MERCEDES — As president of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation, an education-based nonprofit in Mercedes, Dr. Roland Arriola, 69, has been boosting educational preparedness throughout the Valley.
The foundation’s multiple educational programs have been implemented by his team for students, parents and teachers at school districts throughout the Valley.
Arriola says he continues to work to transform education in the Valley to help students succeed.
He brought the Ivy League and major university programs to the Valley.
The Harvard University Graduate Extension School trains math teachers from area schools at the Texas Graduate Center in Mercedes, a component of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation.
Valley math teachers who meet every week to learn math at the graduate level have made waves in hundreds of student’s hearts and minds who are turning to math as their favorite subject and aspiring to attend Harvard like their math teachers.
He has expanded the master’s degree programs available to biology from Washington University at Saint Louis and cyber security from the University of Maryland.
Arriola has made it his passion to prepare college-ready students across the Valley.
He has introduced students to robot human patient simulators in an effort to prepare the next generation of medical professionals, student programs in engineering, robotics and math with college readiness programs specializing in STEM.
Now 10 years removed from his post as vice president of external affairs for University of Texas-Pan American, Arriola continues to impact thousands of student’s lives with his innovative ideas in education.
More about Dr. Roland S. Arriola’s accomplishments
He is President and Founder of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation. In 2008, after 21 years of service, he retired from the University of Texas – Pan American (UTPA). At UTPA he served as the Vice President for External Affairs.
Was recognized by President Barack Obama in 2011 as a White House Champion of Change, at a White House ceremony he was one of only 10 named as leading Champions of Change in America — for his efforts in assisting rural community education institutions.
Vice President George H.W. Bush in 1986 named Arriola as a White House Fellowship Honoree.
Arriola served as the first Hispanic Mayor of Waco, Texas in 1982.
In 1982 Arriola was recognized by Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo as the recipient of the President’s Medal, the Republic of Mexico’s highest award to a noncitizen for service to humanity.
