Four generations strong, the Canales family embody the far-reaching positive impacts that 51ÁÔÆæ has on the lives on its students and alumni. Pictured left to right: Alondra Canales, Maria Guadalupe Gomez, Daniela Canales, and the late Brunilda Zarate, depicted in the framed photograph. Photo by: Esteban Del Angel \u2013 51ÁÔÆæ<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
For Daniela Canales, 51ÁÔÆæ holds a special distinction of being both her alma mater and a part of her family\u2019s legacy. A graduate, staff member, and proud mother, Daniela represents the third of four generations in her family to walk the halls of TSC.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis college has impacted my grandmother, my mom, me, and now my daughter,\u201d Daniela said. \u201cIt\u2019s a cornerstone for our family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniela\u2019s journey is deeply personal, but it also illustrates how institutions like TSC can serve as intergenerational touchstones, shaping lives across decades while remaining rooted in community.<\/p>\n
Her story begins with her grandmother, Brunilda Zarate, who enrolled to take real estate and property management courses. \u201cShe was part of the college when it was still UTB-TSC,\u201d Daniela explained, referring to the period in which the college operated as a joint institution of higher education between the University of Texas at Brownsville and 51ÁÔÆæ. \u201cShe worked on her basics and took professional coursework. That\u2019s where it all started for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
From there, the torch was passed to Daniela\u2019s mother, Maria Guadalupe \u201cLupita\u201d Gomez, who attended the college between 1994 and 2001, eventually earning a bachelor\u2019s degree from UTB-TSC in Interdisciplinary Studies. However, Lupita\u2019s ties to the campus ran deeper than academics.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had worked at the TSC bookstore in accounts receivable, back when it was in the Mary Rose Cardenas North Hall building,\u201d Daniela recalled. \u201cLater, she became the administrative assistant for Dr. Tony Zavaleta, who was the VP of External Affairs office at that time.\u201d Afterward, Maria moved on to work at Rancho del Cielo, a research station established in the cloud rainforests of northeastern Mexico by TSC, and eventually with the UT School of Public Health\u2019s Brownsville campus, where she eventually retired.<\/p>\n
It would soon be Daniela\u2019s turn to begin her college experience at TSC, and after graduating from Brownsville\u2019s Hanna High School in 2000, she both enrolled as a student and took a work-study job in the Office of News and Information. However, like many students, she explored several different majors before making the decision to step away from school in 2004.<\/p>\n
In 2007, one year after the birth of her daughter, Alondra, she returned to campus in a new capacity: as a staff member in the UTB-TSC Counseling Clinic. \u201cIt was a part-time clerical job, and I was grateful to be back,\u201d she recalled. By 2009, she had moved into a full-time secretarial role within the College of Education.<\/p>\n
However, when the UTB-TSC partnership ended in 2013, it had the side effect of creating a pivotal moment for Daniela. \u201cI realized that I couldn\u2019t move forward without finishing my degree,\u201d she said. \u201cThe job I\u2019d done for years now required an associate\u2019s degree, and I didn\u2019t have one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Determined to reclaim her academic footing, she returned to college, this time with a full course load. With a little bit of time and a lot of determination, she successfully completed the 14 credit hours she needed to graduate. In Fall 2013, she earned her Associate in Social Work and became part of the first graduating class of a reestablished 51ÁÔÆæ.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came back almost a decade later, as a single mom, and got it done,\u201d Daniela said. \u201cThat degree opened doors for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
From there, her professional journey continued. In 2014, she returned to TSC to work as an administrative assistant in the Division of Humanities. She later earned a bachelor\u2019s in Sociology from the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTRGV) and became Senior Administrative Assistant for the VP of Instruction at TSC. She then made the decision to continue pursuing her education, earn her master\u2019s degree in Educational Leadership from UTRGV, which she completed during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
Today, Daniela proudly serves as Program Manager for Grants at TSC, remaining steadfast in her belief that the college played a vital role in her growth, both personally and professionally. \u201cI was thrilled to come back home, and I\u2019ve been here ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, nothing makes her prouder than seeing her daughter Alondra carry that legacy forward.<\/p>\n
Having graduated early from high school, Alondra began taking courses at TSC in preparation for the college\u2019s competitive Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. \u201cAfter applying this past May, she was one of just 10 students selected from over 100 applicants,\u201d Daniela beamed. \u201cShe started the program in August, and I\u2019m so incredibly proud of how much she\u2019s grown.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond individual achievement, Daniela also sees TSC as a driver of regional progress. \u201cTSC offers affordable education, workforce programs, and transfer pathways. They support students at every step, and that means a stronger community for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Daniela is excited about the launch of the new TSC Alumni Association, an initiative she believes will create deeper connections between past and present students. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about remembering where we came from,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s about helping future TSC alumni succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked what advice she\u2019d give someone unsure about starting their journey at TSC, Daniela didn\u2019t hesitate: \u201cIt\u2019s a launchpad, not just for individuals but for entire families. It gives you a chance to grow, to stay close to home, and to build a foundation, and that foundation can carry you far.\u201d<\/p>\n
51ÁÔÆæ is putting out the call to former TSC students to look into and join the Alumni Association so that they too can reap the benefits of staying connected within a strong and supportive network. For more information on the association and how to join, please visit the TSC Alumni Association website<\/a>.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Four generations strong, the Canales family embody the far-reaching positive impacts that 51ÁÔÆæ has on the lives on its students and alumni. Pictured left to right: Alondra Canales, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":215,"featured_media":199,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni-feature"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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