OLMITO — Community leaders and the public joined the South Texas Independent School District on Thursday to dedicate a new state-of-the-art library at the South Texas Academy for Medical Professions in Olmito.
In naming the new library for the late Eliseo B. Vega of Port Isabel, who served as a school board member for 35 years including two with STISD, the magnet school district that serves Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties recognized Vega’s continuing impact on education locally, in Texas and across the nation.
A plaque that will hang in the library includes Vega’s photo and this quote from him: “Education, Community and Service equal Improving Quality of Life.”
Vega was a longtime municipal judge in Port Isabel who dedicated his life to public service and public education. He died in 2007.
The dedication ceremony featured remarks from U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, state Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, Martin Peña, former superintendent of the Point Isabel Independent School District, and state Democratic Party chairman and former Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa, among others.
All remembered Vega as someone who dedicated his life to education. Oliveira, who said he learned much of what he knows about politics from Vega, cited the Bible verse “Many are called but few are chosen.” He said Vega was both called and chosen.
Hinojosa said he regards Vega as an “old soul,” or someone whose soul has lived through many lifetimes.
“Where his soul is now I don’t know,” Hinojosa said. “But the people who knew him knew him as a loving human being who always gives much more than he ever takes.”
The Eliseo B. Vega Library opened its doors to students and faculty Aug. 24, 2015, the first day of the 2015-2016 school year. It features a multi-purpose lab, a flexible space equipped with an iPad cart and laptop cart.
It also has four small study rooms for student use, each equipped with TV monitors for projecting and sharing group projects. One of the study rooms doubles as a green room for editing and recording. There also is a video editing lab.
Students can print their schoolwork using the library’s printing hub, or read and study in the periodical/lounge areas.
Medical Academy, as the campus is known, is located at 10650 North Expressway 77/83 in Olmito, across the expressway from Rancho Viejo. It serves Grades 9-12, focusing on various health careers while allowing students to develop clinical skills in area hospitals, nursing homes and pharmacies, as well as doctor and dentist offices. Students can earn numerous certifications, including Clinical Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy Technician, Clinical Laboratory Assistant (Forensic Science), Patient Care Technician, Emergency Medical Technician and Certified Ophthalmic Assistant.
