The training series will officially kick off with an educational workshop on April 22, 2026, hosted at the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce. The session will focus on helping small businesses access available funding to train their employees, while also introducing leadership and operational growth strategies that will be expanded throughout the series.��

The program is open to:

• Small business owners
• Supervisors and managers
• Front-line staff
• Human resources and operations personnel

Runners of all ages and skills levels made their way to 51���� (TSC) to take part in the school’s Historic Run and Half Marathon.��The event gave participants an opportunity to run through TSC’s scenic and historic Fort Brown campus.

“It’s amazing to see the community come together,” said TSC Board of Trustees Chairwoman Adela Garza.

Garza presented medals and trophies to the top runners, alongside President Dr. Jesus Roberto Rodriguez and Board of Trustees Secretary Dr. Norma Lopez-Harris.

“When we decided to celebrate the 100th��anniversary, we were going to do something for every part of the community,” Garza added.

TSC’s Historic Run and Half Marathon is one of the many events the school is hosting this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

In addition to being a presenter on the podium, Dr. Lopez-Harris ran the 5K race. She took sixth place in her age group.

Trustees Eward C. Camarillo, M.P.P.M., and Edgar E. Garcia, MPAS, PA-C, also attended the Historic Run.

“It’s the first time we have done this race here at the college,” said Dr. Lopez-Harris. “I think it’s awesome for health and the community to promote all this. I think from now on every year we’re thinking of possibly doing it. It’s just going to motivate others to do it and become healthier and active.”

Thirteen-year-old Pavel Cruz was the first person to cross the finish line in the 5K race.

Cruz was cheered on by family members and spectators as he claimed first place with a time of 19:56. He finished 40 seconds ahead of second place runner Ivan Martinez. Luis Espinoza rounded out the podium with a time of 22:15.

Cynthia Espinoza took first place in the women’s 5K race in 23:47.

The race was an emotional one for Espinoza, who ran in honor of her daughter, Rosa Isela Espinoza, who died in February.

“I wanted to be [the first] overall female for a while and I finally got there,” said Espinoza, who ran the race with a shirt featuring an image of her daughter. “I know I wouldn’t have been able to cross that line if it wasn’t for her motivating me to get up and do something when I feel like not doing anything.”

Monica Robles Moreno took second place with a time of 27:04. Angelica Gutierrez finished third in 27:10.

Ian Andreas took first place in the half marathon in 1:30.51.

Denise Nuñez was the first woman to finish the half marathon with a time of 1:57.28.

“I love the course,” Nuñez said. “I love the history. I love the views. It was a very nice course.”

Luis Aranda and Brian Aranda won the half marathon relay in 1:54.30.

TSC’s next centennial celebration event will be the Play Day at the Zoo held at Gladys Porter Zoo on Sunday, April 19.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — 51����’s Industrial Maintenance and Robotics Lab will welcome local high school students this spring for an immersive, hands-on learning experience aimed at building advanced technical skills and industry-recognized credentials.

The Spring 2026 Skills Camp with Porter High School will bring students into TSC’s Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Automation (AMRA) Lab, where they will engage in practical activities and work toward earning the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) Gold Certification in Pneumatics.

Juan Rivera, TSC’s Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology (IMMT) Program Coordinator, said the event is designed to bridge classroom learning with real-world applications.

“During the camp, students will participate in hands-on skill activities in the AMRA Lab, and we’ll be challenging our Dual Practicum class to earn the SACA Gold Certification in Pneumatics,” Rivera said.

The certification process is rigorous and requires students to demonstrate both theoretical knowledge and technical proficiency. Participants must complete three individual exams at their workstations, where they identify pneumatic symbols and correctly assemble systems based on detailed diagrams.

“The objective is for students to obtain the SACA Gold Level Certification in Pneumatics,” Rivera explained. “These exams require students to apply what they’ve learned by identifying symbols and connecting diagrams according to given specifications.”

Before attempting the gold-level credential, students must first pass the silver-level certification, a foundational requirement that ensures they understand core pneumatic concepts.

Rivera, who is certified to administer the credential, earned his qualification last December through training at a SACA-authorized center. He emphasized the value of these industry certifications for students entering technical careers.

“SACA certifications validate both knowledge and hands-on skills. When students successfully complete the written exam and performance assessments, they demonstrate they are workforce-ready,” Rivera said.

In addition to student engagement, SACA also supports educators through professional development. Teachers can participate in specialized training programs lasting three to five days, enabling them to proctor certification exams and deliver preparation courses aligned with Industry 4.0 standards.

The upcoming Skills Camp reflects TSC’s continued commitment to workforce development and partnerships with local schools, providing students early exposure to high-demand technical fields such as industrial maintenance, automation, and robotics.

The event is expected to give participating students a competitive edge as they pursue careers in advanced manufacturing and related industries.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — 51���� (TSC) is moving forward with plans to expand its campus footprint to South Padre Island with the development of a new Workforce Training Center designed to meet the growing labor demands of Cameron County and the greater Rio Grande Valley.

Chairwoman Adela Garza, Trustee Edward Camarillo, and TSC President Jesus Roberto Rodriguez recently returned from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) conference in Washington, D.C., where they connected with Senator John Cornyn as well as met with Congressman Vicente Gonzalez to discuss federal priorities affecting community colleges. During the meeting, the Congressman encouraged college leadership to submit a $1 million proposal to support the transformation of a South Padre Island facility into an operational Workforce Training Center.

“The proposed site, located adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard station on South Padre Island, will be developed as the second TSC Workforce Training Center in Cameron County,” said Chairwoman Garza. “Being an active member of the ACCT and the Hispanic Caucus Committee allows us to bring a voice to the educational and training needs in our community. This is a significant step toward creating a path for additional careers in the Rio Grande Valley.”

According to TSC leadership, the expansion comes at a critical time. Rapid industry growth across Cameron County is creating workforce shortages in high-demand fields.

“In recent years, with the rapid expansion of industries in Cameron County, there has been a need for more workforce training,” said President Rodriguez. “Right now, jobs such as pipefitting, welding and a variety of jobs in the healthcare industry are in great demand, and we are in a good position to bring in students, train them quickly, and help them with a job upon completion of their training”.

The Association of Community College Trustees hosts one of the most significant professional development events for community college leaders nationwide. The conference provides legislative updates, strategic sessions addressing workforce development, student success initiatives, economic mobility, and regional industry partnerships.

“If approved, the TSC South Padre Island Workforce Training Center would expand access to industry-aligned training programs while strengthening TSC’s role as a workforce engine for the Rio Grande Valley,” said Trustee Camarillo.

BROWNSVILLE (51����) – 51���� students thinking about future job opportunities took advantage of a unique chance to polish their interview skills at TSC’s Interview Practicum held at Jacob Brown Auditorium.��

��The students took part in mock job interviews with representatives from local businesses.��

“Some financial institutions here, locally, you have TVC, the Texas Veterans Commission, UTRGV, the City of Brownsville and Cameron County as well, along with the Workforce Solutions Cameron too,” said Josue Silguero, TSC’s Director of Career and Employment services, which organized the event.��

TSC Board of Trustees Chairwoman Adela Garza took part in the event as an interviewer. As a business owner, she took joy in offering advice to a student who is seeking a business degree.��

“I told him when you work for Corporate America, it’s a different set of rules than when you establish your own business,” Garza said. “In every job you have, you��have to��take your heart with you, your compassion, and your professionalism. And that follows you forever.”��

 Jennifer Sanchez, a first-year student in TSC’s Child Development Early Childhood (CDEC)��program��was grateful for the advice she received.��

“I thought it was really interesting,” Sanchez said.��“It was��really good. It did help me for what potential employers would say in an interview.”��

Sanchez was interviewed by Rusty��Brechot, Cameron County Market President for Lone Star National Bank.��

“Something he did say was that my greatest strength is me, how I am, how I present myself, and how I stay honest��to��myself,” Sanchez added.��

“Everyone is a little bit nervous when they do something like this,��Brechot��said. “If you can break that in the beginning,��you’ll��end up with a wonderful interview and��you’ll��get to know the truth. I think a lot of what we talked about as well is being honest and having confidence. You know, all these different things, as well as what is on paper.”��

Nadia Sanchez, who is also in the CDEC program, hopes to one day be a director for an early childhood center. She says the event also helped her learn more about how she can improve for real-world interviews.��

“I was trying to calm down, but still, I was nervous,” Sanchez said. “Trying to work on my body movements and they said my voice was a little lower. So, try to raise my voice.”����