HARLINGEN — At the very beginning of the school year, Jodie Stryker prepares her students to produce an award-winning yearbook.

Jodie is not only a business computer applications teacher at Marine Military Academy. She’s also in charge of MMA’s yearbook, called Pass In Review.

She will bring out one of her high school yearbooks, “which is always good for a laugh to see how things were in the ‘old days,’” she says.

But then she asks her students to think about what they want their yearbook to look like years down the road.

“I tell them, one day somebody’s going to pull this yearbook that you’re creating off a shelf, whether it be your spouse, your children, maybe even your grandkids, and it’s going to be your history book,” she says.

“So, think about how you want to be remembered. Not just you, but how your senior class wants to be remembered.”

Once Jodie defines their mission in those terms, “it clicks” with the yearbook students.

“When they see the ownership in it, then it just kind of comes together,” she says.

Jodie has been in charge of the MMA yearbook for seven years. And for the past four years in a row, the yearbook has won the prestigious National Yearbook Program of Excellence Award.

There really isn’t a secret to it. She says, “It’s everything. It’s pictures, it’s writing, it’s meeting deadlines, it’s making sure every student on campus” is well represented.

The national yearbook standard calls for every student on campus to be covered a minimum of three times. But Jodie raises the bar.

“We want to make sure every student is in there at least five times,” she says.

“So, it’s not just your popular kids, but the kids that might be involved in chess. The chess club might not get as much notoriety as an athlete, but in the yearbook, they will get that, regardless of what they’re in.”

The process for producing the yearbook begins at the end of the preceding year. That’s when students submit an application to be on the yearbook staff.

They have to fill out an application and include recommendations. One of those must be from their current English teacher.

During the summer, Jodie goes through the applications and will come up with her “A Team.”

Once the new school year begins, putting together the yearbook becomes a collaborative effort. It must be completed before Spring Break.

But from the very beginning, the students have a sense of competitiveness. A sense that, “last year’s yearbook was great; what can we do to be on the cutting edge this year?” Jodie says.

RIO HONDO — Santa Rosa ISD students recently headed to the outdoors as part of a special STEM science activity sponsored by the state Audubon Society and the SRISD Youth Leadership Program.

STEM is education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Students participated in four outdoor activities at the Adolph Thomae Park located at the Arroyo Colorado.

Students enjoyed a 45-minute paddle along the Arroyo Colorado as the Audubon Texas coastal warden, Larry Shriver shared the significance of the rivers’ biological function to the Laguna Madre.

Shriver manages and patrols the rookery islands of the lower Valley bay systems and told stories of Green Island, the safe haven nesting ground for colonial waterbirds.

Students were taught the vital function the river plays in bringing life giving water to the surrounding ecosystems as they observe birds flying overhead and feeding on the fish in the river.

In addition, students were shown their connection to this environment as they learned the same water that brings life support to the plants and animals they paddle around, also provides the local community with the water supply for surrounding cities.

Students received kayaking safety instructions from two ACA certified (American Canoe Association) instructors, Alberto Trevino and Javier Garcia.

Trevino is the afterschool project director for Santa Rosa and oversees the Youth Leadership Program funded by a Juvenile Justice Division grant for Santa Rosa.

This activity was one of many outdoor youth leadership development activities offered at the district.

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BROWNSVILLE — Despite the economic potential companies like SpaceX and the SATA Group present for the Lower Rio Grande Valley, for the time being Cameron County is still one of the very poorest places in the nation, with an unemployment rate that persistently exceeds the rest of Texas and the United States.

Add to that the fact that recovery from the recession has lost some of its momentum locally due to a number of factors, including a sagging global economy, a strong dollar and a weak peso, and you’ve got an economy that’s nothing to get excited about.

It could be worse. The recession is over. Unemployment is high at 6.9 percent, but that’s still several percentage points lower than during the height of the recession, and only one percentage point higher than the lowest unemployment rate in the boom times leading up to the recession, said Nathanial Karp, chief economist for BBVA Compass Bank.

“Just think, about one percentage higher in the midst of this global slowdown and struggling mining and oil and gas,” he said. “That’s pretty good.”

Karp, whose office is in Houston, was in the Valley recently discussing the economic outlook for the United States, Texas and the Valley. He noted also that home prices are creeping up in the Valley, as are employment numbers in areas such as health care and leisure.

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MERCEDES — Guadalupe “Wally” Prado Jr. was on the other side of the world in the jungles of Vietnam doing what he did best, defending people in harm’s way.

When he was a student at Mercedes High School, before being drafted for the war, Prado was known as the “protector.” There are stories of him coming to the aid for those being bullied.

And after Army Specialist 4 Guadalupe Prado landed in Vietnam with the elite 101st Airborne Division in November 1968, his role as the protector would continue.

On June 9, 1969, during a reconnaissance operation near Hamburger Hill, Prado made a stand against an unknown number of enemy soldiers, applying cover fire for soldiers in his unit so they could get to safety.

He would take a direct hit from the enemy and died that day at the age of 22.

He would be posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the third-highest military decoration for valor awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces.

“He gave his life so others could live,” said Abraham Flores, a retired platoon sergeant. “He gave his comrades a chance to get out of the ambush.”

This is the story of one of the men and women who are being honored today, Memorial Day, for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the country.

On that day 47 years ago, Prado was situated on a rock shelf above the rest of his unit.

Disregarding his unprotected position, he leveled intense M-16 rifle fire against the enemy ranks, allowing the remainder of his platoon to take cover.

His courageous acts against the enemy helped hold casualties to a minimum.

Continuing to place effective fire upon the enemy from his open position, Prado was struck by small arms fire and fatally wounded.

Prado died with honor saving the lives of men in his platoon.

“He was an exceptional human being and he protected everyone that was around him,” said Joe Perez, a Mercedes resident who knew Prado.

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SAN BENITO — Silverio Gutierrez’s fingers danced across the white buttons of his squeeze box, the festive glittery notes joining the rest of the band.

The earthy combination of a bass guitar, powerful drums and bajo sexto, paired with the bouncy, carnivalesque music of the accordion, filled the band hall. San Benito High School’s Conjunto Estrella was delivering its last performance of the year on Friday in fine style.

“I love playing for the audience,” said Gabriela Gamez, 17, who played the bajo sexto. She spoke with a musical furor reflective of the mood of the band.

“I think it’s phenomenal, awesome,” she said, grasping the stringed instrument in her arms.

You could tell the performance was as much for the musicians’ pleasure as for those who’d come to listen. Excitement energized their every move. Accordion players took turns with the band, as did some talented singers.

Many have expressed concern conjunto may slowly be dying out because fewer young people are pursuing this style. However, you wouldn’t know it by the talent and enthusiasm of the performers who have studied under Marcos Pesina for years.

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This past season, the offense of the Harlingen Cardinals football team was as potent as any in the Rio GrandeValley.

A big reason for that was junior running back Leo Tienda, who helped guide the Cardinals to a 10-3 record and trip to the regional quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

Tienda rushed for 1,849 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2015 and averaged 7.3 yards per carry, including a 232-yard, five-touchdown performance in an area-round win over Trevor Speights and the McAllen Memorial Mustangs.

After the season, Tienda was named to the 32-6A All- District first team running back and now he is a finalist for the Football Player of the Year Award, which will be presented at the 2016 All-Valley Sports Award Banquet on June 14 in McAllen.

Q: What are your thoughts on being nominated for this award?

A: I’m honored to be nominated with the likes of Trevor Speights and Joshua McGowen. They are great athletes who are going to continue to do great things in college. That’s pretty cool.

Q: You had a huge breakout season. What did that mean to you?

A: I knew I needed to come out and train hard. It’s football and I really love football. I am always having fun out here, so it’s not like I had to be out here training — I was just having fun with the guys.

Q: What has it meant to play for a program like Harlingen?

A: It’s meant a lot and done so much for me in the classroom, and out in real life. The coaches mold us to be great men. That’s what the Cardinal tradition is all about.

Q: What’s your favorite football memory?

A: It has to be practicing on Thanksgiving week. I think that was the best time. You’re thankful for a lot of stuff and I was thankful for Cardinal football.

Q: What is the hardest part of playing football?

A: I think it would have to be the third and fourth quarter. Not in the game, however, but in practice. The staff is pushing us to do the extra sprints and they’re yelling out ‘third quarter’ and ‘fourth quarter.’ We may have to play five or six quarters, so that’s why we work out all year. So, the toughest thing is working out here and putting in work before the games.

Q: What’s some of the best advice you’ve ever gotten from your coaches?

A: Most of the coaches have been in our shoes. They grew up here and went to the same school. The best advice they have given us is to not give up. They push us and tell us not to use excuses as crutches. Basically, they tell us to practice hard in the classroom as we would here out on the field. They know football is a big part of our lives, but it’s not all about football. We have to do well in the classroom and out in real life.

Q: Who’s you favorite athlete and why?

A: It would have to be Walter Payton. He was a monster and would work extremely hard. He went out on the field and went to work.

Q: Who are some of the heroes in your life?

A: My mom and dad because they work extremely hard to give us everything we have right now. Even when they can’t, they do everything in their power to give us everything we want to keep us happy, whether it’s food on the table, a video game or just some Whataburger. My parents are my everything.

Q: What’s your favorite subject in school?

A: It would have to be history. There are a lot of interesting things to be learned about what happened in the past and what our country went through.

Q: How do you prepare for a big game?

A: I wake up and thank God for giving me another chance to wake up. Then I have a good breakfast and just basically get mentality ready. It’s game day, so it’s time to get in the right frame of mind.

Young entrepreneurs and inventors shined at the Heroes for Harlingen Shark Tank finale held at the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District administrative building on May 24.

Following the format of the hit ABC show, students from Dr. Abraham P. Cano Freshman Academy pitched their creations to a panel of inquiring judges in hopes of securing an investment to bring their products to market.

Superintendent Dr. Art Cavazos took the opportunity to speak to the groups before they presented.

“You’re getting an experience like none other at Dr. Abraham P. Cano Academy,” said Dr. Cavazos. “Don’t ever underestimate the lessons that you are learning here and the opportunities you are receiving. It’s important to be able to collaborate, be given opportunities to communicate, think critically, and to create. The 4 C’s – Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creativity, and Communication – are our focus at Harlingen CISD, and they are skills that will serve you well as you move on to post secondary education.”

In collaboration with their team members, students presented solutions to solve real-world scenarios such as providing stress relief, recycling rainwater, and saving infant lives.

For Ravin Saldana, this gave her the opportunity to implement an idea that she has held close to heart since sixth grade.

“When I was in sixth grade, I heard on the news that a parent had left their child in a hot car, and the child passed away as a result,” said Saldana. “This broke my heart. I started thinking of a way to prevent tragedies like this from happening.”

Saldana and her team member, Rudy Cavazos put their heads together to create their product Baby’s Little Hero Car Seat, which is equipped with a mat that has pressure and heat sensors along with GPS to alert EMS and police when a child is left in a hot vehicle.

The culminating event featured the top 24 competitors, which were selected to compete out of nearly 400 students in the Business & Industry Endorsement track at Cano Academy.

With only ten days to prepare to face the Sharks, Karina Lopez, an English teacher and advisor on the Shark Tank project, provided students with valuable feedback so they could perfect their products and presentations.

“I didn’t hold anything back when critiquing their projects because I knew that the Sharks wouldn’t either,” said Lopez. “Our students had great ideas. They tackled real issues like preventing the deaths of young children in hot vehicles. That’s what our industry is supposed to be about, solving problems in our world.”

“Our group had to rebuild our product twice, but after a few talks and a couple of healthy arguments about what to do, we got it to work,” said Alex Torres. “I learned a lot about collaboration and how businesses work. It was a lot of fun and a valuable experience.”

Torres along with team members Isaiah Molina and Jyammari Moore aimed to solve a gutter problem on campus. When rainwater falls steadily, it accumulates on a particular spot and could potentially kill the grass beneath the gutter. To address the problem, the group devised a plan to redirect the water collected by the gutters for use elsewhere on campus.

“Our project is called the Upstream Water Filtration,” said Torres. “There would be a container under the ground and the water stored in there is purified, and then tubes that can suck the air pressure out take the water up through a tube. We could then redirect that water to a restroom, sink, or water fountain.”

Ravin Saldana and Rudy Cavazos took first place with their creation Baby’s Little Hero Car Seat. Bother Ball, a stress relief product created by John Duncan and Mallory Brownell, took second place. The Upstream Water Filtration group, which consists of Isaiah Molina, Jyammari Moore, and Alex Torres took third place.

Judging the event were local business professionals, Nick Consiglio from Texas Regional Bank, Francisco Castellanos from Chick-fil-A, Carlos Quevedo from Lone Star National Bank, David Flinn from Ferris & Flinn LLC, and Sergeant Alfredo Alvear from Harlingen Police Department.

The Shark Tank event is a direct outcome of the Teacher Externships, a component of the Heroes for Harlingen program.

Mr. Ruben De la Rosa, city commissioner: I am very happy that you always help and answer our calls. Thank you for answering my call about the alley at 423 W. Monroe in Harlingen.

The city did a great job.

I am sure the businesses and homeowners, like us, are happy.

Thank you.

Rosa and Leonard Reyes Harlingen

Whenever there are school board elections in Rio Hondo, it always turns into a circus that chokes downtown traffic.

For what? A job that pays nothing?

This past May 7, there was a $20 million school bond election in Rio Hondo that didn’t meet with quite the same fanfare.

It was posted according to the letter of the law, barely. With the abysmal turnout of less than 10 percent of those registered.

It was a far cry from the rally claimed by Superintendent Garcia.

The result was 80 to 42.

Why is it that so many people did not know about this election?

I would like to know what the board members, who spend all that money to get elected, want out of the recent $20 million Bond Election.

Do they want their names on a plaque? I doubt it.

I smell a rat, maybe several.

I see, what I believe, are errors in judgment in the past, like having two football stadiums, one more than Harlingen.

The parking at the newer one is beyond pathetic.

Why do we need a new middle school/junior high when we already have four or five campuses with a lot of empty classrooms.

Parents are taking their kids out of the district in droves.

I understand the enrollment is in the decline. I have heard there may be problems in the current middle school that will be costly to fix if it is upgraded and that there is a problem with traffic.

It would be millions of dollars cheaper to work with what we have than to buy more property and build. The traffic can be routed to take the burden off the down town.

Another problem I see is the less than satisfactory product of RHISD. That is the quality of the education provided by the district.

The district has been given a below average grade of “D.”

This can be looked up on the internet at the following site: schoolrankings@ childrenatrisk.org. This administration owes their students, parents, and the taxpayer a better grade than that.

Why don’t they work on this instead of following the Federal Government model of accruing a huge debt that our grandchildren and their children will still be paying.

The current debt burden on the RHISD taxpayer is $18 million and this administration wants to add another $20 million. Our taxes are already too high.

Why haven’t the minutes for the Feb. 15 meeting (order calling for a bond election) been made public?

Too many eligible voters didn’t know about this election.

Just because it passed doesn’t mean that it has to be used. The people who don’t want unnecessary debt need to come out and be heard.

Let the school board know how you feel and how you will vote. The next board meeting is June 13. They are in a hurry, so let’s show up and put a stop to this nonsense.

Sincerely, Dennis Bates RH ISD Taxpayer