Futuro RGV selects two recipients for 2025 Dr. Nedra S. Kinerk Emerging Leaders Scholarship

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Welcome to the 2025 Futuro RGV Community and Emerging Leaders Annual Awards Ceremony here at the historic Casa de Palmas Hotel.

Thank you Steven Villarreal and Cynthia Tapia for providing the venue for tonight’s event.

Futuro RGV’s mission is to provide information to our community on quality-of-life issues and concerns with a focus on driving positive change in government, economic development, educational advancement, healthcare, public safety and recreational opportunities.

Every year, Futuro RGV recognizes an outstanding community leader and awards a college scholarship.

Earlier this year, the Futuro RGV board voted to rename the scholarship in honor of our recently departed co founder and President Emerita, Dr Nedra S. Kinerk.

This scholarship is granted to students who exhibit exceptional promise, notable achievements and a commitment to academic and personal growth.

There were many outstanding applicants, and the board of directors had to make a tough decision. It was challenging to narrow down such a large pool of qualified applicants. In fact, it was so challenging that we were unable to decide on one recipient. So tonight, will we be awarding two, $1,000 scholarships.

Tonight’s recipients will be the first to be awarded the Dr. Nedra S. Kinerk Emerging Leaders Scholarship.

So as not to show preference to either of the recipients, I will award the scholarships in alphabetical order.

Andrea Garcia

Our first recipient, Ms. Andrea Garcia, is a graduate of Edinburg North High School.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science – Pre-Vet from Texas A& M University Kingsville in 2022, where she graduated Summa cum laude.

Miss Garcia is currently a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine candidate at Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

She is a member of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, the Veterinary Education, Research and Outreach (VERO) representative of the Texas A&M University Student Chapter of the American Association of swine veterinarians, the Texas A and M University Student Chapter of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and Small Ruminant Practitioners, the Texas A&M Doctor of Veterinary Medicine White Coat Organization and a newly elected Nestle Purina Representative.

Ms. Garcia has made it her mission to make students aware of the variety of careers in agriculture, including agribusiness, agriculture technology, food science and veterinary medicine. As a member of a local FFA Booster Club, she worked alongside students, promoting agricultural education and encouraging participation in events that highlighted the field’s diversity.

It gives me great pleasure to award Ms. Andrea Garcia the 2025 Dr Nedra S. Kinerk Emerging Leaders scholarship. Miss Garcia, please come forward to receive your award.

Alexandria Garza

Our second recipient, Ms. Alexandria Garza, is a recent graduate and valedictorian of Mercedes Early College Academy.

Ms Garza was a Dual Enrollment student who also graduated with her Associate of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from South Texas College.

She was a Student Council officer since 3rd grade and a class president in 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade. She was a two-sport athlete and the 2024-2025 MECA Homecoming Queen.

Ms. Garza founded Reading with Royalty and was an ambassador to the Read to Achieve Children’s Literacy Program. She volunteered with the Mercedes ISD Gifted & Talented summer programs in 2022 and 2023 and assisted with the Mercedes ISD Afterschool Centers on Education program during the summer of 2024.

Ms. Garza also volunteered with the Mercedes Police Department, the Knights of Columbus, Toys for Tots, the Mercedes Food Pantry and coordinated the Claws for Paws program at MECA, where she delivered dog food and toys to the Harlingen Humane Society.

In the summer of 2024 Ms. Garza interned at Doctors Hospital of Renaissance as a Junior Health Advanced Clinical Research Intern. There she had the opportunity to co-author a scientific manuscript entitled “The Effects of Benzodiazepines Use of the Brain Development of 14 to 18 Year Old Hispanics in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Ms. Garza’s dream is to become an oncologist and, eventually, open an office in the Rio Grande Valley to give back to the community that made her who she is.

I’m pleased to award Ms Alexandria Garza with the 2025 Dr Nedra S. Kinerk Emerging Leaders Scholarship.

Ms. Garza, please come forward to receive your award.

Congratulations to both of our extremely deserving scholarship recipients. We wish you both continued success. You make our RGV proud.

Editor’s Note: The above commentary was provided by Mark R. Murray, president of Futuro RGV, at the group’s Community and Emerging Leaders Annual Awards Ceremony for 2025. This is Part One of a two-part series on the ceremony. Part Two will be featured in our next edition.

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