BY Amanda Sotelo

In a recent tour of United Launch Alliance, Texas State Technical College students were introduced to ULA employee and TSTC alumna Brittany Campbell.

Campbell, 21, graduated from TSTC in August 2015 with her associate degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. The Los Fresnos native said she first became interested in the aviation industry at a young age.

After graduating from Los Fresnos High School in 2013, her plan was to enlist in the United States Air Force. However, when her plans fell through, TSTC was there to give her a future.

“Things happened and I couldn’t take off,” said Campbell. “I found TSTC and the aviation program and decided to give it a try. I ended up enjoying every bit of it and found a job I love.”

Campbell began working with ULA the Monday after she received her degree, although she had officially been hired a few months before graduation. She became familiar with the company at a TSTC job fair and through ULA representative visits on campus.

“TSTC prepared me for this job, there were no surprises,” said Campbell. “The hands-on approach from the instructors trained me for the field. Their help was invaluable to my experience and the skills I gained.”

Tim Pillar, ULA site lead said it is Campbell’s understanding of the industry and abilities that set her apart from other candidates.

“TSTC gives students like Campbell the starting point to take off from when they get to ULA,” said Pillar. “They have an understanding of process and discipline required in the industry.”

During the recent tour at ULA, Pillar told students that ULA’s history with TSTC dates back to 1987 when they opened their doors in Harlingen. The first technicians they hired were trained at TSTC and many more have been hired since then. Pillar added that TSTC is the first place they look for new employees when a position becomes available at their site.

“We see TSTC students as a cut above other candidates,” said Pillar. “By pursuing post high school education these students are already demonstrating they want more earning potential than that from a high school degree.”

More than 70 students who are preparing to graduate within the next two semesters from Aviation Maintenance, Precision Manufacturing, Mechatronics, Telecommunications and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration were invited for the tour.

“The significance of them touring our facility gives students a unique insight into aerospace manufacturing,” said Pillar. “They get a sense for high standards set in the work environment and the importance of our product to mankind and society.”

Viviana Espinosa, interim director of Talent Management/Career Services at TSTC, said the ULA tour was a part of the Employee Spotlight series, a presentation requested by an employer when they are looking to hire TSTC graduates.

“This tour was a little different, usually employers come to campus to talk to our students,” said Espinosa. “But ULA invited us this time and they’re ready to meet and hire our students. We couldn’t be more appreciative of this opportunity.”

To learn more about the services offered by TSTC’s Talent Management/Career Services department call 956-364-4940.

Registration for summer and fall semesters begins April 4. Apply online anytime at tstc.edu.

BY Amanda Sotelo

Nearly 30 student veterans at Texas State Technical College have been awarded veteran scholarships by the Veteran Students Alliance Club, a student-run organization that helps veterans and their families with the transition to civilian life and assists them with getting the veteran benefits available to attend TSTC.

To continue awarding scholarships, a tradition started by the club in 2013, the Veteran Students Alliance Club will host a Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show on March 26 at the TSTC campus.

This is the second annual show. The club’s president Maria Rincon, said last year’s show was a success, earning approximately $2,100 and having more than 60 car show contestants.

“Our goal for this year is to get more car show participants,” said Rincon. “With more contestants, we raise more money and increase the number of students we help. This is our way of giving thanks to the veterans for their service.”

All proceeds from the car show go toward veteran student scholarships. Every semester, three students receive a $300 scholarship that can be used to cover tuition, books and supplies, or room and board.

Student veterans who apply for the scholarship must have prior military service, 90 plus days, or 30 days medical discharge; be a part-time student; have a 2.0 grade-point average and complete a 300 word essay.

There are 12 competitive categories car, truck and motorcycle enthusiasts can compete in such as muscle, classic and work in progress. There are first and second place awards for every category including three specialty awards: President’s Choice, People’s Choice, and Club Affiliation.

The show is free and open to the public, but for those wanting to contribute to the club’s mission, tickets can be purchased for $1. Each tickets counts as one vote for their favorite car, truck or motorcycle in each competition category.

Food and drinks will also be available for purchase.

“All money raised from competitors, spectators and vendors goes a long way when you’re helping students pursue an education,” said Steve Guevara, Veterans Center director.

Any vendors interested in advertising their services at the show can purchase a table for $50. Sponsorships for gift cards or discounts are also welcomed. Gift cards and discounts will be used as door prizes for car show contestants.

To enter a car, truck or motorcycle in the “Show ’N’ Shine category preregistration is $10 and ends March 18. The registration price after March 18 is $20. Any vehicle in this category is only eligible for specialty awards.

The “Competition” registration fee is $20 preregistration until March 18 and $30 after that. This category is eligible for specialty awards and first and second place trophies all competition categories.

Registration for “Competition” and “Show ’N’ Shine” ends March 26.

For more information or to request a registration form contact Jose Villegas at 956-364-4387.

A La Feria man has been sentenced to decades in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexual abusing a child he knew.

Moises Martinez Jr., 24, entered his guilty plea on Thursday.

He was sentenced to 35 years in prison on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, 20 years for one count of indecency with a child by contact and two years in state jail on one count of injury to a child. The sentences will run concurrent.

“If you have a concern about your child’s behavior, listen to your gut feeling and act on it immediately,” said DA Luis V. Saenz.

He says Martinez had daily access to the child and took advantage of the close relationship.

An anonymous tip leads to the arrest of a San Benito area woman on drug charges.

The Cameron County District Attorney’s Office says on Thursday some of its investigators and Homeland Security agents raided the home of Maria de los Angeles Juarez, 55, of El Ranchito.

They say they found 1.5 pounds of cocaine and two scales in the home located on the 24,000 block of County Road 990 near FM 1577.

According to a news release from the DA’s office, Juarez admitted the drugs and everything else inside the home were her property.

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She has been charged with possession of a controlled substance.

If investigators determine her home is within 1000 feet of La Encantada Elementary School, Juarez may also face additional charges of possessing drugs near a drug free school zone.

In convicted she faces 10 to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

BY Vicky Brito

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley concluded its celebration of International Women’s Day on Thursday when the Office of Global Engagement honored Andrea Tellez-Silva as the 2016 Outstanding International Female Student on the Brownsville Campus.

Tellez-Silva, from Mexico City, is the second student to be named an UTRGV Outstanding International Female Student. Yuanqing Li, a doctoral student in business administration, received the award Tuesday on the Edinburg Campus.

The award includes a $1,000 scholarship.

Tellez-Silva is a senior physics major with a special research interest in analog electronics and signal processing, with emphasis in high frequency system applications like antennas and lasers.

“It feels really great,” Tellez-Silva said of the award. “I would like to thank my family and my close friends, who always support me.”

She accepted the award in memory of her mentor, Dr. Cristina Torres, a research professor in the UT Brownsville Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, who died last year just one day after International Women’s Day.

“She believed in me,” Tellez-Silva said. “And she believed in all women in the physics field, and all women not in the physics field.”

Tellez-Silva previously interned with the California Institute of Technology at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, more commonly known as LIGO. She was one of the youngest of the 1,000 scientists who worked together in the recent discovery of gravitational waves that proved Einstein’s theory of relativity.

She will be the first woman in her family to graduate from college, and hopes to pursue a doctoral degree in electrical engineering.

The ceremony also honored Dr. Soma Mukherjee, UTRGV assistant professor and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, as the UTRGV Outstanding International Female Faculty.

Mukherjee, a native of India, also was involved with the LIGO gravitational waves research discovery. She has co-authored more than 70 research papers in highly ranked international journals, and was hired as a faculty member at UTRGV legacy institution UTB in 2003.

Mukherjee spoke of global gender equality, a value that was first instilled in her by her father.

“At work, I am neither a man nor a woman,” Mukherjee said. “I’m a scientist and professor.”

She said the majority of the leadership at UTRGV is predominately female, which Mukherjee says fosters innovation.

“Acknowledging the potential in women helps drive up equality in the workforce, increases the talent pool and offers a variety of skills, experience and insight,” she said. “Society needs to access top talent, and you cannot do that by ignoring 51 percent of the population.”

The event, co-sponsored by UTRGV’s Women’s Faculty Network, Office of Global Engagement, College of Fine Arts, and International Admissions and Student Services, recognizes the hard work and accomplishments of a top female international student and faculty members.

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, past, present and future.

Aaron Zapata, a sophomore at Harlingen High School is looking forward to cutting loose with his baritone saxophone next week.

He and 79 other members of the school’s jazz band will perform March 17 at the San Antonio Spurs game at the AT&T Center.

“We are going to be performing ‘Absolutely Awesome’ at the beginning,” said Aaron, 16, a member of the Harlingen High School Jazz Band.

“I feel really excited,” said Aaron, a sophomore. “I’ve never been to an actual NBA game before.”

Band director Ronnie Rios said the students perform with a great deal of confidence.

“They perform with a lot of enthusiasm,” Rios said. “The synergy and energy, that’s what got them the attention.”

SAN BENITO – Yafah Russek hopes to become a scientist some day and solve difficult problems facing the world.

“I want to find out things and invent things and fix the world’s problems,” said Yafah, 11, a fifth grader at IDEA Academy San Benito.

Yafah will begin classes next year at IDEA College Preparatory San Benito which is a STEM school (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). However, the school she’s attending now will become a STEM campus next year with an emphasis on STEM coursework. The school, which offers classes in grades pre-K through fifth grade, then will be known as the IDEA San Benito STEM Academy.

The decision to transform to a STEM school was based on a high demand for after-school programs in robotics and coding that school leaders wanted to provide to every student at the school.

The whole culture of the school will change, said Principal Patricia Noyola.

“This year, we call our students scholars,” Noyola said. “Next year we’re going to be calling them engineers. Our entire school culture is going to be built around engineering and being an engineer.”

Each day, students will have 45 minutes of STEM instruction. The STEM class will be designed around the engineering design process to teach students problem-solving skills. These skills will be geared toward empowering them to confront real world challenges, Noyola said.

“They’ll also go to an engineering rotation,” Noyola said. “They’ll have an hour and a half engineering block two or three days a week. They’ll learn more in depth about the engineering and design process and having an opportunity to solve real world challenges that we use engineering for.”

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HARLINGEN — The picture revolving around the redevelopment plan of the Baxter Building is becoming clearer.

A $4.5 million project to renovate the city’s tallest building would likely result in the development of about four-fifths of its apartments as low-income housing.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs application for federal tax credits shows MRE Capital has proposed building 19 low-income units while renting five apartments at market rates as part of the renovation of the nine-story Baxter Building.

But, for months, city officials told downtown property owners the developers planned to offer more apartments at market rates, Bill DeBrooke, chairman of the Harlingen Downtown Improvement District, said yesterday.

“That’s about the reverse we were originally told that was going to happen,” DeBrooke, who owns several downtown buildings, said of the developers’ proposal.

For the rest of this story and many other EXTRAS, go to our premium site, www.MyValleyStar.com.

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SAN BENITO – A 35-year-old woman is listed in critical condition after being struck by car on Business 77.

The accident happened at 7:40 p.m. Thursday night on the 700 block of West Business 77 near the Dairy Queen in San Benito.

Police said Carmen de la Rosa of Harlingen was hit by a 2016 black four-door Dodge Dart as she tried crossing the street in traffic.

The 41-year-old woman driving the car remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, police said.

De La Rosa was transported to Valley Baptist Medical Center and is currently listed in critical condition.

Anyone with information on this accident is encouraged to contact investigators at (956) 361-3880.

The Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show officially kicks off today in Mercedes. Students spent the early part of the morning getting their animals ready for the intense judging that takes place.

Winning a coveted title means big bucks when the animals are auctioned.

Livestock Show judge Joe Behrens examined heifers during the Jr. Santa Gertrudis competition Friday morning.

Edinburg Vela High School student Simon Peralez won Reserve Grand champion in the 2016 Jr. Santa Gertrudis competition.

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