TSTC STUDENTS ANNOUNCE AWARDS

by Dave Ralph
(TSTC Harlingen)

An awards banquet and dance capped a highly successful year that included more than 1,310 hours of volunteer service for the Student Government Association and student clubs April 21.

Sarah Zamarripas, outgoing SGA president, presented special recognition to a lengthy list of individuals who provided assistance to the SGA and clubs. The certificates went to Bill Cisneros and Joseph Abrego of the Media Center; Vice President of Financial & Administrative Services Teri Zamora; Chief of Staff Adam Hutchison; Keri Gutierrez, Melani Zuniga, Freddy Rodriguez and Dave Ralph of the Marketing Department; students Carmen Vara and Narciso Zapata, and SGA Treasurer Kimberly Roano. Special recognition as guest of honor went to Mandy Key, executive director of Keep Harlingen Beautiful for the past seven years. Key’s family is in the process of moving to Hobbs, N.M.

“Mandy taught students about the link between leadership and community service,” Zamarripas told more than 200 banquet guests. “She has inspired us as a professional role model and motivated us with her encouragement at events like trash bash. She also assisted in improving the recycling efforts on campus.

“Thank you for digging in and getting dirty with us.”

The audience saluted Key with a standing ovation.

“I was deeply honored to be recognized, but the TSTC students deserve the real recognition. They’re quite a group of young adults; their energy and achievements give me optimism about the future,” Key said in an interview.

“The important factor in the relationship between Keep Harlingen Beautiful and the TSTC clubs is that we fill each other’s needs. The TSTC students use the leadership experience they gain in planning events with us and the community benefits from the students’ volunteer work. Students, local government and the community working together is how things get done.”

Vice President for Student Development Cathy Maples thanked Student Life Director Adele Clinton, Supervisor of Student Activities Lissete Zavala Muñiz and club advisors for assisting students achieve new successes. “It takes all of us working together to bring our students these great opportunities,” she said.

SGA Club Awards

Club Advisor of the Year – Donald Wilt, Auto Collision Technology; Rising Star – Luis Vela, AUB; Student of the Year – Claudia Carr, AUB; Service Project of the Year – Role Play Gamer Society; Program of the Year – Role Play Gamer Society, and Student Club of the Year – AUB SkillsUSA

Most Active Clubs – Summer 2010, 1. Environmental Club and 2. CNST; Fall 2010, 1. GSA, 2. AUB, 3. Environmental; Spring 2011, 1. RGPS, 2. Dental Explorers, 3. AUB

New SGA officers for 2011-2012 took their oaths. They include President Robbie Beth Zapata, Vice President Schwaun Dizayee, Secretary Ruth Treviño, Treasurer Jose Gonzalez, Parliamentarian Rey Hernandez and Historian Jesse Herrera.

Dave Ralph, Communications Writer
Marketing Department
Texas State Technical College
1902 North Loop 499 | Harlingen, TX | 78550-3653
956.364.4113 office | 956.357.4641 cell | 956.364.5105 fax

This e-mail contains the thoughts and opinions of Dave Ralph and does not represent official TSTC policy.