to receive either degrees or postsecondary credentials before 2030. According to the foundation, in order to reach this goal at least 285,000 Latino students

must complete a degree or certificate each year.

“My aunt and uncle growing up or living in Alice as they did for so many years, they really wanted to see Latinos go to college, what they saw in Alice was really the beginnings

of something that applies here, that they wanted to change across the state, so we are 100 percent dedicated to higher education opportunity for Latinos here in Texas, and I don’t think there’s another foundation

Photo by Briana Beltran

(Left to right) Mayor Sam Fugate, Jim Wells County Judge Pedro “Pete” Trevino, Jr., freshman Sophia Yzaguirre, Sergio Rodríguez, President Dr. Robert Vela Jr., Brad Walker and Dr. Rito Silva, pictured with a Javelina statue gifted to Sergio Rodíguez.

Submitted Photo

Sydney’s outfit for the “Best Fun Fashion” category.

Abigayle Hayden | Senior Reporter

Ronni Reyna | Editor-in-Chief chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com

See Site 55, Pg 6

See Hernandez, Pg 6

Submitted Photo

Sydney interviewed former U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott at the first portion of the border wall built in McAllen, Texas.

Google Maps picture of Site 55 location

Emeri Drewry | Reporter

Conversations about consent

Attendees gathered for pizza, prizes, conversations about consent

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Karey Barnes, the director of Student Conduct and Community Standards, led a discussion on consent on April 11.

Change kids health, change the future

Students raise over 15K at annual dance marathon

Black signs flipped through the air dis playing the total raised. Students clapped and cheered, cried and hugged and the individu al signs revealed a grand total of $15,871.62 raised during this year’s Dance Marathon.

Student organizations from around campus gathered together to celebrate the annual Dance Marathon event after a year-long fundraising push, with a day of dance on Saturday, April 1, in the MSUB ballrooms.

“Dance Marathon is a philanthropic movement that is actually two semesters long, so all year long. And we are constantly raising money for Driscoll Children’s Hospital and it goes to the families because they actually did not pay any bills or any type of medical expenses if their child is there at Driscoll Children’s Hospital,” Executive Director for Dance Marathon Danielle Martinez said.

Martinez said she has close ties with family and Driscoll Children’s Hospital, a reason she felt close to the event.

“This is something that I completely relate to, and being a part of it has changed my life so much.

What I’m mostly passionate about, which might sound silly because we all say it, is the kids…. knowing that we’re the reason that that change is happening, and we need

Each year the event hosts Miracle Families - families and children being treated at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. They attend the event and await the reveal with students. This year’s miracle family was the Martinez family.

John J was born in Jacksonville, N.C., and had a stroke at birth. He was life-flighted to a hospital two hours away. He has been a patient at Driscoll Children’s Hospital since he was six months old.

The hospital has helped him manage his seizures, epilepsy and scoliosis, and he has also undergone several surgeries performed at the hospital.

“It’s been such a great experience, raising John J. We always question what is he going to be able to do? Where is he going to be able to do stuff? And a college experience is something I’ve always wanted him to have, and I didn’t know how possible it would be, but this [Dance Marathon] comes super close for him. To be able to be at a college and experience what it is for y’all to gather as a community and do wonderful things for people who aren’t even a part of your wonderful community,”

Monica Martinez said her favorite thing about Driscoll Children’s Hospital is that everyone feels like family.

John J is in the process of learning to walk with the goal of walking across the stage at his high school graduation. His favorite part of the event was dancing.

At each Dance Marathon event students learn the “morale dance.” This year the dance was taught and choreographed by Director of Dancer Relations Pily Stevens.

“This is something that’s bigger than ourselves, it’s not just us, it’s not just our community it’s everybody. People come from the Valley, people come from San Antonio, just to go to this hospital in Corpus, so we should give to those people so that we can help,” Stevens said.

Stevens, along with her morale committee, aimed at keeping the event lively, led the line dance and kept morale up throughout the event. She encourages students to get involved with the event.

For more information on Dance Marathon or to learn how to get involved visit (https://www.tamuk. edu/greeks/dancemarathon/ index.html.

of consent.

“I grew up in the Valley, and many men came from machismo backgrounds that set up expectations that women must tend to their male partners’ every need. Men expect women to prepare meals and put out,” Jane Doe* said.

The media has also played its part in influencing society and how people respect the concept of consent.

from students on campus. I hope we can eventually include their perspective in this conversation,” Barnes said.

Tasha Ann Clark, Title IX coordinator, informed attendees of the statistics of sexual assault cases in the LGBTQIA+ Community.

“LGBT people are four times more likely to experience violence than their straight counterparts,” Clark said.

Barnes arranged several chairs in a circle and placed a carpet with a few items in the middle; attendees then sat in a chair surrounding the various objects. Participants could choose which object they identified with most as a talking stick to give everyone a chance to speak without interruption. Barnes provided a safe environment for students and attendees to share their personal stories involving consent and coercion. An individual shared their insight on how Hispanic culture has altered people’s idea

“There is this popular TikTok trend where mostly heterosexual couples participate in. The video is usually recorded at a restaurant after the two have eaten dinner, and then the man receives the bill and is presented with the option to split the bill or pay the full amount. Then the man asks his female partner if she plans to have sex with him,”

Jane Doe* said.

The TikTok trend implies that engaging in sexual activity can be used as a payment method.

“I wish we could have more male participation

The Purple Door also attended the event to speak about the services they provide for survivors of sexual assault and violence. Services included are hospital accompaniment during a Medical Forensic Exam, safety planning, transportation to a safe shelter and referrals to community resources.

If you or someone you know is seeking help, please call the 24-hour crisis hotline at 361-881-8888 or 1-800-580-4878 (HURT).

*Names have been changed to protect victims’ privacy.

Ronni Reyna chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Briana Beltran| Reporter

Photo by Ronni Reyna

Members of the Dance Marathon Executive Board, (L to R) Pily Stevens, Skylar Farrel, Erin McClure, Danielle Martinez, Ana Vela, Jannet Flores and Joshua Macareno with John J (center).

Photo by Ronni Reyna

Monica Martinez high-fives her son John J as they dance.

Review: A classic slasher series cuts its way into theaters

A horror movie created to make you Scream

The “Scream” movie franchise is one of the most popular slasher movie collections of all time.

The newest edition to the franchise, “Scream 6,” was recently released and made its production budget back within opening weekend which is well deserved.

This movie encapsulated nostalgia and suspense with its storyline and cast.

It follows the Carpenter sisters and their friends, the four survivors of the last Ghostface attack, on their journey to New York City.

The characters learn throughout the movie the rules that they need to follow to survive these attacks and catch the killers. It creates an interesting tension between them and their new group of friends.

The three new characters stick out as soon as the killings start but all suspicions about them being the killers get thrown out the door quickly, which makes it even more confusing.

With each attack an old Ghostface mask is left at every scene.

It makes viewers feel included because we can put memories together from past movies to figure out the new killers.

The well-loved character, Kirby, who was thought to be killed in “Scream 4,” comes back

as an FBI agent on their case and reveals she has spent the last couple of years studying past cases.

This brings up bittersweet memories of the old characters.

The gore was very intense in this addition to the franchise so there were times that I had to look away.

Some situations became so stressful and painful that I felt like I was in them.

It was also hard to see Gale, an original character who has survived every single movie, almost get killed.

Several fans were also not too happy with the main character herself, Sydney, not making an appearance but it felt like a well-deserved ending

to her story since they mention that she is living a peaceful life with her family.

It also allowed for the two main Latina characters to have their spotlight as talented actresses who represent my culture.

The ending took a twisted turn with Sam following in the footsteps of her father Billy, one of the first killers.

The scene of her stabbing the killers with her father’s knife while wearing the Ghostface costume was such a triumphant moment for her because she battled that side of herself for so long.

She finally embraced it to her advantage which made for a well-suited ending with the “core four” surviving.

Review: Ninja Mochi Donut, a mouthful of food

Warning: Food review may cause

hunger

BrianaBeltran| Contributing Writer

Ninja Mochi Donut Shop serves up Korean corndogs, boba tea and mochi donuts in the Corpus Christi area.

After hearing a friend rave about this donut shop for days on end, I decided to give it a shot.

Ninja Mochi Donut is a dessert shop in Corpus Christi, Texas, and is now my favorite donut spot.

I will admit I am not a fan of donuts as they are usually greasy and lack flavor but this was not the case for Ninja Mochi Donuts.

While they change their donut selection weekly, they have a few flavors that are always available: churro, glazed and chocolate cookie. I purchased a box of the three classic flavors.

my favorite since it does not have an overwhelming taste of cinnamon and it is well-balanced on the sweetness scale.

Priced at $2.79, these donuts have become their most popular item. For the next item, I completely disregarded my lactose intolerance because I just had to try the famous Korean corndog.

It was worth every penny and provided an “Instagram worthy” experience.

The donuts are baked with a unique mochi flour that creates a crispy crust that melts in your mouth; the inside of the donut is chewy but in the best way possible. The churro option is

These corndogs are unlike your traditional sausage and pancake batter county fair corndogs.

Ninja Mochi’s Korean corndogs are made with homemade batter and mozzarella cheese.

You can choose your toppings; they have Takis, Hot Cheetos, potatoes, and ramen noodles.

I played it safe with the potatoes as my topping and I was pleasantly surprised at the crisp surface of the potatoes.

The corndog was crunchy and successfully provided the satisfying, iconic cheese pull.

While I was there, I decided to pair the Korean corndog with the milk tea boba. The drinks cost an average of $6, which is quite reasonable.

I went with the Thai Boba as my first drink, which was rich and creamy. I am not a fan of boba, but I found this drink tolerable.

I have heard good things about matcha, so I chose this as my second option.

I have yet to experience a grain-free drink that doesn’t taste like grass. I was hoping Ninja Mochi Donut would accomplish this, but they did not.

The atmosphere is very relaxing and full of Korean pop culture along with their eye catching Naruto art.

Although Ninja Mochi Donut is located in Corpus Christi, I highly recommend the dessert shop and it is 100% worth the drive.

How to Adult: Job hunting to support yourself and your future

Looking for work that works for you

It can feel tremendously difficult to find a job. Even more so if you’re trying to find work that appeals to you and your skillset directly but it can be done (sometimes that job you want may find you instead).

All it requires is some perseverance and knowing what to look for.

However, you should know that it’s okay to settle for a job that you didn’t want.

Sometimes you just need to work so you can afford to keep living comfortably and doing things

you like.

Before you come to terms with that, first you’ll need to find out where you can look for jobs.

Nowadays there’s plenty of online resources for you to set up your resume and portfolio which makes it easier for companies to gauge what you’re capable of.

Some popular job sites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed will be essential tools for looking for local and distant work (Google is also surprisingly robust if you want to search straight from there).

There’s one site in particular that’s useful for students, Handshake, since it can help you find jobs within the university.

Some jobs under the university (student work-

ers) require you to be a student, but those positions come with the benefit of working with and around your class schedule. They might not be what you’re looking for but they’re definitely something worth considering if you have cramped semesters.

When looking for jobs, you don’t need to specifically hunt through sites since you can pick up some job opportunities through people you’ve made connections with.

There could be the chance that a friend, family member or even your professor will have some work that you never even considered.

After you’ve looked through and exhausted the options you have available to you, all you need to do is start applying for everything.

Unless you’re com-

pletely unqualified for a job (such as not meeting degree and experience requirements) you shouldn’t be afraid to apply.

It may seem daunting but you should trust your abilities and cast aside any self-doubt that you might have.

A job that you’re qualified for could seem complicated at first but you’ll be surprised at how much work you can

handle.

Once you’ve applied for everything you reasonably could all you need to do is wait until an employer contacts you to begin the interview and assessment process.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back quickly if at all. Just be sure to keep trying (assuming the position is open).

Hopefully you’ve also applied for jobs that

you aren’t interested in because it’s important to have something you can fall back on if things don’t go as expected. If the only job you get is a position for something you’re not invested in, then take that time working to further improve and acquire new skills.

There’s nothing stopping you from continuing your job hunt for something better than what you get.

Image

Photos by Abigayle Hayden

JessicaTijerina| Photographer

FrankVillarreal| Entertainment Editor entertainment.editor @thesouthtexan.com

Our Opinion

Abbott seeks to pardon convicted murderer

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has stood by Texas and its reputation for being the strongest “Stand Your Ground” state in the country. The “Stand Your Ground” law in Texas was put in place for individuals to protect themselves from danger, when they feel as if their life is being threatened, with the use of a weapon. This law allows people to protect themselves in a dangerous situation that can occur in any setting, allowing no limits to the individual’s location. The individual must be able to prove that they were in danger, and they used a weapon for their own safety.

U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry was recently convicted of murder for shooting Garrett Foster, a Black Lives Matter protester, on July 25, 2020, in what eyewitnesses’ claim was not an act of self-defense. Foster and Perry were both legally carrying firearms at the time and after Perry was driving recklessly at a rally in Austin, Foster approached the vehicle which prompted Perry to fatally shoot Foster. Eyewitnesses say that Foster did not raise his weapon and Perry claimed he had no choice.

After the April 7 conviction of Perry, Abbott began discussing his pardon no less than 24 hours later despite witness reports saying his gun was drawn unnecessarily. Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza called the Governor’s involvement of this case “deeply troubling,” and we agree.

Abbott had not made a single comment on the case until recently and now is attempting to pardon Perry for what looks like no legitimate reason other than his own beliefs. Gov. Abbott is wrong to attempt to pardon this man as this seems to be a clear murder case and the act of self-defense and standing your ground are not applicable in this incident either. Perry should not be pardoned and should serve his potential life sentence for the murder of Garrett Foster.

An attorney for Foster’s widow says Abbott’s request is “unprecedented.” His decision to involve himself in this case seems based off his personal belief on gun safety and the right to bear arms despite Perry clearly shooting Foster without cause at a peaceful protest rally in Austin while Foster was pushing his wife in her wheelchair. Now, due to the careless actions taken by Perry, Foster leaves behind his wife and family while Abbott seeks to wrongfully pardon a man based on his personal ideals and political bias as he does so often.

The benefits of video games

Video games have often been referred to as a waste of time, immature or unsophisticated in the eyes of many individuals. However, others differ from this ideology, saying that video games have brought them peace at one time or another in their childhood and now in their current adult life. Giving them the opportunity to acquire some skills that might have been previously a chal-

Mariana Soria Contributing Writer

Beauty

lenge in their day in life. Video games started since 1958, with the game Tennis for Two being the first game created, since then we have had millions of other games created for different purposes.

While there are games that require you to move your body to play such as “Just Dance”, many others also have time responses according to the story being played before you, like Spider-Man PS4, some games are on a PC rather than on a hand-controlled console, an example of this is the popular 2011 game Minecraft.

These may seem like

ordinary games in this day and age, but they are actually teaching children and adults how to make quick decisions, handeye coordination, spatial navigation, reasoning, and improve their memory and perception.

Simple skills a child may need help developing can be done with a simple game, quicker decision making for an adult can be improved by a challenging role-playing game. Skills are not the only thing games have to offer, however.

Small simple games that can be found on your phone can possess the ability to calm you down

and relax your mind if you have been over-exercising your brain and need a quick five-minute rest. Games like Angry Birds, Subway Surfers or Idle games are the more popular choice. These days you can find that video games are all around and although many individuals may think it a waste of time there are actually many benefits in the background helping many people interact with others or in their current jobs. Regardless of their age and game, people have the chance to learn something new with each game they play.

Briana Beltran Circulation Manager

As a female, I always heard, “Beauty is pain.” This stood as a reminder to me that if I wanted a slimmer waist, I had to endure the physical pain of exercising; today, the old saying has a different meaning to me.

In 2021, Humane Society International created a campaign, “Save

Ralph.” They introduced the campaign to consumers using an empathetic story of a tester rabbit, Ralph. While Ralph is just a stock-motion animation, he shows the audience what happens during animal testing. Many would assume animal testing is applying eyeshadow to the eyelids of an animal; unfortunately, that is not the case. The suffering begins when animals are bred inside the facilities; once they are of age, their eyes are injected with chemicals as part of the Draize eye irritancy test, and the

fur off their backs is then aggressively shaved off in preparation for chemicals to be poured onto their raw skin. This is only the process for small animals such as rabbits; worse is to come for larger animals such as dogs.

Beauty products are not the only items that invite the allowance of torturing animals; pesticides are the second most common. Humane Society International says 10,000 animals die for every new pesticide tested.

The fact that this is legal in the United States is unacceptable; animals

deserve love, not torture. I highly encourage you to watch the video if you are not convinced. If you want to make a change, check the product labels before you put it in your basket. Don’t just look for the words “cruelty-free.” Find the official leaping bunny logo, and when in doubt, do a quick Google search. PETA has a list of brands that still test on animals. Encourage an open conversation with your family, friends and peers on why “No animal should suffer and die in the name of beauty.”

Letter to the editor

In the United States of America, we have the first Amendment of the US constitution which protects freedom of speech however, that sadly was not the case for former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines.

For context about what happened, in March of 2022 Riley Gaines, competed in the NCAA Women’s 500-yard Freestyle championship against Lia Thomas, a Transgender woman (Former Biological man) who once com-

peted in the men’s category. Lia and Riley ended in a tie for 5th place with Lia keeping the trophy.

After that, Riley was very outspoke about her experience saying that she was forced to share the Women’s locker room with Lia and not being told earlier about it and feeling uncomfortable and, feeling like the NCAA threw Title IX out the door.

Fast forward to April 6th, 2023, Turing Point USA hosted her to speak

STAFF

Ronni Reyna Editor-in-Chief chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Melissa Mata Managing Editor managing.editor@thesouthtexan.com

at San Francisco State University about her reason on “Why Biological men cannot compete in Women’s sports”.

However, when she was speaking, protestors began to get up at her that, she had to be put in a temporary dorm for 4hrs, then extorted out by police with protestors calling her “Transphobic”.

You may not agree with Riley Gaines viewpoints, but that does not mean you should shout

Dylan Sanchez Opinion Editor opinion.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Dominic Valdez

Asistant Digital Manager

Abigayle Hayden Senior Reporter

and invalidate her. She has the same freedom of speech as everyone else has in this country, where instead of letting people speak freely, it has become a selection of free speech.

As a country we need to do better about free speech, and that is why Riley Gaines voice also matters.

-Submitted by TAMUK student Amado Moreno

Nicole Perez Morris Adviser nicole.morris@tamuk.edu

inquiries,

The South Texan is a student publication produced by Texas A&M University- Kingsville students. The views, opinions and commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas A&M University system. The South Texan uses student fees in part to publish. The South Texan is part of the Art, Communications, and Theatre Department (ACT) and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA).

Laryssa Salinas Campus Editor campus.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Zena Desouza

Chris Olivarez Co-Sports Editors sports.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Frank Villarreal Entertainment Editor entertainment.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Mireya Martinez

Jessica Tijerina Photographers

Mackenzie Best

Social Media Manager

Briana Beltran

Circulation Manager

Aryssa Enriquez

Assistant General Manager Student Media aryssa.enriquez@tamuk.edu

@thesouthtexan.com or call (361) 593-4370.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom

speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.”

is pain but it doesn’t have to be theirs

Carr makes Javelina softball history

Claims LSC hitter of the week

In an up and down season for the Javelina softball team, there have been many high notes from season sweeps to individual performances. This time around it is an individual player who not only shined but achieved something great in the process.

Breanna Carr was one of many bright spots for the Javelinas in their recent 9-0 shutout victory against UTPB.

In this game she became the first Javelina to hit for the cycle and help

elevate the team and showed what she was truly capable of doing.

“Years of practice and I’ve been playing this sport for a really long time and I think just being able to perfect my craft was what helped me achieve this goal,”

Carr said.

Carr is now among the many who are record holders here at TAMUK.

“It’s very exciting; never did I think I’d be a part of history here and it’s really exciting,” she said. With this achievement as well as earning the LSC hitter of the week, Carr sets her sights on what the rest of the season has in store for her and the team.

Interim head coach Orlando Salinas is very pleased with Carr.

“For one she is one of our hardest workers and she is a prime example of hard work pays off. She’s been in this program for a while. Her first two years she didn’t play a whole lot but she continued to work and to see it come to fruition is awesome,” Coach Salinas said.

With her performance, Coach Salinas sees Carr taking on a leadership role on the team.

“It’s amazing what confidence does for a player, and you can see how it had lit a light bulb in her where she now wants more and it’s turning into a leadership and with the way she performs you can see other girls follow in her direction,” Salinas said.

Carr’s performance included a “home run

Cheer brings home gold from Florida

With the team finding out in February that they would be traveling and competing in the competition they had nothing but high hopes of making the best of it and to come back with the gold.

and triple in the third inning, a double in the fifth inning, and going 4-4,” per Javelina

Athletics.

In the wake of this stellar performance by Carr and the Javelina softball

team,

April 21.

Influxer signs agreement with Javelina athletes

The Javelina cheer team recently returned from Daytona, Fla., where they competed in their first national competition in 20 years and came back with great accomplishments.

The Javelina cheer team placed third overall in the Division II Spirit Rally Division and were awarded with a trophy.

“It was definitely a little intimidating walking in. The teams around us had way more experience than we did. We just had to shake off the jitters because there was no time for that, we had to pull ourselves together and get that win.

And we did, we placed top three,” Senior Lauren Rodriguez said.

“We haven’t been to NCA or UCA nationals in years and this was the first time we ever placed in top three and brought some hardware home so just placing was huge for us but it was also productive for us,” Head Cheer Coach Molly Roach said.

“We really had the opportunity to dream on what we want this program to be and the legacy we want to have to become better in years to come.” The Javelinas kept their spirits high, voices loud and smiles bright so the judges could see that they went there to win.

“The competition was something else, it’s one of the biggest cheer competitions in the world.

We saw schools from all over. There were teams from Hawaii, Louisiana, and many different schools from Texas,” Co-Captain Anyssa Flores said. “It felt amazing to be there, especially getting the trophy and bringing it back to Javelina nation.” Overwhelmed with shaky emotions and joy during the competition, the Javelinas still managed to climb their way to success and show all their fans their hard work.

“It felt amazing. Not only did we show the Kingsville community how good we are but we proved to our coach that we wanted to do this not only for us but for her as well,” Rodriguez said. “I felt like we made our mark and the legacy will continue on as long as TAMUK cheer is successful as it is.” Moving forward they now prepare for the fall football season and all the excitement to come with it.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville has officially integrated their athletes getting paid along with the experience of playing a sport here at the university. The sports merchandise company Influxer came to speak to the student-athletes about NIL deals this spring and now, dozens of Javelinas have signed to Influxer, being the first Division II school to partner with the company.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that there’s possible financial opportunities that come with the hard work and intense schedule of being a student athlete,” All-Conference running back Christian Anderson said. “I think it’s a good thing and I’m glad things like this are becoming more common and giving athletes like myself another possible stepping stone.”

The deal with Influxer is an agreement that requires little to no work on all parties involved, campus, Influxer and student-athletes. It is also one of the few NIL

deals in which international student-athletes can participate and not jeopardize their F-1 status because of the income obtained from the merchandise sales they are considered passive.

“Influxer works with the campus to obtain the appropriate licensing for marks and logos,” Director of Compliance Hanna Lantz said. “Once that was obtained, we have our student-athletes sign a contract with Influxer to essentially obtain merchandising rights, the student-athletes can work with the company to design their gear and then advertise it on social media.”

Influxer takes care of the merchandise agreement, production, shipping of the gear; doing all the heavy lifting, so that student-athletes can focus on school and sports.

Collegiate players across the country have signed these deals and have earned thousands, some millions, of dollars for their name, image and likeness. These deals were brought into play in July 2021 when the NCAA saw fit to allow athletes to have this opportunity to earn money as they play for the university of his or her choice. Now with TAMUK offering these same opportunities as other Division I programs, it gives the athletes a chance to leave college with more than nothing to their name.

“We see this as a great opportunity for our student athletes,” Athletic Director Steven Roach sasid. “We are happy as an institution that they will have the opportunity to pursue these agreements if they choose to during their time here.”

the Javelinas hit the road and head out to take on Oklahoma Christian on

Photo by Javelina Athletics

Breanna Carr enjoying a good game against UTPB.

Photo by Melissa Mata

Submitted by Javelina Cheerleading

Javelina Cheer team celebrating their accomplishment.

Photo

chor at CBS 4 News in the RGV in 2022. During her time at CBS 4 she has been an Emmy nominee three times. The work that was nominated showcased her border coverage that told the story of Border Patrol agents and the migrant perspective. That story also won the 2019 Texas Associated Press award for Specialty in Beat Reporting.

“Other people get to see the reality of the border and that is what is important to me,” Hernandez said. “The work that these men and women do is no joke, and I was able to show that and people noticed because it was awarded.”

Sydney has worked in her spare time to create platforms for change in her community. The Sydney Hernandez Foundation was founded in 2021 with the objective to give back to aspiring communication/journalism students

support that they need to be able to come onto campus to use the stuff like the writing lab and the math lab and all the other activates that the campus and the school does provide,”

Melissa Mccready-Kent, a mother and student here at TAMUK, said.

Though her child is of school age and wouldn’t need the program, if he was younger Mccready said this would have been a great resource to get her back to campus, knowing her child was in a safe en-

through the creation of a scholarship program.

Sydney is the chief executive officer of The Sydney Hernandez Foundation Scholarship. She raises funds to award three scholarships to journalism students studying at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley.

Sydney is also the founder of her own non-profit organization, Sydney’s Soldiers, which was founded in 2021. She created this non-profit with the mindset to make an impact in the lives of men and women who serve to protect our country. Sydney ships care packages overseas to provide necessary essentials for the soldiers while on duty.

“Knowing that she had done her research [spoke to the former Miss Texas] and talked to the other contestants and queens was something that really stood out,” Texas International

vironment while in class.

Some goals for the program include allowing student parents access to childcare, academic and financial resources to increase persistence and graduation rates.

One condition to receive the grant is that students must enroll their children at the Marc Cisneros Center for Young Children (MCCYC).

Dr. Marisol Laredo, the director of the MCCYC, described the partnership between the MCCYC with the CCAMPIS Program and how students can benefit from the resources they

Pageant Current Owner and Executive Director Joyce Morrison said. “She has a great social media presence and a good presence in her community, so those were both just another thing that stood out to us that made her a good representative.”

Sydney also won the Best Fitness Award and Best Fun Fashion.

In her spare time, Syd-

will be offered if accepted.

“The CCAMPIS program benefits student-parents at TAMUK because it will provide them with services to meet their needs from the beginning of their enrollment through graduation,” Laredo said. “There are currently 28 spots available for the program.”

Though the program hosts 70 students and 100 early childhood participants eligible for the program, 28 spots remain.

“I think the grant is excellent. It’s very supportive of non-traditional students who have children. I like that it’s willing to accept

ney is an avid 5k,10k, half marathon and marathon runner. Sydney plans to continue her work in the communication industry and helping her community through community service efforts.

Sydney will represent the State of Texas as Miss Texas International by competing at the national pageant in Kingsport, Tenn., in July.

100 applicants and the requirements seem so simple. I know this will help students who are parents that are trying to get a better education for a better life for our children,” TAMUK student and parent Martisha Montemayor said. Visit https://www.tamuk. edu/studentaccess/ccampis. html for eligibility factors and how to apply. For more information on the CCAMPIS Grant or tips on how to complete the application, students are encouraged to contact the Marc Cisneros Center for Young Children via email at mccyc@tamuk. edu or call 361-593-2219.

From Firstt-gen grant, Pg 1

that really does that,” Rodríguez said.

The university is appreciative of this new partnership.

“This is going to be a model that we can all aspire to replicate, to magnify for all students,” TAMUK President Dr. Robert Vela said.

The program will start in the fall of 2023.

“We know how to get stu -

Bomb Disposal Unit and the Texas Department of Emergency Management.

“The Department [of Biology] has conducted research studies in ecology, mammalogy, ornithology, herpetology and ichthyology since the late 1960s [at Site 55],” Department Chair and Associate Professor for the Biology Department Dr. Richard Laughlin said.

There is no current research being done at the site, but the department is looking to increase teaching activity at the site.

“We have between 5060 master’s theses from the department with projects based at Site 55. We have also hosted numerous external collaborators from TAMU-CC, UT-Austin, North Dakota State University, Carleton University, and California Academy of Sciences,” Laughlin said.

dents through the finish line, but this is a whole new way of doing, because it’s no longer ‘let’s just get them through but let’s get you through as a scholar.’ That’s a whole different mindset. That’s the whole commitment and spirit around excellence that we’ve been trying to achieve,” Vela said. The university can reapply for the grant again in the future.

Laughlin said the researchers that have used Site 55 in the last five years have retired, with a hiring process to replace those retirees, to continue research at the 140-acre station.

“We were not surprised. The history of the site first as a naval airstrip, and then as a practice bombing range, is well known in the department,” he said.

Access to Site 55 remains restricted, with no timeline of when Site 55 will re-opened Laughlin hopes there is minimal impact to future research at the site.

“There are ongoing discussions about mitigating the potential danger with appropriate state and federal agencies, taking into account the purpose of Site 55 for teaching, research and outreach,” he concluded.

• Stay on track for graduation.

• If you’re currently receiving Javelina Promise, you must register by June 1 to remain eligible for funding for the fall semester.

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From Site 55, Pg 1

Submitted Photo

Sydney cleans the headstone of Moises Sanchez, a fallen Marine Corp. Veteran and DPS Trooper.