51���� is celebrating a major milestone as two standout student athletes, Miguel Campos and Raul Lopez, officially commit to continuing their academic and athletic careers at four-year universities. Following a successful spell at TSC, both goalkeepers were honored in a joyful signing ceremony surrounded by family, teammates, and coaching staff, an event that showcased the collective pride of the TSC community.

Campos, recognized for his dedication and consistent performance in goal, will transfer to Paul Quinn College. He expressed excitement for the journey ahead, noting, “I’m very happy to be entering a new stage in my life. I’m grateful for this opportunity and ready for the challenges ahead. My goal is to carry the same intensity I had at TSC into my new home at Paul Quinn College and keep growing.”

He reflected on his experience at TSC, adding, “TSC helped me elevate my game. The coaches believed in me and pushed me to get better every day. I came here wanting to make an impact and defend the badge, and I’m grateful for the people I met and everything I learned along the way.”

Coach Mario Zamora praised Campos’s work ethic and determination, saying, “Miguel has always brought a great attitude. He works hard, stays focused, and earned his position through consistency and commitment.”

Lopez, who helped establish TSC’s soccer program in its early years, will continue his athletic and academic career at North American University. Reflecting on his long-held childhood goal, he shared, “I’ve always dreamed of playing soccer at a high level. When I watched my first signing in middle school, I promised myself that one day it would be me. Transferring to North American University shows that the work I put in is paying off, and I’m excited to compete at an even higher level.”

He emphasized the impact TSC had on his development, noting, “TSC played a huge role in shaping me as a player. The coaches supported me every step of the way, during and after practices. Competing in one of the toughest conferences in the country pushed us to match the level of our opponents, and making the playoffs in my last year was a major moment for me and for the program.”

Coach Zamora highlighted Lopez’s leadership and accomplishments, stating, “Raul has been a tremendous student athlete for us. He was our starting goalkeeper for the program’s first two years and earned two conference honors. I’m very proud of him taking this next step.”

Reflecting on both athletes’ achievements, Zamora added, “It’s an honor to help guide their development. We’re proud to support our student athletes as they transfer and continue both their academic and athletic careers.”

The success of Campos and Lopez underscores TSC’s commitment to providing pathways for student athletes to grow, compete, and advance. As the program continues to expand, more Scorpions are expected to follow in their footsteps—strengthening TSC’s reputation as a launching point for athletic and academic achievement.

Every summer, 51���� has opened its doors to the community through a unique and impactful initiative in the form of free American Sign Language (ASL) classes aimed at expanding accessibility, promoting inclusivity, and encouraging lifelong learning.

Having just completed its third week of this summer’s session, the current ASL series has welcomed learners from all backgrounds. Some are motivated by personal connections to the Deaf community, others by a desire for enrichment or professional development, but all equally eager to learn. Participation is open to the public at no cost, and organizers encourage attendance to help raise awareness about Deaf and hard of hearing individuals who use sign language as their primary mode of communication and foster inclusive communication practices.

The sessions are led by Frank Slovak, a Sign Language Interpreter with TSC and the head instructor for this summer’s classes. Slovak, who also works with the college’s Counseling and Student Accessibility Resources Department, brings years of experience working with the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

“I have been working as an educational interpreter for 20 years, and I have been with TSC for almost 12 years now,” said Slovak. “My main responsibility and title is Sign Language Interpreter, moreover while at the office, my workmates, Susy Garza and Angelica Ramos, and I assist students who need accessibility services. The goal of our office is to provide for our students support and equal access. Services provided at our department are accessibility resources such as sign language interpreter, use of assistive technology, extended time for tests and quizzes, just to name a few. Counseling is also offered by our Licensed Professional Counselor, Mr. Mario Garcia.”

The idea for the free ASL classes naturally developed from that shared mission.

“Our team collaborated on how we could serve our community during the summer months and we have been doing it ever since. I would say we started in the year 2016. We also had a couple of summer classes on Zoom during COVID.”

In each session, participants review previously covered material and build on what they’ve learned with a combination of direct instruction and engaging, interactive activities. In the most recent class, students began with a review of basic letters, numbers, and signs introduced in the previous week, followed by a 20-sign quiz to reinforce retention. Afterward, learners were encouraged to introduce themselves using ASL, using their existing vocabulary while instructors provided light guidance and new phrases to expand the conversation. So far, students have learned over 100 signs, with plans to begin constructing basic short sentences in upcoming sessions.

Slovak says the structure is designed to both help reinforce fundamentals and show learners the potential for real-world connection.

“The overall goals these classes try to achieve are breaking down the communication barrier that exists and building a bridge between individuals who hear and don’t know sign language and deaf individuals who are users of American Sign Language. In our sign language classes we have had professionals, students, faculty, families, and those in the working class who know, work, or have come in contact with someone who uses ASL and wish to communicate more fully with them. These classes teach basic level sign language which will allow the learner to have a beginner level conversation, opening the door to more significant exchanges in the future.”

A significant piece of the configuration is the TSC ASL Club, whose support Slovak says plays an important role, as club advisor, during the academic year and helps reinforce the college’s long-term investment in accessibility.

“The ASL Club is active during the Fall and Spring semesters, and our members meet twice each week where we discuss club matters and learn sign language through interactive games. A few of our students have decided to transfer to a neighboring university that offers ASL Interpreting as a major for those seeking a career as a Sign Language Interpreter. Several club members who are now associating more with deaf and hard of hearing individuals who use sign language for communication have become capable signers. I am very proud of our members who continually show their willingness to learn this unique language.”

According to Slovak, the classes often attract people with no prior ASL experience, and the impact extends far beyond vocabulary.

“Of course, there are some cities that have a higher concentration of deaf population than ours, but by learning sign language, opportunities are opened up for enhanced communication which will foster understanding, build trust, and may help resolve conflicts, ultimately leading to positive outcomes. Interestingly, we’ve also had retired couples come to our classes to enhance their cognitive skills. It’s always great to see people benefitting in many different ways from our classes.”

TSC ASL Club Vice President Octavio Sosa has been assisting with instruction throughout the course and says the classes have offered more than just vocabulary.

“We’ve seen a lot of participation from the local community wanting to learn a little more, and it’s been really uplifting and encouraging to see how enthusiastically they’ve been participating while learning more about the language. With any language, the desire to learn has a lot to do with wanting to develop a genuine sense of closeness and community with others who know the language and those who are also learning.”

Through these free ASL courses, TSC continues to model its commitment to educational access, community engagement, and the celebration of inclusive language practices, one sign at a time. For those interested in participating, classes are held every Wednesday in June and July, 3 pm – 4 pm, at TSC’s SET-B Lecture Hall.

51���� classes are coming to Harlingen starting March 20th.����

On Saturday, March, 4th, a registration event will be held at Harlingen South High School from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help Harlingen-area students become Scorpions close to home!��

Eleven classes will be offered and taught at Harlingen South High School using a hybrid model of instruction.����

51���� Interim Vice President of Instruction Dean of Humanities Dr. Brian McCormack said that bringing classes to Harlingen made sense because of the existing relationship with Harlingen schools and students.����

“We have a fairly good presence in Harlingen already,” Dr. McCormack said. “Since we continue to offer dual-enrollment classes in many of the schools in Harlingen, and schools nearby, we believe these classes will meet the diverse needs of many of students throughout the area.

“The courses we are offering in Harlingen are particularly beneficial for those interested in obtaining a bachelor’s degree, or other degrees, as these courses represent a cross-section of core courses that routinely transfer to nearly all public universities across the state.”

Harlingen residents, and the surrounding area, interested in attending college will no longer need to travel a long distance to take first and second-year college courses needed to complete a college degree.

Student success coaches will be on hand on Saturday to answer questions and assist with enrollment and registration.��

For a full list of classes, times and to got to:��www.tsc.edu/harlingen/