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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
We live in a universe of firsts: ONE first moon walk. ONE inventor of penicillin. ONE woman discovering radium and polonium. ONE artist painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. ONE woman flying solo across the Atlantic. As we look to the future, we see that list of firsts expanding, ushering in discoveries like new stars, new cures, new species and new melodies. And into this universe of firsts comes The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. As we prepare for our first year as UTRGV beginning fall 2015, we know we will be creating a special universe of firsts: Our first class. Our first UTRGV medical residents. Our first research discoveries. Our first space adventures. Our first underwater discoveries. Our first graduates. Those are just a few of the innovations looming for UTRGV as we bring together two beloved legacy institutions – The University of Texas at Brownsville and The University of Texas-Pan American – to create ONE university. We will stand as the inspiration for unlimited advancements for our students, faculty and student-athletes, as well as for our Valley communities from Rio Grande City to South Padre Island. This is our universe, our university.
IT ALL STARTS WITH ONE: UTRGV. 4
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Message from the President This fall, one of the most significant transformations the region has ever experienced will come to fruition. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will open its doors and enroll its first cohort of students with all current students eager to join the Vaquero family. Years of extraordinary leadership, strategic planning and a loyal community laid the framework for UTRGV to become a reality. Because of that commitment to the advancement of higher education in South Texas, our exceptional faculty and staff, and our current leaders across the university and the state, UTRGV is ready for an August 2015 opening, and an August 2016 opening for the School of Medicine. We are building a university that will serve the entire Rio Grande Valley, will integrate general academics with medical education, and will offer students in the Valley the same range of educational opportunities offered by other prestigious universities across the nation. UTRGV’s two legacy institutions – UT Pan American and UT Brownsville – have served the students of the Valley very well, and their legacies have provided a strong foundation for UTRGV. We hope the support of all alumni, donors and friends of our legacy institutions will continue, as we open the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. In March, we sent out our first batch of acceptance letters to UTRGV’s Class of 2019. Students shared their excitement by posting their acceptance letters on social media and truly showcased their Vaquero pride. We hope you will enjoy reading about the significant progress that is under way to provide UTRGV students with a wide range of educational opportunities. A university is only as strong as its students, and with the support of our community, we believe UTRGV soon will rank among the best universities in the state. We Are One regional university, spanning four counties and six locations. Together, We Will create new opportunities for the 21st century.
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
INSIDE
STAFF
Discover how The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is taking shape and meet its founding leaders who are taking higher education in the South Texas region to a new level. Take a look at some of our movers and shakers, students, faculty, alumni and supporters, who are helping create a new university that forever will change lives, access to health care, and the economic landscape of the area.
Patrick M. Gonzales Assistant Vice President for University Marketing and Communications
Marcia Ann Caltabiano-Ponce Director of News and Internal Communications
Melissa Vasquez Publications Editor
Roberto Castro Art Director and Designer
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Learn some fast facts about UTRGV Founding President Guy Bailey.
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Get the 411 on School of Medicine Dean Francisco Fernandez.
Letty Fernandez Director of Media Relations
Kimberly Selber Director of Creative Services and Brand Management
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Centers of Excellence, rocketing UTRGV to success.
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Help name our UTRGV Athletics facilities.
Jennifer Berghom Gail Fagan Letty Fernandez Jennilee Garza Jonah Goldberg Karen Perez Cheryl Taylor Melissa Vasquez Writers
JosuĂŠ Esparza Paul Chouy Photographers
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Read how our alumni are inspiring the future.
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Meet supporters who are moving the university forward.
Contact Us: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley University Marketing and Communications 2102 Treasure Hills Blvd. Harlingen, Texas 78550 Phone: (956) 665-2741 Web: UTRGV.edu
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STUDENT RESEARCH
Three students from UT Brownsville and one from UT Pan American shared their research findings with state lawmakers during “Texas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol.” They were among 67 students representing 57 Texas universities who displayed their poster presentations at the Capitol on March 4.
IRAM LERMA
When they come to UTRGV this fall, they’re going to find that we are a very caring university. We truly, sincerely care about the students’ success. - GRISELDA CASTILLA UTRGV Director of Recruitment and Scholarships
ADMISSION DEADLINES
JULY 1
DEC. 1
FOR FALL
FOR SPRING
MAY 1
JUNE 1
FOR SUMMER I FOR SUMMER II FIRST DAY OF CLASSES:
AUGUST 31, 2015
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has received more than 9,000 applications since October from students eager to join the Vaquero family. Nearly 3,000 students have received acceptance packets. Several students have already taken to Twitter, tweeting pictures of themselves with their acceptance packets using the hashtags #UTRGV and #FirstClass. UTRGV expects to enroll between 3,000 and 3,500 incoming freshmen who will be part of its first freshman class. In March, about 1,000 high school students from across the state and their parents attended two Discover UTRGV open house events – in Brownsville and Edinburg – and got a taste of college life by meeting with faculty members and deans, touring the university’s campuses and participating in a variety of activities. Twin sisters Ivana and Marissa Treviño, both seniors at Harlingen South High School, said they are considering UTRGV because it is
close to home and has good programs in allied health and music, two areas they are passionate about. “I see it as a great opportunity to learn and to grow, and it’s helpful when it comes to the expenses, because we live in Harlingen and we’re twins, so it’s already going to be more expensive and there’s the orchestra program that we really love,” Ivana Treviño said. Griselda Castilla, UTRGV’s director of recruitment and scholarships, said she and fellow UTRGV staff have heard from many students, parents and the local schools about how excited they are for the university’s opening and the opportunities it will provide the Valley. “They’re the first ones of everything,” she said. “The parents that I’ve talked to, they’re very appreciative of everything that UTRGV is going to bring to the Valley.” Castilla said UTRGV is committed to being a student-centered university and is ready to assist its students in achieving their dreams.
Is investigating the characteristics of minimum quantity lubrication applications to enhance their effectiveness in the machining process, tool life extension, surface finish improvement and the reduction of the environmental impact of coolants typically used in machining.
SABRINA HERRERA
Is examining the activation of chemically modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles with visible light to degrade cancer cells. Her experiments may lead to synthesis of new dye molecules that will inflict greater damage to cancer targets with visible or infrared light.
FORREST SHRIVER
Is developing a programmable, real-time Digital Signal Processing system to be used in analysis of signals with frequencies up to 100 MHz. The goal is to implement application-critical tools in a convenient and inexpensive manner, at speeds unavailable through more common methods.
ISAIAH DIAZ
Is researching wavefrequency tolerance, absolute wave-direction independence, and promising irregular-wave responsiveness of wave turbine as wave energy converters of ocean waves to best harness their energy.
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
THE CHOSEN
MEET THE UTRGV PRESIDENT I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to help build our new university, the first major university in Texas in the 21st century. I appreciate the support and tireless work of so many in making this dream a reality for our families, our communities, our state, and our nation.
GUY BAILEY FOUNDING PRESIDENT
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW • Named founding president of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in May 2014. • Earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Alabama and a doctorate in English linguistics from the University of Tennessee. • Has served as president of the University of Alabama. • As president of Texas Tech University, the university met the criteria established by the Texas Legislature for participation in the National Research University Fund; saw its enrollment grow by 3,905 students (14%); saw its research expenditures grow by $89.9 million (170%), and saw its graduation rates increase by five percentage points. • As chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the university completed a $200 million capital campaign. • Was provost and executive vice president at The University of Texas at San Antonio. • He continues to do research on language change and variation and has brought in more than $1 million in external funding for his research.
• His research with his late wife Jan has been featured in
a front-page article in the New York Times, on National Public Radio, on CNN Headline News, on BBC Radio, in Texas Monthly, and in the San Antonio Express News. He is the author of more than 100 articles and books.
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Dr. Diana Dominguez, associate professor in the Department of English at The University of Texas at Brownsville, has been named to The University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers. One of four in the entire system, she will be inducted into the Academy during a ceremony in Austin on April 29. The Academy of Distinguished Teachers recognizes outstanding educators at UT’s nine academic institutions. Members of the Academy serve as a Systemlevel advocacy group dedicated to enhancing teaching, fostering innovation in the classroom and promoting interdisciplinary perspectives on education.
FRAMEWORKS OF SUCCESS Dr. Cristina Villalobos, a President’s Endowed Professor in the Department of Mathematics at UT Pan American, has taken her passion for helping Latino students to pursue STEM (science, technology, education and math) degrees to the national level. As a newly elected member of the Board of Directors of the Society for Advancement of Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Villalobos, director for the UTPA Center of Excellence in STEM Education, hopes to provide more opportunities for Latinos in STEM. “I’m proud to be representing UTPA and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley because we are one of the schools that has a large Latino population,” said Villalobos, interim director for UTRGV’s School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. “I think being part of SACNAS can also shed light nationally on some of the
“I am honored and excited to have been selected to serve as a Fellow of the UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers,” Dominguez said. “It is an ultimate confirmation of what I consider my life’s calling. I am especially honored to know that I am the first and, so far, only representative chosen from the Rio Grande Valley.” Dominguez’s research interests include gender portrayal issues in medieval literature, popular culture, including television and film, and children’s and young adult literature. She currently is working on a book that examines the work of In 2014, L. Frank Baum, who Dominguez wrote three received the UT Board series for teen of Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. To be girls between part of the academy, 1906 and 1919 under members must be past the pseudonym recipients of this honor. Edith Van Dyne.
good things we are doing here at UTPA and UTRGV.” The Donna, Texas native, along with three new SACNAS board members, took office Jan. 1 and will serve a threeyear term ending Dec. 31, 2017. She is the first UTPA faculty member to join the SACNAS board. The organization fosters the success of Hispanic/Chicano and Native American scientists – college students and professionals alike – to attain advanced degrees, careers and positions of leadership in science. Villalobos has helped procure more than $6 million in grants for educational, service and professional development activities for UTPA students and faculty, and directs UTPA’s National Science Foundationfunded Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program, which financially assists students participating in research.
In 2013, Villalobos received the Distinguished Undergraduate Institution Mentor Award from SACNAS and The University of Texas Board of Regents’ 5 Outstanding Teaching Award.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
MEET FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ, M.D.
OF A KIND
INAUGURAL DEAN OF THE UTRGV SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
I am excited and humbled by this tremendous opportunity to build the UTRGV School of Medicine into a world-class educational center. The chance to build a medical school from the ground up in a region as richly diverse and wonderful as South Texas is a dream come true.
FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ , M.D.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
•Earned an Artium Baccalaureatus degree from the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass.
•Earned his Doctor of Medicine from Tuft's University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass.
•Psychiatry residency training, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.
•Psychosomatic Medicine Fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.
•Past chair, American Psychiatric Association's Commission
on AIDS and Steering Committee of the American Psychiatric Association's-CMHS funded AIDS Education Project.
•Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences,
University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla., 2002-2014
•Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Neurosciences at Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, 1997-2002
•Clinical interests consist of consulting on patients with
neurobehavioral disorders, psychiatric complications of cancer and AIDS, psychological factors affecting medical illness and end-of-life decision making, psychopharmacology, pain management, somatoform disorders, attention deficit disorder, memory dysfunction, Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders.
•Research on the psychiatric complications of medical illness such as Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and endstage organ disease requiring organ transplant; assessing effective treatment strategies for HIV-Minor CognitiveMotor Disorder and HIV-Associated Dementia; Thanatology; Depression in Hispanic Men.
AWARDS AND HONORS
•President of the American College •American College of Psychiatrists of Psychiatrists, 2015-2016
Bowis Award for Service, 2010
•Physician of the Year, National Hispanic Medical Assoc., 2015
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•American Psychiatric Association’s Simon Bolivar Award for work with Hispanics and AIDS, and Depression in Hispanic Men, 2007
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MATCHING UP Dr. Leonel Vela, founding dean of the RAHC in Harlingen, gives UT System Chancellor William McRaven a tour of the UTRGV Smart Hospital, a state-of-the-art simulation teaching medical facility.
RESHAPING HEALTH CARE IN SOUTH TEXAS Just over a year ago, UTRGV named the inaugural Dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Francisco Fernandez, and since then he has been working with his leadership team to ensure a 2016 opening and a full accreditation process. Now, the educational and economic landscape of the Rio Grande Valley is about to experience a major leap forward, as The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley opens in August. In Fall 2016, pending accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, another milestone follows with the launch of the UTRGV flagship School of Medicine, and enrollment of the first 50 medical students. The UTRGV School of Medicine has proven to be one of the most significant demonstrations of regional collaboration among local officials, the business community and the state legislative delegation of the Valley. The School of Medicine has been a long-term vision and now presents major immediate-term opportunities for education and research. It also will carry significant economic impact to the region and beyond, and will provide research efforts geared toward solving critical medical issues and shortages that have plagued the region. Leading the effort with Fernandez is his counterpart and dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Dr. Francisco González-Scarano. UTHSC-SA’s Regional Academic Health Center was created by the Texas Legislature in 1998 as a first step to address pressing regional health needs and provide a foundation for a new medical school in the Valley. UTHSC-SA will continue to be involved in the transition, maintaining a physical presence in the Valley until the medical school has full accreditation. Even after accreditation, González seems certain the collaboration between the two medical
schools will continue through research partnerships, academic initiatives, and clinical trials benefiting both entities and the Valley. “Together we are transforming the health in our region, and we are committed to continuously pushing the boundaries of health care forward, providing expanded access to residents of the Rio Grande Valley, and actively transforming how medicine is delivered today,” Dean Fernandez said. The accreditation process of the School of Medicine is currently underway. LCME approved the candidacy for accreditation, and a site visit for preliminary accreditation has been set for June 28. These are the first of a series of steps to achieve full accreditation. In the Graduate Medical Education area, this summer, 42 new residents will be placed in the areas of family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology, in addition to 27 existing residents in family medicine and internal medicine in the Valley. The UTRGV School of Medicine will host orientation for the new residents on June 22 at the RAHC. For Katie Molina, a 22-year-old San Benito native and first-year medical student in the UTHSC-SA South Texas Track at the Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen, creation of the medical school means the promise of opportunity for many hopeful medical students to attain a premier education close to home, and eventually, remain in the area to practice. “I’m excited to see what changes are going to come from educating medical students in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Molina, who will graduate from UTHSCSA after spending her last two years of medical school back home in the Valley. “Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, and the Valley being so good to me, it seemed so natural to just want to go back.”
To learn about partnership opportunities with the School of Medicine, contact the UTRGV Office of Institutional Advancement at (956) 365-8779.
The third Friday in March is a critical day for medical students across the country. It’s Match Day – and it helps determine the course of their medical future. After four years of college and four years of medical school, they finally find out where they will train as resident physicians when a computer matches them to medical programs via The National Resident Matching Program. This year, on March 20, 42 medical students received their “matches” to spend the next three to seven years in training as residents at three Rio Grande Valley hospitals – Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, McAllen Medical Center, and Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg. All Valley residency programs were successfully filled through the Match, making this the largest group of residents ever for the area, according to Dr. Yolanda Gomez, associate dean of Graduate Medical Education at UTRGV. Since the UTRGV School of Medicine is not yet a stand-alone entity, the sponsoring institution for Graduate Medical Education currently will be UTRGV for all residents at the participating hospitals.
BY THE NUMBERS Doctors Hospital at Renaissance will receive 26 new residents for its new residency programs: 12 in Internal Medicine 6 in Family Medicine 4 in Obstetrics and Gynecology 4 in General Surgery Valley Baptist Medical Center will receive 10 new residents for its newly established internal medicine program and 6 new residents for its family medicine residency program 27 residents are currently at Valley Baptist Medical Center and McAllen Medical Center
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The UTRGV Centers of Excellence are all about building a brighter future for generations to come. Each Center is unique in its structure, goals, and mission, and all promote cutting-edge research, training, and outreach that address local, regional, and global issues. The centers will offer an unforgettable educational experience for both undergraduate and graduate students at the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. From diabetes research to space exploration, UTRGV students will have limitless possibilities to reach for the stars and change not only their lives, but the future of an entire region.
, S R NTE
E N O E C UR
FO
SOUTH TEXAS DIABETES AND OBESITY INSTITUTE
The South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Center is a world-class research, clinical and education program that will become an internationally recognized epicenter for the research and treatment of diabetes and obesity. The center will work collaboratively with the new UTRGV Medical School and other researchers, public health and community programs to combat diabetes, the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and a disease affecting 30 percent of the South Texas population. The center’s 22-member research team is led by Dr. Sarah Williams-Blangero, renowned genetics and infectious disease expert and the center’s founding director.
The South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Center ... will be characterized by unique community-based studies, worldclass collaborations, unique training opportunities and, of course, scientific discoveries. SARAH WILLIAMS-BLANGERO Founding Director 10 4 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
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N O I S S
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CENTER FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
The Center for Advanced Manufacturing will bring together all of the advanced manufacturing initiatives of the legacy institutions, including UTPA’s Rapid Response Manufacturing Center, Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center and Advanced Tooling Center in McAllen, as well as activities it has participated in with the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative.
STARGATE STARGATE, the first research center of excellence for UTRGV, is a public-private partnership between the Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy (CARA) at UTB and Californiabased SpaceX. STARGATE will be built at Boca Chica Beach adjacent to the SpaceX launch site command center. A combination of higher education, research, economic development and commercialization, STARGATE will give students and faculty opportunities for space exploration research and technology development.
SOUTH TEXAS COASTAL RESEARCH CENTER The UTRGV Coastal Research Center will provide a formal center on the Gulf Coast dedicated to synergistic and innovative scientific research and educational training and outreach. The center will capitalize on the knowledge and expertise of existing and incoming UTRGV faculty, who have already established collaborative partnerships with each other, with local, state, and national natural resource agencies and other universities. U T R G V. E D U | 51 1
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
ts and their family More than 900 potential studen made a trek to Discover members from across the state events in March at UT UTRGV during two open house an. UTRGV President Brownsville and UT Pan Americ creation of UTRGV is a Guy Bailey told students that the "This is the most exciting "once- in-a -lifetime opportunity." of. ‌ Taking this journey thing that I've ever been a par t ," Bailey said. with you is going to be a lot of fun
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ATHLETICS ZONE
WE PLAY FOR YOU
On March 7, the UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics officially rolled out its new “We Are One” campaign, celebrating the coming together of our two legacy institutions – UT Brownsville and UT Pan American. Fans from across the Rio Grande Valley, including students, faculty and staff from both campuses, came together to cheer on the UTPA men's basketball program at their final home game and be the first to get a peek at the new UTRGV Athletics uniforms, logos and wordmarks. As a special treat, the first 2,000 fans in attendance received free UTRGV Vaqueros T-shirts.
UTRGV Athletics will certainly be bolstered by the UTPA women’s basketball team’s historic success this past season. The Broncs recorded their first winning season in 30 years at the NCAA Division I level while breaking the program records for wins (19), conference wins (nine), conference tournament wins (two), home wins (12), neutral site wins (three), conference road wins (four), wins in a two-year span (33), and games played (34). The Broncs participated in postseason play for the first time, taking part in the Women’s Basketball Invitational.
UTRGVVaqueros
UTRGV FIRST COACH HIRE
36 LOSSES
416 WINS
LOWERY’S CAREER RECORD
Former UT Brownsville volleyball coach Todd Lowery was the first coaching hire for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in early January, marking the beginning of a new era in college athletics for the region. Lowery was selected to head the UTRGV women’s volleyball program. While his season records speak for themselves, the Black Hills State graduate is simply looking forward to hitting the court and is ready for the first UTRGV season in 2015. “I could not be more excited about the future of the new university and the athletic department. I can’t wait to get on campus and get to work,” Lowery said.
SOCCER TIME!
When the UTRGV Vaqueros start action in the fall, the soccer teams will lead the charge, with women’s soccer coming off one of the best inaugural seasons by a Texas squad, and men’s soccer returning for the first time since 1997. Complete schedules and information will be available at UTPABroncs.com .
Artistic renderings of the front of the Fieldhouse.
YOU NAME IT UTRGV Athletics is embarking on an unprecedented phase of rapid growth and advancement. One of the most critical needs for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is support for the renovation and construction of first-class athletic facilities. For recruiting purposes, it is essential that our facilities exceed the expectations of prospective student-athletes and compare favorably to other institutions in the Western Athletic Conference and the nation. A number of opportunities, including naming rights for the Fieldhouse, Soccer and Track & Field Complex and Baseball Stadium, are available. To name a building, call (956) 665-2221. Maintaining facilities and strategically planning for the future is an ongoing process. Current major gift opportunities are also available in facility campaigns, program enhancements, recruiting funds, scholarship endowments and academic support service programs. Supporting these initiatives provides the resources necessary to ensure that all of the UTRGV Athletics programs remain competitive in the WAC and on a national level. Whether you’re someone who has personally benefited from athletics and wants to commemorate your time as a college student, or simply a friend of the university who wants to contribute, the commitment will enhance the overall college experience for student-athletes and the community for many years to come. To learn more about ways to give, call (956) 665-2221.
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
ALUMNI: HELPING CREATE BRIGHTER FUTURES
MAGGIE BOLADO loves a challenge. She challenged herself in her circuitous career route – from banking to real estate to teaching – and now that she has found her “true calling,” she challenges her students in the classroom every day. “I use my past experiences to help give my students perspective; they deserve to receive meaningful, relevant learning in the classroom,” said Bolado, who teaches sixth-grade science at Resaca Middle School in Los Fresnos, Texas. When she heard about the Verizon Innovative App Challenge, Bolado saw an opportunity to engage students in a real-life learning experience. One of the teams, comprised of six girls in sixth and seventh grades, was named a 2014 winner – one of eight in the nation, and one of four in the middle school category. The team won with its “Hello Navi” app designed to assist a visually impaired fellow student navigate the school campus. Spring of 2014 was a whirlwind: Bolado, the team, the student who inspired the app, and their parents were treated to an all-expenses paid trip to the headquarters of Google, the Googleplex, in Mountain View, Calif. One day home, and the group was off again to the National Science Fair in Washington, D.C. “Certainly, the highlight was going to the White House, where the team met President Obama and demonstrated their app to him,” she said. Bolado said her job is to get students “into the science door” to spark their interest. “They are a blessing. I truly believe my students look forward to being with me in class. Often they teach me – we learn from one another,” she said. 14
JOSHUA GALINDO has become an influential role model who is passionate about seeing that his Rio Grande Valley students are prepared to succeed, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). “ I tell my students, ' I sat in your seat, I don't want you to view me as the exception I want you to view me as the expectation,'" said the 26-yearold Raymondville native and 2010 first-generation college graduate in premedical biology at UTPA. In the 2013-2014 school year, he became a national marketing figure for Teach for America, which he still serves as a science professional development leader, and last year spoke before the U.S. Congress about the importance of increasing the diversity in the STEM fields. With a goal of becoming a school superintendent, he's also continued his own education earning a master's in Public School Leadership from Columbia University's prestigious Summer Principals Academy and participating in professional development opportunities as a National Dow Fellow and as an intern in the HHMI Molecular Biology Outreach Program. Now a ninth-grade biology teacher and science department head at Mercedes Early College Academy, the 2014 Mercedes ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year created a two-year college success track and pipeline to STEM internship programs to help his students secure internships. His students have landed as interns at Yale, New York University, and Texas A&M, among other top schools in a variety of STEM fields, including medicine.
CHANGING LIVES ONE AT A TIME MEET DONORS WHO ARE SUPPORTING UTRGV DREAMS
THE KROLLS
One way to appeal to the best in their fields is by establishing endowed chairs. - DR. MARK KROLL
Dr. Mark Kroll, interim dean of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship, is passionate about building a superb faculty at UTRGV. To further that goal, he and his wife, Nghi, have established a planned gift for the college he leads. “Attracting excellent faculty is essential to establishing UTRGV as a strong, competitive teaching and research university,” Kroll said. “One way to appeal to the best in their fields is by establishing endowed chairs.” A chair is provided with appealing extras, including a salary supplement, research assistants, expenses to attend conferences and funding for research materials. The Krolls have set up a planned gift with University Advancement to leave several properties in Cameron County to the College of Business and Entrepreneurship to create a chair in memory of Mrs. Kroll’s father, Kim Pham, a self-made entrepreneur who started successful businesses in both Vietnam and the United States. The remainder will go to professorships. Kroll, who grew up in Rio Hondo, said he has a strong attachment to the Rio Grande Valley and an interest in improving educational opportunities in the region. He and his wife felt they could help accomplish that through this gift, as a living memorial honoring his father-in-law.
For Maria and Richard Zuniga, establishing a planned gift for UTRGV wasn’t a matter of planning, but rather a matter of timing. They are the first individuals to inform the university that UTRGV has been included in their wills. UT Pan American, a UTRGV legacy institution, has always played a significant role in Maria’s life, and in that of her family. Five of her siblings, two nieces and two nephews have graduated from the university. “Between the two of us, there was little doubt that we wanted to leave a portion of our estate to the university, no matter what the name is … “We are happy to support the fact that UTRGV is going to be a very positive change for the Valley. How could we not be proud of where this is going?” said Maria, who graduated from then Pan American University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a major in accounting. Richard, her husband of nearly 20 years and a UT Austin alumnus, completed his undergraduate degree debt free, due to various scholarship support. Giving back was always part of their plan. “We wanted to give to some charitable organizations and UT Pan American would have been a natural place to give, and being the first to name UTRGV (in our wills) is just timing,” Maria said.
THE ZUNIGAS
We recognize the importance of giving back and providing scholarships for students. - MARIA ZUNIGA
To learn more about planned gifts to UTRGV, contact Priscilla Cortez, interim vice president for Advancement, Principal and Major Gifts, at the Office of Institutional Advancement at (956) 365-8779. U T R G V. E D U | 1 5
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
2102 Treasure Hills Blvd, Ste. 2.112 Harlingen, TX 78550
TO CHANGE LIVES
BE THE
All it takes is ONE gift to have an impact on thousands of people at UTRGV. There are many convenient ways to make a gift, including:
• Gifts (e.g., cash, credit card) • Matching Gifts • Endowments • Planned Gifts • Gifts of Securities (e.g., stock, bonds, mutual funds) • Gifts of Real Estate Be a part of history, as we change the educational and economic landscape of the Valley through expanded educational opportunities at UTRGV. Partner with us in shaping a brighter future for the Rio Grande Valley. To learn more, contact Priscilla Cortez, interim vice president for Advancement, Principal and Major Gifts, at the UTRGV Office of Institutional Advancement at pcortez@utsystem.edu or (956) 365-8779. To make a gift online, visit UTRGV.edu/giving.
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